The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-03

suggested that nasnueh the governor of that Tertor
al that time was engaged in making treaty with som
Indians IN that Territory, il would be best TO make ths
temporary exception, so that he might carry out that Oh
jeot Hist
The three superintendens east of the Rocky mountain
have control OF all Indian affairs except in the Territor
OF Minnesota and this exception made for the pur
pose 10 which have alluded The will see there
fore that west OF the Rocky mountains the Pacific side
where there general superntendents the
lists for Keeping the supernendences in the hands OF th
governors although the letter which have read from tn
Commissioner of Indian Affairs states that in his opinion
they ought to be separated in all The system
complete when you carry out what the legislature in 1851
intended to carry out Yon abolished all minor superin
tendencies and placed the whole In the hands of three gen
era superintendens We have the third general super
intcndent in the person of Mr. Huebschmann in Wiscon
sin, who superinend these affairs in Minnesoa wei
as those which he has now under his charge
SO far as regards the salary OF the governor intend TO
move II nobody else does TO increase his salary to the
proper poinsay $4,000 or $4,000; for, SO far as am
concerned viii vote for either II need not be done here
ms s not the proper place but this Is tho proper place
to perfect what the Congress of 1851 intended perfect in
reference 10 Indian supernendepces, The senator will
that the exists in full force Here three
general supenendents provided for and the effect OF my
amendment simply to obvate exception which, the
time made for mere temporary purpose; and say
again that the experience which we have had in Minnesota
under Governor Ramsay the amount il has cost the gov
ernment and the difficulties which have grown out OF it,
admonsh that the Congress OF 1851 wise in these
general provisions The Commissioner says in his letter
that the business OF of these Offices has relation to
that of the other The duties inconsistent with each
other What is said BY the senator from Wisconsin, one
of the Committee on Indian rs, is said with great truth
and force the existence Of all these things that
duced Congress- in 1851 TO abolish all other means and
regulate it by the appointment of three superintendent
very much disncned to the time of the Sem
ate this subject; but confess that to my mind the
proposition is one of the planest in the world.
| Mr. WALKER think the senator from Illinois will
discover when the facts fully presented that his views
the very of what they ought to be- He assumes
that the general rule is, that the SHALL Of
co discharge duties of superintendent and that
case of Minnesota The reverse is the fact He will per-
ceive that under the law which ii is proposed to
amend the general rule is made that the governor shall
not be- ocio superintendent but that there shall be
pentendents of Indian affairs appointed though for the
reason mentioned by the senator from Michgan-that at
that time the governor Of Minnesota negotiating rea
ues-that locality was made exception to the general
rule 1t ge. rid Of that exception that the amendment
of the senator from Michigan is designed There exists
now, of the Rocky mountains this exception in the
Of Minnesota. Perhaps 1t would be well for to
st provided we had no northern superintendent but
have northern superintendentan officer who take
charge of hc Indian affairs and relieve the governor of
Minnesota of them AS for the gentleman who is governor
have doubt he is competent and will as faithfully
discharge the duties of superintendent any other in
America but he cannot do it properly and attend TO his
other duties Suppose that during the session OF the egis
lature in winter difficulty arises with the Indians; il be-
comes his duty to leave the of government the law
compes him 10 do it and go among the Indians What is
he going to doY he must seek the agency of some ire
sponsbe person. and send him there and ten to he is
not the to reconcile matters with the Indians The
governor cannot go himself in person. for he has to be
and hence very often these difficulties arise think it is
well TO get rid of the exception made in the law of 1851
and place the Indians where they placed everywhere
else of the Rock the supernend-
enoe Of the superintendent of Indian affairs proper,
MI pouGLAS is true as the senator from Mehi,
had turned my attention specially TO it. for the reason
that had idea that such proposition would be made
motion to amend the Indian appropriation bill and
that If any such radical change contemplated in our
Indian affairs presumed ID woed come from the Com
mt,ee Indian Affairs, and that should have tune to
examine it, The of 1851 does provide that the supern-
tendencies shall be dispensed with cast of the Rocky noun
ains and north OF New Mexico except in the case OF Min
ncso where the governor shall continue a eeo super
ntendent of Indian affairs unless the President OF the Uni
ted States shall relieve him therefom Then under this
law as il is the President Of the United States has the
power to-day make this very change as to that Terrific
ry If he proper why the necessity of this provision on
the subject
Mr.. STUART The senator did not hear what said in
the outset The object is this The President as matter
of course would not separate these duties and leave The
governor only 81 500 year Ii would not be FAIR lie
can separate the duties but he cannot increase the salary
Mr. DOUGLAS Exactly.
Mr. STUART Therefore there Is the necessity TO egs
late on the subject
Mr. DOUGLAS Iknow; but STILL in this legislation
YOU do not propose the salary You only
pose in this bill do what the President s authorized TO
do under the existing law take 1t for granted that h
in the estimation of the President, the public interest re-
oured this change he would have made IL before this time
take IL for granted that If in his estimation the public
interest should hereafter require the change he wh make
ii under the existing law BY your amendment you only
/
which he IL authorized to make IL he thinks his duty and
the public interest require IT, Hence there is no necessity
with public service 20 do this act unless you
believe that the President does not understand his duty or
Is not willing to perform his duty under the law
But sir cannot really understand that this IS an ex-
cepton TO the general rule The general rule has been in
this country to make the governors of the Territories e1
oReio superintcndents of Indian affairs know that
under peculiar emergencies have sometimes required
the appointment of extra superintendent but the gene
raj rule has been that the governor shall G o be super
inteuent II in Iowa. VI was so in Wisconsin, in
Missouri IN Michigan in Oregon in Minnesota in all the
Territories am certain but that some slight change
has been made in Oregon recently but II so, II has been
in this indirect mode and without due reflection and in
vestigaton
But why should there he n difference between your
and west of the Rocky mountains
If the governor proper superintendent west suppose
he proper superintendent east Certainly that range OF
mountains does make such difference either In the
powers of your governors in their duties or capacity
or IN the nature of the Indians, or the duties towards
them as require system OF policy on the east and
another on the side think therefore, that this at
tempt adopt system in one place, and another one
in another place, the suggestions Of members or o.
particular officers without having the whole subject nves
qacd is calculated lead TO confusion repeat If you
show that the governor Is so much engaged that h'
cannot perform hs duties superintendent am willing
upon bill be reported by the Committee Indian AT
fairs carefully matured TO make change but wish e
make il everywhere and not make an exception OF on
Territory when good reason for that exception can b
! pointed out
4 The senator from Wisconsin Mr. WALKER says that th
governor has be at the seat Of government to attend OF
the legislature and has not time 10 attend TO those duties
lie has to be of government not exceeding forty
DAYS in the year Your law provides that the legisatu
shall only continue in session forty days IN twelve months
should think that the governor might attend the rest