The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-01
ONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
,irty- Third Congress-First session.
DEFERRED DEBATE
FRIDAY, MARCH 3. 1854.
[coscLupED,
SENATE.
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.

NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
M Senate having under consideration the bill to organic
territories of Nebraska and Kansas
h DOUGLAS said; think there TO be prett,
disposition manifested now, and we shall be able L
s debate and proceed TO the a very short time
President before proceed to the general argumen
lhe most important branch of this question, must sa,
words in reply the senator from Tennessee, Mr.
who has spoken upon the bill to-day. He approve
principles of the bill; he thinks they have grea
but he does not his way entirely clear TO vote TO
N because of the objections which he has stated mos
bch relate to the Indians.
op that point desire say that il has never been tn
an in territorial bills to make regulations concerning
Indians within the limits Of the proposed Territories
matters relating TO them II has been thought wise I,
to subsequent legislation, to be brought forward b,
Committee Indian Affairs. | did venture originall,
bis bill to put ia one or two provisions upon that sub
but the suggestion of many senators both sides
hamber, they stricken out order to allow tns
foprae committee OF the Senate to take charge of tina
sct think, therefore, since have stricken from the
all those provisions which pertain TO the Indians and
ed the whole subject for the consideration and actor
appropriate committee, we have obvated every pos
objection which could reasonably be urged upon tina
We have every reason 10 hope and trust that the
ntee Indian Affairs will propose such measures al
DO entire justice To the Indians without contravenine
Bects OF Congress in organizing these Territories.
sir, alluson has beon made TO certain Indian
and it has been intimaed, if not charged in direct
respect to the rights and lands of the Indians. The
Dr from Texas Mr.. HoUsroN made very long and
rs'ng speech on that subject, but it SO happened tina
Of the Indian treaties to which he referred witt
not included within the limits Of this bill We have
informed in the course of the debate to-day by Tia,
man of the Committee Indian Affairs, Mr.. SEBAs
that there is but one treaty in existence relating t
Indians within the limits Of either of the proposed
toes and that ia the treaty with the Ottawa Indians
two hundred persons in number, owning about thirty
y thousand acres of land. Thus it appears that the
e argument Of injustice to the red man. which in the
ne of this debate has called forth much sympathy
Indignation, Ia confined to two hundred Indians, own
ss than two townships OF land. Now, sir is it posi-
that country said to be Ave hundred thousand square
in extent, and large enough to make twelve such
Is Ohio, is to be consigned to perpetual barbarism
y account of that small number of Indians, when
Nil itself expressly provides that those indians and their
not to be included within the limits of the pro-
Territories, nor TO be subject to their laws juris-
pm would not allow this invade he rights
zen Indian and hence inserted in the first section
bill that none of the tribes with whom we have treaty
aions should be embraced within either of the Terri
s. unless such Indians shall voluntarily cons ent to be
ded therein by treaties hereafter to be made. amy
can furnish with language explicit, which
prove more eecual In securing the rights of the In
| will cheerfully adopt it,
ELL, sir, the senator from Tennessee, in very kind
here raises the objeatlon for to answer that this
ncudes Indians within the limits of these Territories
whom we have no treaties, and he desires 10 know
We are to do with them. viii say to him that that is
matter OF inquiry which necessarily or properly arises
the passage of this bill that is not proper inquiry
ONE before the Committee Territories. You have
our territorial bills included Indians within the boun-
Of the Territories. When you erected the Territory
lfnesots you had not oxtnguished the Indian title to
bot Of land that Territory Of ,s Axi-,s,rri
and TO the major part of that Territory the Indian
remains unextnguished to this day. In addition to
wild tribes, you removed Indians from Wisconsin,
coated them within Minnesota since the Territory was
nusd Il will be question for the consideration OF
Committee on Indian Affairs and for the action of Con-
when in settlement and CIVILIZATION II shall become
ry change the present policy IN respect to the In.
5 When you erected the territorial government OF
n few years ago, you embraced within 1t all the In
living in the Territory without their consent, and
bout any such reservations IN their behalf as are com
I'd in this bill. You had not at that time made treaty
those Indians, nor oxtnguished their title 10 an acre
and IN that Territory, nor, indeed have You done 50 10
! Day SO II IS IN the organization OF washington Ter
~. You ran the lines around the country which you
ght ought be within the limits Of the Territory, and
embraced all the Indians within those lines but you
provision in respect to their rights or andsi you
hat matter 10 the Committee Indian Affairs 10 the
AN laws, and to the proper department. to be arranged
awards as the public interests might require Inc same
i rue in reference 10 Utah and New Mexico.
he the policy provided for in this bill IN respect to the
ANS that which is in force in every one OF the
uones Therefore, any senator who objects 70 ths on
hhi score should have objected to, and veted against
1
ny friend from Texas has taken occasion TO remind the
rt several times, that il matter OF prde-and II
TO be matter OF patriotic pride with him-thst ne
for every Of the Compromise OF 1880, iheu,
hs Utah and New Mexico territorial bills embracing al
Indians within their limits. My friend from Tennessee
has been very liberal in voting for of the territorial
and therefore that the same patriotic and worthy
rts which induced him TO for The territorial acts Of
vii enable him give his support TO the present bill
fny as he approves of the great principle OF popuia
lragnty upon which IL rests.
senator from Tennessee remarked further that tn,
posed limits Of these two Territories TOO extensive
hey large enough TO be erected into eight dfsren
and Why, he asked, the necessity OF including sucf
~ amount Of country within the limits OF these Ws
PIOnesl must remind the senator that II has Away
the practice to include largo extent Of country within
Territory and then TO subJivde II from time TO ne a
public interest might require. Such was the case WIZ
od Northwest Territory. 1t was all originally includes
pm one territorial government Afterwards, Ohio wa
II and then Indiana Michigan, Illinois, and Wisron
we're excessively erected into separate territorial govern
and subsequently admitted into the Union as States
period, it will be remembered, that tho Territory
ons,n included the country embraced within the limit
States Of Wisconsin and Iowa, and part OF the Stat
Michigan, and the Territory of Minnesota. There
|y enough within the Territory Of Minnesota TO max
Z Of three States OF the size Of New York. Wsshngto
futory embraces about tho same area Oregon rs arg
h to make three four States as extensive sPennsy
~, Utah two or three and New Mexico four or FIVE
dimension Indeed The whole country embraced with
proposed Territories Of Nebraska and Kansas, togethe
the States Of Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa, and III
Fr part Of Minnesota and the whole of the Indian cour
west OF Arkansas once constituted territorial govern
|nt under the name Of Missouri Territory. In view {
course Of Legislation upon the subject Of territorial OF
aon, commencing before the adoption OF the constitt
Of the United States and coming down TO the last sesso
Congress 1t surely be said that there Is anythn
usual or extraordinary in the size Of the proposed Ierr
a which should compel senator TO vote against N
while he approves Of the principles involved IN tn
h also been Urged in debate that there is no necesslt
meie territorial organizations and have been ceiIe
NV point out any pubic and national consideration
men require action this time Senators seem to iorg
our immense and valuable prosecutions on the Pacif
from the States and organized Territories