The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-28
Nebraska Territory.

the United States.
6ir-Wben the executive Of great people lays
aside his Official dignity and grants an humble cti-
zen The privilege Of personal correspondence, he
has ri BIT TO expect that the pleasure conferred will
be commensurate with the courtesy extended. But
while concede precedence TO no man in devotion to
the present administration, / frankly confess that
deep al Xiety to render this communication worthy
OF careful consideration, and worthy OF ths cause
have undertaken to advocate has usurped the place
Of more pleasing emotions.
Tie present Commissioner Of Indians Affairs
closes an official statement ia the Union of tbs 2lst
ultimO with the negative iDuendo that he is not
able TO say that any portion of tie proposed territory
of Nebraska can be lawfully occupied by white men
for settlement This Official in'imstion is imme-
diately preceded by the admon'tion that the
President is authorized to direct the military force OF
the United States to be employed in removing from
the Indian country all persons found therein contrary
to law. 1t might, therefore, be supposed that the
commandsnt at Fort Leavenworth merely gave pub
lcity to orders received from the President when he
threatened contumacious immi grants with prompt
expulsion. Many worthy citizens Of the United
States have been deferred from settling in Nebraska
not by the terrors Of Fort Leavenworh but by their
respect for the civil power
It appears that the country west OF the state OF
Missouri lying between the Arkansas and the Platte,
and extending west to the sources of the Kansas and
the forks of the Platte, originally belonged to the
lone to the Otsoes though south Of the Platte, is
not within the limits here described.
The Osages and Kansas Indians transferred
70 the United States their title to this region
osn and occupation, in 1925. The
tile of the Pawnees to all lands lying south Of the
Platte was extnguished by treaty with the United
States, without any reserved right, in 1888. The
privilege of hunting in common with at least twenty
other tribes during the pleasure OF che President, can
hardly be dignifed az right.
portion OF this country has been granted and
guaranteed to the various Indian tribes now located
Immediately west OF Missouri. Those grants and
those guarantees are re ,ognised and respected by
the friends of the proposed territory. The a,tive
friends OF Nebraska are identified in interest and FEEL
ing with the Indians They repose on those solemn
treaties, concerning which we have heard SO much
of late officially and unociay, in Congress and out
of Congress 1t Is arrant supererogation ia any man
to make ocious display Of extracts and abstracts
Of treaty stipulatlons. There never was and never
can he any question as to their validity.
But q large portion Of the country coded to the
United States by the Osages, X ansas and Pawnees,
not in the occupancy OF any Indian tribe The United
States still retain the title It is resorted to merely
as bunting ground common to all Indians friendly
to the United States and this common and fruitless
privilege is enjoyed only during the pleasure of the
President say frui'less privilege, because We are
told inst the game is rapidly disappearing. And
unless the United States reverse the order Of civji
zaion by Introducing domestic animals into the will
de,ness 10 be hunted by the Indians, as has been
suggested, This vast, unoccupied region will not be
organise the Territory Of Nebraska and allow white
men to take possession OF that portion which the
Indians do not claim, and which they would hardly
accept as present? Those districts that have
been soemny granted to particular tribes nave not
all been accepted. None OF the various tribes OF
Indians residing in the State of New. York have
deemed it worth while to take possession of the por
viduas, or to foreign power; and if they abandon
the country, besOme extinct as tribe, the title
reverts 10 the United States Many Of the tribes
siding in the territory have but gloomy prospect.
They are reduced in numbers, and are fast de-
cIeasing.
An anonymous writer, copying from spee;hes
made in Congress last winter, came very near i'm
mortalizins himself by anticipating the publicat on
Of the statement OF the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, in announcing The fact that several treaties
with the Indians west Of Missouri contain express
guarantees that there never shall DO, IN the country
ceded any territorial government and that tae sams
Avs. This would certainly be q very plausible OBJ
lection to the organization of the Territory OF e.
brsska, if to the power Of making bargain you add
the p,7 er Of waking II eternal notwithstanding all
the parties to il ia favor Of rescndng its OBJ ga-
tion-,i ou admit the power Of making purchase,
bnf deny the power OF making asa.elf, because thu
Inoa,s have mlde one treaty they are forever barred
IRON making another. This objection, like all other
object ns 70 the organization Of the rOpoaed terri
rory, il baseo on false supposition-the suppos:-
zion that territorial government Is proposed
to he erected tribes of Indians without their
sent; wben in fact it is at thstc special instan
al d request. In the last annual report OF tue Com
missioner Of Indi n Affairs are told that the Wy.
an6oIs, tribe IF Indians that, in all the essential
reous,res Of good citizens, will not suffer In compari
son with large portion OF the white population Of
the United States, are mpaiently awaiting the es
tablishment Of territorial government the vast
region north Of the Arkansas and west Of the Mis-
souri, rivers" And this statement is corroborated
by the last annual report Of the Indian Agent for the
VI TIL n A. n..wos "a hr~rs
displayed in protecting the Indians? Protecting
them against what! Against taeir own wishes
their interests. But SUPPOSE for the sake Of ar
gumeIt, that not Indian within the limits of the
proposed territory Is in favor Of its organization
still it is not violation Of auy treaty, because It il
expressly provided in the first section OF the bill
That nothing in this act contained shall be con
stued to impair the rights of person or property nov
include any territory which, by treaty with any In
dian tribe is not without the nse1t Of said tribe
to be included within the terrtoa limits or jurisdic
ton OF any State or territory" Suoposing, still fol
ave nj animously opposed to the bill ye. the fabric
proposed to be erected will not fall for want Of
ground TO TEST upon. 1t is aduisted by the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs, in his statement in the
Jnlon, and also by the distinguished Senator from
Missouri, to whom that statement was addressed, in
his speech in tie Senate on the Sd OF March last that
the United States have clear title to portion o.
the country within the boundaries prescribed In the
ci'is pOty Wnas IlSnt nave toey W erect lott al
the Jun .tion OF the Kansas aud Republican rivers?
The last annual report Of the Commissioner Of In
dian Affairs and the first section Of the bill, are
full and perfect refutation Of all objections to the
proposed organization growing out OF treaty stpula
tioDs. Pardon my eg0tism If refer on this subject
to lettef addressed to Hon. Abelard Guthrie
and published in the Baltimore Repuh can ana
argus on the 29th Of July last, copy OF which Il
enclosed II the tone and style of tRat letter are moi
as refined and polished amiabli y ITSELF recolleci
that something should be pardoned to the spirit Of
vexation. The bill, after languishing eight years
passed the House by the overwhelming vote o.
ninety eight to forty three and was then defeated
by the loquacity Of the ex-senator from Tennessee.
The following extract from the last ahnua, rannr
Of the Superintendent Of Irdian Affairs at St. Louis
sufficiently emphatic:-" One or two millions Of
dollars will purchase Nebraska, and give us terri
tory on our own border hundred fold more valu
able than New Mexico, and native population fsl
more enlightened and patriotic. speak thus posi-
lively on The subject 90 ] am acquainted with the
country and the inhabitants of both territories