Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-18
THE INDIAN TRIBES.

THE INDIAN TRIBES.
In some remarks in our Saturdays issue relative
to Senator JOHNSON plan to establish certain In
dian Territories we referred, from memory, to a
somewhat similar scheme broached in Congress
eighteen or twenty years ago For the information
of those of our readers who may feel special in
terest in the subject, we have turned to the Con-
gressonal history and find that the plan referred to
was introduced in the House Of Representatives just
twenty years ago, through report from the Commit
tee on Indian Affairs, made by the Hon. HORACE
EVERETT, Of Vermont The committee reported
bill providing that the country lying east Of
% degrees west longitude from Washington and
south Of Platte river, containing 49,, ,295,6S0
acres, be constituted Territory to be called the
Western Territory, and to be forever reserved for
the use Of the Indians, which the committee esti-
mated to number 405,2 ,2S6.
The object Of the measure, as explained in the
luminous report before us, to secure to the In
dians " a final home" west Of the Mississippi; to
elevate their intellectual moral and civil condition,
and to fit them for the enjoyment Of the blessings
of a free government"
To carry this object into effect which was regard.
ed the settled policy of the Government the at
tention Of Congress had been frequently engaged,
and as far back as 1926 the Committee on Indian
Affairs had reported bill in accordance with the
views Of Mr.. BARBOUR, then Secretary Of War.
Nothing, however, was done until 1928, when q
treaty was formed with the Cherokees, in which a
permanent home for the Indians was most soemnly
guaranteed In that treaty it was further stipulat
ed that the United States guarantee to these Che
rokees forever seven millions Of of land, and
in addition, perpetual outlet to the West, and a
free and unmolested use of all the country lying
west Of the western boundary Of the described limits
and as far west as the sovereignty Of the United
States and their right of soil extended.
President JACKSON, in his Message of December,
ls29 urged "the propriety Of setting apart an am
pie district west Of the Mississippi, and without the
limits of any State Territory now formed, to be
guaranteed to the Indian tribes as long they shall
occupy it," In pursuance Of this recommendation
an act was passed on the 30th May, 1880, to pro-
vide for exchange Of lands with the Indians east
and their removal west of the Mississippi Follow
ing that act several treaties were formed both with
the Choctaws and Creeks (which it was stipulat-
ed that the Indians were to make their own laws,
not inconsistent with those of the United States,
and no part of their land to be embraced in any
Territory or State
To carry out these stipulations was the object of
the bill reported by Mr.. EVERETT. The territory
described was to be dedicated to the of the In
dian tribes forever, on the faith Of The nation 1t
was admitted that this faith had not been illustrated
by the history of the past, in satisfactory
to the Indians, nor was it surprising they should
ask g what new security could be given ?" The in
ability of the Government was pleaded, owing to
conflicts between the rights of the States and the
United States.
The case in 1854 was considered free from all
embarrassments, the United States having acquired
unqualified power to dispose Of the territory in
question; and the bill before us proposed to con-
summate the longpromised scheme.
The first section fixed the boundaries, as already
described.
The second guaranteed the Territory forever to
the use Of the various tribes, and provided for a
union Of one or more tribes, if they preferred it
and that their right should not be impaired by their
being at any time formed into Territory Of one Of
the United States; the title to revert if the In
dans should become extinct or abandon the lands.
The third provided that each Of the tribes might
establish and maintain q government for their own
internal concerns, and the troops Of the United
States were to be used by the President if necessary
in supporting such government.
The fourth provided that Governor of the Ter
ritory should be appointed by the President, who
was to be cr c6cio superintendent Of Indian affairs,
to execute such duties as might be enjoined by law
or directed by the President.
The yftM provided for the appointment of Sec