The Hillsborough recorder., 1854-03-01

: these territorial governments brouuh,
b TO bear with. in fact, an oyerpowerfny
e force upon the exercise Of the will ol
: those tribes, IL would be mockery 10
ask them to consent. when the practical
power Of refusal was in substance with
held. Therefore. If the substitute had
remained in its original condition, no
earthly consideration would have in.
, duced me TO give il nv support for
consider fair and untainted reputa-
ton. as il is the most valuable passes
sion Of an individual in private life, The
strongest safeguard Of nation
But, SIR. that substitute. upon the sng-
gestIon OF the Committee on Indian All.
fairs, npon amendments prnp .srd byIits
Chairman, has been relieved af those n.
noxious provisions. and think il does
now substantially assure to " the exsr.
else OLA free and independent vii l.on The
part OF the Indian tribes. All contral
over them is entirely taken from tie Ter
ritorial authorities. Though included
geographically within the bounds of
these Territories, politically they are
to all purposes out Of them, and are
not, IN any respect, brought into con-
tact with, aud will-not have any trans
actions, or business, or dealings. with
the territorial aDskorities, as such. Tile
full. entire, and complete jurisdiction
OF the President Of the United States.
and the officers Of his appointment, ir-
respective entirely of the territorial or
ganization, is continued aud reserved;
and the acts passed for their security
are reenacted, and realiirmed; and,rvery
reasonable precautionhas been made,to
satisfy that plain demand upon our
honor. that what is asked from them
they shall be at liberty 10 refuse.
! know, sir. every gentlemen is OBJ
liged to know. that every Indian tribe
IS more or less subject 10 influences in
the transaction Of business respecting
their condition. aud their property.
which II is not in the power of the
Congress Of the United States entire-
ly to dissipate aud remove. Ii is pos
sible that the President of the United
states, acting under the authority coas
ferred upon him by law, and reserved
to him by this bill, may oppoint agents
who will be guilty Of the most un-
worthy contrivances, means of COM
pulsion, or arts OF persuasion, which
may result. in really depriying the
Indian Of the fair aud just exercise of
his own independent will but | am
not to presume that any such use will
be made of power. A President of
the United States who would be guilty
OF such conduct would be justly hand.
ed down to posterity with indelibIe
ignominy upon his character, and stand
recorded to the remotest generations
as a reproach to the character of the
country which gave him birth, and ho,
nored him with its confidence. AS this,
however, is not TO be presumed, and IS
not to be believed, | say that | think all
reasonable precautions have been taken
which can be demanded of us to insure
a fair, and just, and free exercise OF the
power Of assent or dissent.
Again, Mr.. President, IsympaShized
IN the view expressed by my honorable
friend from Massachusetts, Mr.. Eve.
rett, that perhaps there was no neces-
sity for immediate action in respect to
the establishment oi these Territories.
and that We might, without any serious
detrlment to the public good, have al
lowed the present state Of things to con.
tinue for a few years longer; but then
| agree with him that this is, at last,
but question of time. The very ne
cesslties Of the case, the developments
Of the country, our acquisitions on the
Pacific, the rush of the population, with
,r without the appreciation of Cor.
sress, renders it but a question of time;
and ! am far from being certain but
that i is better, this being, as | think,
the undoubted state ut
thlngs, that we should, by some time
y and wise Legislation, endeavor to do
.ffectually now, what perhaps We may
rot be able to accomplish few years
lence-extend the restraining In.
luence of our laws over this popula.
ion-and that, on the whole, 1t is not
It all unlikely that it is for the in.
erests of the tribes themselves that
We should now adopt the proposed
egisation.
The public faith, then, Mr.. Presi.
lent, being, as | think, sufficiently re.
leved from all just imputatlon, the
question with regard to time being one
! comparative unimportance, and, for
he reasons which | have mentioned.
lot weighing, at all events, strongly
galnst the present adoption Of some
ust system in reference to these Terri
ories. the question then arises, is there
in this bill which should in
luce me to reject it, Or are its provi>
IONS such as commend it to our APP
ROTATION . Every one must be aware
IN q fhQ mol n