The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-22

Indians la Texas under instructions from the Comm
designated anoocupied territory Of tho United States,
MIR. BELL. i would like to inquire il these refugee
4 Indians, OF whom he complans-Creeks, Chefokees,
Seminoles. or whoever they may behave established
places o. residence, &C. hsy have villages IN Texas
those who mschevous upon the frontiers OF Texas,
Indians who beyond the control either OF Texas
or OF any OF their own tribes; that they really in
some outlaws who live free and ranging and rob
bng life upon the frontier, and in the prares. without
the enjoyment OF any settled habitaon having fled from
the Cherokees Cbickasaws. Choctaws. and Creeks II
this So we cannot control them by anything that
can do, any more than we can control the wild Cuman-
ches who have always pundered the western borders Of
Texas should be glad 10 have the honorable senator
from Texas, as know he has we'll settled opinions on
that subject explain TO us whether he supposes there will
be any good resulting from further expenditure, with
view TO that object think have appropriated to this
object hereRore large OF money for the purpose Of
enabling agehts, to treat with them. think they have
been threatened IN those where they have been
| tied in villages with being driven OF.
make these inqures ~ order to learn the views Of
@ w
tical judgment know that, by the amendment he has
proposed, it is fairly 10 be implied that he thinks there is
own part in view OF our past history 10 connexon with
this subject in view Of the conduct Of the Indians, and
the efforts made to restrain them both by Texas and the
United States government il appears to me that we can
not expect any good result from holding conferences with
them They will receive this $4,000, or what remains
after the agents are lad--if the agents are not paid
friendship with their fathers and disposition TO forbcar
hosties upon the frontier but they will only keep their
pledges until they feel the impulses moving them on to
make depredaions, until they become necessitous
take it there must be some other policy than this,
larger 10 restrain these outlaws Of the great tribes
settled our western frontier, well the Cuman
ches some policy 10 restrain, il possible, their nroads
upon the frontiers besides that OF annual distribution
Of presents for although they may not come in regu-
always those among the bands who perpeirate these
ouirages, and who dsclam any interest connexion
with the bands. do not know that any such thing is
paccable but am anxious to hear the honorable
tor from Texas state what his views, whether
have any grounds to suppose from past experience that
II is worth while TO hold conferences and make treaties
with them, and bestow presents upon these wandering
bands OF oullawed, rObbing Indians who cannot be
strained by the tribes themselves to which they belong
may be removed from Texas, shall Be glad, and viii
vote Tor the appropriation.
| should be glad if he would designate some Ter
which they. may be located where they will not
be the robbing and numbering bands which they now
are. and will not live just such life as the Cuman
Will you carry them into the western part OF Missouri
or upon the borders OF New Mexico Will you let them
unite with the Cumanches Navahoes or any Of those
tribes will you carry them further north and let them
uIe with the tribes that exist there Is there any place
where you can send them that they will not give The
same annoyance TO the frontiers OF the United States
where there are white seemenls' II the senator from
Texas can suggest any point or place where under the
instructions OF the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs or
tnere 0D-
jec,, then will go with him in support OF his PROPOSE
ton.
Mr. RUSK | will begin my explanation to the sena-
tor from Tennessee Mr. BELL land regret that have
not more time TO make it-by stating that dollar
has been appropriated by this government for the
purpose OF bringing back these their own Indians from
encroachments upon territory. And can accompany
that statement by another, TO witt that thousands OF dol
lars have been appropriated out OF the treasury of the
munltion in the hands OF these very Indians to murder
women and children the frontiers OF Texas at the hour
OF midnight For seventeen eighteen years these In.
dians have been encroachng upon
There are some questions which the senator from Texas
has asked me, which | cannot answer. | cannot
swer the question he has put as to where will place
these Indians, except by saying that the United States
have no right to thrust them upon the State OF Texas
That is question for the government OF the United States
TO answer II they have territory Of their own, they
tainy have no right to require Texas TO furnish territory
for their Indians shall necessarily be compelled 10 be
shorter than would like TO be upon this subject II has
been one OF annoyance to me Tor many years.
In 1883 treaty entered into between the United
States and Mexico similar in its provisions respecting the
Indians 10 those we now have with Mexico, requiring
the United States, upon their pledged faith, TO restrain
these Indians, and prevent their encroachment upon the
territory OF Texas-then Mexico. Large bands OF In
dians-seyeral thousands OF the Cherokees Sbawnees,
Deawares, Kckapoos Chocktaws and the entire Caddo
nation, and several other tribes-went and took
possession OF our territory, and many OF them began,
and have continued, TO make war and commit depreda-
tons. The matter was brought to the attention OF the
government OF the United States, and nothing done
aboui In 1895, in the very face of that treaty. having
the same provisions with those that exist between
us and Mexico, the government OF the United States
made treaty with the Caddo Indians, one article OF
which was that they ",o leave the territories OF
the United States, and never TO return TO them again"
There territory TO which they could go but to
Texas, and this in The very teeth of your own solemn
treaty obligations They did more. Another article
! in that treaty required the payment OF annuity
OF ten thousand dollars a year TO these Caddo In
dams They Immediately complied with the OF the
treaty by removing from the territory OF the United States
and settling themselves down upon the territory OF Texas
When their ten thousand dollars became due, they to
the agent OF the United States in louisiana and
arms and ammunition, and they had not travelled fifty
miles before they commenced their depredations-not
upon men, but upon women and ehildren-wth the very
means furnished out OF your public treasury. speak
/ what know, and what your own officers knew.
i Mr. BELL, What Indians these
| Mr. RUSk The Caddoes | witness TO these
facts and know them to be true And these Indians
there now settled in villages and they are and always
have been, controlling trbe. have not time to men.
of Texas, with their Chiefs and they have more infu-
than any others in the councils OF the other tribes
Now, ask that you shall enter into negotiations TO
move them, and give them territory OF your own-not
Of ours And can say that there has not one sing e
dollar been appropriated TO this object heretofore. II
Texas is to be the receptacle OF all your Indians LEI us
know II at once, that may take steps 10 defend our
selves and give protection TO frontier, which the
| United States have not done.
| Mr.. SHIELDS. Will the honorable senator permit
me to interrupt him one moment There is feeling
the part OF the honorable senator from Tennessee Mr.
BELL regard TO this matter in opposition to this appro
priation. But have little question in my own mind
in relation to the subject that propose asking OF the
senator from Texas, and hope he will treat il cooly