The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-11
NrBRAsK,A.

The House resolved itself into COMMITTEES Of the
Whole on the state of the Onion (Mr. HIBsAnp in
the Chair) and resumed the consideration Of the
bill to organise the Territory Of Nebraska.
sons foe doing 60 at length The principal one vas
that the geographical limits of the proposed Terri
tory embraced eighteen Indian tribes, contrary to
the treaty which stipuates that they shall not be
ter to be formed. He contended that there was not
population enough in Nebraska to authorize such
an organization. In addition, even if the provi-
sions OF the bill were legal in all respects it would
produce such state of things as would defeat the
humane policy, originated By jackson, of settling
the Indian tribes to themselves, apart from the in
reference of white men.
Mr. MILLER pointed to the provision in the bill
that nothing therein contained shall be construed
to impair the rights of person or property now
pertaining to the Indians in said Territory so long
as such rights shall remain unextinguished he
treaty between the United States and such In.
MI. HOWARD replied, saying ..that is been.
ing the treaty to the ear and breaking it to tie
hope" And he further opposed the bill
Mr.. HALL responded, insisting that the bill did
not include single Indian tribe with whom we
have treaty. He would insist upon all our tres
ties being respected.
Mr.. SUTHERLAND endorsed the arguments of
the gentleman from Texas, (Mr. HowARp.)
Mr. HALL resumed, and showed the Importance
OF settling the country between Missouri and the
Pacific coast. 1t was necessary for the protection
of emigrans, for the faciIitation Of commerce. and
for the strength of the Union.
Mr. CLlNGMAN said the gentleman who last
addressed the committee had not succeeded in 70
moving the difficulty. He believed that the NOM.
lation Of Nebraska does not exceed eight HUNDRED
persons; gentleman near him said, not five hun
dred. The only way to protect emigrants ie to
send troops thither, Or if the design was to nonn
late the country. they should encourage settlement
by making donations of lands, as in the case If
Oregon. A territorial government was not the
most economical mode ofprotecting emigrants.
Mr.. HALL said thatif the bill should hecornoo
law, thirty or forty thousand people would Iook 10
Nebraska in the course of a few months They
are only prevented from going thither now bv the
regulations the Indian Department 1t was not
from the Indians the emigrants were to be nro-
tected, but from sickness and from the storms on
the way to Oregon and California
MIR. SUTHERLAND further opposed the bill
The only effect of organizing the Government was
to induce a more rapid settlement and the er
penditure of vast sums of money to enish the
Indian title to lands, while we have in the eleven
adjoining States four hundred millions of acres vet
unsettled, and two hundred millions in the market
Mr.. RICHARDSON argued that bv oneninor nm
the territory to settlement, the military force now
there could be dispensed with, and that five hun
dred settlers even would do more to protect all
interests in that quarter than all our troops Theon
means to settle the territory intervening hetween
the Western States and the Pacific was by paszing
this bill. 1t would have the effect too of bindin9
the States, now separated by space, closely to-
gether. He replied to arguments which had been
urged against the bill.
Mr.. CLINGMAN moved an amendment, which
was agreed to-that no part of the territory occu
pied by the Indians shall constitute part of he
Territory of Nebraska.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, offered an amend
men to strike out all in the bill after the enactinp
clause and inserting an appropriation of & so 600
to enable the President to enter into negotiations
with view of extinguishing the Indian title to
the lands in Nebraska. This was disagreed To-
ayes 81, noes II.
Several other amendments were disagreed to.
when ~
The committee rose
4 Mr. LETCHER moved that the bill be laid upon
the table; but the motion did not prevail-yeas 49,
nays l07. -
The amendments reported from the committee !
were then concurred in, and the bill was passed
yeas 98, 40.
And the House adjourned.