The daily union., 1852-08-11
INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.


the consider alton OF House bill No. 43being can act
making appr opriaons for the current and contingent
penses Of The Indian department. and for fulfilling treaty
spuaons with the various Indian tribes for the year
ending June 80. 1882"
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. NoRRIs in the
chair) stated the question he upon the amendment pro
posed by Mr. SEBASTIAN TO the amendment reported from
the Committee on Finance.
Mr. UNDERWOOD I rise for the purpose OF stating
to the Senate that have just received letter written
by Geo. w. Ewing for Captain Joseph Parks, OF the
Shawnee delegation, which states facts and refers
10 documents growing out OF the debate yesterday
wish to read H. so that the statements of this indian
chief in regard this matter may be laid before the Sem
ate. II is follows:
= sakss4s WAssINoroS cry. August 9, 1852
DEAR SIR Captain Joseph Parks of the Shawnee dele
CATION, here, desires 10 STATE that the Shawnee nation
made application for their l0000o OF land (due
,ioa, made ,hrought ,he agent Major r. W Cummings,
the War Department and thar iney continued 10 urge
1872 that then delegation OF their pc, pie this
city and urged this claim, and in the 1874 they
sent delegation here, fully authorized by nation, and
with letters from their agent Msor Luke Lea 70 the hon non
this they have been prosecuting this claim for their
that ,hor authority rom ther nation and their
their agent OF November, lSl9, file in the lndan de
letters which they brought this last time, dated in
March last do not renew their authority about the oo 900
on file for but il authorized them particularly
10 look after their moneys unded by the United States
The foregoing statement will show that this Is not new
recent application on the part Of the Shawnee naton
but that truth and fact, they have been asking for the
land for their money ever since 1888, now seventeen
years past Captain Parks was IN the Senate Yesterday
and heard the debates their claim, and he thinks II
but Iigh, that the truth should bs known to this It's
no thought with the Shawnee nation; for they
OF 1881 10 900 land from United States, and
themselves from their Missouri friends out OF
made ,hs treaty IA The State Of Ohio and sold TO the Un
their valuable lands in that State Much OF their
Ohio land then sold would doubtless now sell for $50 and
remain, with great respect your obedient ut segysn
To Hon JosErH r. UNpERwooD, Senator.
Mr. BRIGHT. That letter, presume, is intended as
orable senator from Tennessee, [Mr, BELLl | under
stood that honorable senator TO state that this was the
first session OF Congress in which claim was set up for
the amount which the Committee on Finance have
ported in favor OF striking out And understand this
matter that this is the first session OF Congress IN which
this claim has been set up to this appropriation in
money. And the result OF the inquiries made by the
Committee on Finance and the department go TO corrob-
crate the statement made by the senator from Tennessee
mr. BELL that this is The first time nat claim has
ever been up the amount OF money called for ny
this amendment.
Mr BORLAND. When this subject postponed
yesterday for the purpose OF adjoanng was upon the
hoor more for the purpose OF making inquiries and get
ting information than for the purpose OF Offering any
views of my own. ! made the inquiry OF my colleague
[Mr SEBAsTiAs,l which he answered; which answer
not only listened TO aiientvey at the time, but |
have read it with some care this morning, as pub
that information, and the explanation il gave OF this
claim am sorry say that It has failed 10 satisfy me
that the claim is we'll founded.
have found il difficult always, when | have under.
taken to examine into these Indian claims, 10 arrive at
the facts for they always mixed mp with onia
ions expressed by those who advocate them that have
found il exceedingly difficult. and almost always quite
impraccabe TO separate what the facts proved from
the opinions expressed by gentlemen To their value II
has beea in this case Than perhaps IN any other mat
has fallen to my lot to examine Now, without under
taking TO go into a thorough examination oil the SUBJECT
and without undertaking 10 controvert any oil The post
tons assumed or any OF the opinions expressed by
uhoh hava call ed MI
10 the Senate what appear TO from the best examna
ton have been able to give the subject TO be the facts
in this case and then my opinion OF these facts as tar
as they will control the vote shall give
Ii seems to me from this examination that the facts
are these; by treaty stipulation with portion OF the
Shawnee tribe OF indians holding lands IN The State OF
Ohio-between 90 900 and 10000 acres-we agreed TO
give them. az q condition Of their removal west hity.hve
cents per ss understand Il, In the form OF annu-
ties or a certain per ostun per annum II am wrong
in this. would thank my colleague 10 correct me. Upon
this condition. this branch OF the Shawnee tribe removed
from these lands in Ohio and they have since that time
been receiving annually the amount OF money agreed TO
be paid them by the treaty stipulation, and. so lar as
the treaty is concerned they have been paid all that
il provided they should be paid. | understand also
the further fact 10 be, that BY another treaty they were
permitted 10 settle upon lands IN the West--wes OF Ms
souri or A,saasas DO no! know the exact locality oi u
Mr. BRIGHT West OF Missouri.
Mr. BoRLAND. They've permitted to settle upon
tract Of land west OF tbSSiae of Missouri tract OF
50 miles square, making 100000 aeres-c9nlontly wIlh
The other portion OF the Shawnee tribe already settled
there and they have since that time occupied that land 10
Joint tenaniTy or common tenanry&I do not know ex-
ac,ly which is the proper law iem-with that other
brsach Of the tribe and they have tecome amagama-
led and united and tribe holding the land in
mon and enjoying the right OF occupancy use and posses
on Of this 900 600 understand further. that their
original claim, when they here this laslime and made
application in regard 10 this matter, that they should
receive instead OF the annual payment OF some per cent
OF this 55 per the whole amount in Rross be
used az the tribe might think proper understand
that the proposition not only to pay them this 55
per acre in gross upon which have heretofore been
paying them annual interest OF some per cent but
10 nav them aso the 10 per acre. which, the time
Of The treaty by which they cedea this land in Ohio the
United States was reserved by the United States to them
selves or the purpose OF deraying the expenses OF
moyal, &c. II am wrong in this statement hope SEN
a,ors who are better acquainted with this matter will cor
rect me These understand TO be the facts thls ls the
state of the case as it Is now before the Senate.
Now I have no oblecion-l am willing TO vote at
any tire to comply with their request to be paid ~ gross
the amount OF this So per acre. and not boidl az
ua fund upon which 10 pay them an annual diV-
idend but lei the Indians take il in gross and sppfoprae
as they choose understand that they are among the
mos, intelligent and civilized Tribes of Indians and are
capable when put in possession OF any amount OF money
ol managing judiciousy and usetully Tor the w e
nm willing, therefore. 10 comply with that pait OF tnet
feqnes and pay 10 the m gross the uil alnonh
on ths % cents per But as 10 the iurthe demand
wbch nn5e stand is made, that they shall asl be
paa tne ~ cents per which reserved to ourselves
he Time Tie treaty made have been unable to per
eeve any foundation in equity IN justice Tor IT. mas
been s1 mat II s proper to give II To them because we
unuer'oos hy subsequent n.y. 10 provide them l00
600 acres oi land west OF the Miss sspp river and n-