The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-12

Mr. SEWARD know Governor Ramsay some what
we'll. cannot believe that the charges made against him
are true, III knew hun less perfectly than do should
still hold myself bound TO disbelieve them uni they were
proved But quite concur win the suggestions OF the
TWO senators who have last spoken. After the statement
made by The senator from Wisconsin, do mol know how
The Senate refrain from giving the COMMITTEES power
TO send OF their number during the recess Tor the ob
lect proposed. The Senate. part OF the treaty making
power, is advisory with the Executive and has to take
pa OF the responsibility with regard TO the and
guardianship the Indian tribes II these charges
all false II rs yet established in history that there have
been frauds heretofore pracsed by agents
pon The Indians not surpassed in magnitude and in tur
pude by those which are ALLEGED in this remem-
Der treaty which made with the Seneca Indians for
!he surrender OF their reservation in the State of New
YORK, which agtalet the State and the nation for many
years, and which was frequently under discussion in
The Senate, Tor The purpose OF deciding whether the treaty
should not be abIogaed on account of the frauds com
mitted under IT. II Is due TO the agents OF the govern
men on all OCCASIONS that when any responsible party
shall submit charges against them they shall have full
investigation Ana II is not on necessary that they
should have a lull investigation but prompt for
not done promptly, It will not be fully done.
If we suspend this investigation Ill the lapse Of the
recess OF Congress- Is easy 10 that ii will go
altogether. The delay will amount to a postponement
OF The investigation OF the charges until the subject be-
comes stale and obsolete If it TO be done, and done
promptly there no other to do but through the
agency OF this committee, and do not see how the
miltee could exercise more discretion, prudence,
and more regard TO economy than the manner proposed
by them. trust of their number will be sent with
power OF mitumus, TO take the testimony upon which
their report must be made al the ne XII session Of Con-
sress. III 1t were any other case, | would not be
strenuous; but where the indians concerned, and
where their abstract rights Involved the is
strong And il is much more because the
putaton of good faith among the Indian tribes,
depend for peace and tranlay upon our border settle
mens. | shall therefore very cheerfuy vote for the
Mr. HUNTER. The senator's are arguing as if OBJ
eced TO investigation The fact is quite the contrary
believe that an Investigation ought TO be made aud
that will be made whether pass the resolution
not. II is to the mode of investigation which is pro-
posed in the resolution that object think il is matter
ior Executive inquiry, and not for single senator /,
conduct during the Of the Senate Nor do know
why It is that the senator from Wisconsin should sup
pose that have any personal reason for objecng to it.
have advanced none but public considerations, and
public considerations, II seems TO me, OF weight Sir
what capacity is this single senator TO act in the
when we have all gone away' Is he senator still
during the recess clothed with legislative powers! How
is he 10 be paid Who is to decide what he is to take
Is he to have per dem and mileage no matter where he
may go in making the investigation! See the difficulties
into which shall be led if this practice be established
But, again this method OF taking testimony in regard
to disputed question, whether be conducted by single
individual or by committee OF the Senate sitting in the
recess OF Congress- II seems to is not the arest mode
of proceeding 1t is an immense power to be lodged in
the hands of committee aud still The ha ads Of
a single individual When the committees of the Senate
OF the other House, SIT making investigation while
We are in session they sit in some measure under the
correction OF the House. Ii the investigation takes
improper direction and the witnesses who
give evidence before them complain, there means
fore The House OF nqurng into their conduct, givi
direction 10 il under the order of the House itself
but when ii is done by committees without any RESPONSE
bility the House, they have the whole power in their
hands, and it is improper power II seems to me
that when leave this place legislative powers
gone, and that II inquiries are to be made, il commits
Ss asS ss Ss ayR9ssa s Hs s:S as
does to be proper in this case TO leave It to the
governor Of the Territory, who will be sr c6ico superin
tendent of Indian affairs. have no personal objection
the appointment OF any senator who might be selected
by the Committee on Indian Affairs do object to
an investigation. think the circumstances require that
there should be examination but believe that
shall certainly have without the resolution with
and do not pass II, we shall have one which
will emanale from the proper quarter-he Executive.
oppose the resolution because regard il a dangerous
precedent the practice to which 1t may lead here
after in the appointing not merely OF committees TO sit
during the but OF single senators TO act as COM
ssioners to take testimony upon public matters in i'm
poTtant cases.
Mr. WALKER. cannot appreciate the force OF what
the senator IRON Virginia says. The charges have been
made 10 the Senate Of the United States You have i'm
posed the duty your committee of proceeding in the
investigation OF them. They have reached point
where It would be unsatisfactory both sides 10 desst
from it for nobody is making the demand more siren
uously for an examination than Governor Ramsay. He
demands IT, He says he is innocent IN the matter. We
alleged that he guilty. We have proceeded as be-
fore remarked 10 certain point in the investigation, and
cannot 90 further without the passage OF the resolu-
ton II is not tina, disposed to take any OF the
duties of the Executive hands, but II is that the
committee may be enabled to discharge their duty to the
Senate and to the parties both of which demanding
that investigation may be had. For one, would pre-
fer that the committee should be continued make the
raised here TO such propositions the OF expense
II therefore thought by the committee best TO ask
the Senate 10 permit them delegate Of their mem
bers report the subject, not to investigate IT. but
TO 60 as ii were, and discharge the mechanical duty oil
taking down the words OF the witnesses from their own
ps and then TO certify az the session that the test
mony taken down properly taken.
Mr.. HUNTER. Who will ask the questonss Who
will conduct the examination The commissioner
Mr.. WALKER. | suppose there will be written in
erogatores in regard TO the charges under considera
ton
Mr. HUNTER Is that mechanical duty
Mr. WALKER. Clearly. There will be inierroEa-
tories written by the who will peform the man
ual duty, and the answers will be returned to the
Senate
Mr. HUNTER Does the senator mean ,ha, there
certain written ineHoEatones prepared by The commit
teei
Mr. WALKER. There have no, been any directed.
MIR. HUNTER Them the commissioner u to ask
what questions he chooses.
Mr. WALKER. Suppose that is the case presume
that If goes under the direction OF the committee,
he will 20 with honest intentions to get the facts OF the
case and il IL is presumed let the Senate vote the
resolution down, and say will not trust OF its
bers presume that whoever is sent will 20 with hon
intentions get the facts both sides II ii be-
necessary for him TO put questions to elicit the
facts upon the chages he ia to do So but it will not BE-
competent for him condemn acquit anybody he is
only report 10 the committee for its action and they
are TO report the Senate for the Senaes action in its
legislative capacity. That is what is meant and II the
Senate disposed TO stgmaze the members OF the In
dian Committee being incompetent TO do what often
done by commissioners under dsdimus potsstssm let it
say so.
Mr.. HUNTER Does the senator charge me with
s,gmatizng the Committee Indian Affairs in that