Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-07-13
Claims Black Hawk War.

In the house. June 10th. Mr.. Orr, from the
Committee on Indian Affairs, made the following
report upon resolution of enquiry introduced
by Mr.. Washburne
The Committee on Indian Affairs 20 whom was
referred resolution instructlng them to inquire
into the expectancy of passing a law providing
for settlement of the claims growing out OF
depredatlons committed by the Indians IN the
Black Hawk war OF lS32, report:
That they have taken into consideration the
resolution and have examined both into the nature
aud extent of the depredations committed upon
the property of citizens of the United States, re-
siding principally in the State of Illinois. The
claims, tor the payment OF which general law is
now asked 10 be passed, have BEEN IN great
measure specifically brought before Congress and
rejected An adverse report On these claims was
submitted at the LIST session OF the 9th Congress
which was sustained by the House, thereby reject
ing the claims now sought TO be revived and dis
charged. The committee haze been furnished, by
the Indian Bureau, with abstracts of great mum
Der OF these claims. The abstracts are predlca-
ted upon the report OF commission organized
under the direction of General Atkinson in Janu-
airy, 1893. The commissioners, Capt Palmer
and VIM Hampstead, Esqr's., were charged with
the duty of collecting, adjusting, and examining
all outstanding claims arising from the move
ments of the militia and friendly Indians called
into service during the spring and summer oil
1882. All the claims on file IN the Indian Bureau.
(and your committee satisfied that they EN-
brace all contemplated in the resolution which is
the occasion of this investIgation.) though pre-
seated 10, and received by the commissioners,
were not within the limits of their instructions
and were consequently disaIowed This decision
of the commissioners which was approved by
the Indian Bureau, it is not pretended violated
any right OF the claimants under existing laws or
the uniform practice OF the government. Should
Congress now interpose remedy, and pay that
class OF claims To which the resolution refers
Your committee think not. The depredators (tte
Sac and Fox lnIans) were at war with the Uni
ted States. Soon after the commencement of hos
uisies. the inhabitants on the Indian frontier
abandoned their homes. crops and property, and
sought safety by retreaing into the denser white
settlements. 1t is alleged by some of the claim
ants that their absence FROM home, occasioned by
apprehensio of danger from the Indians proven
ted them harvesting their growing crops; some
ask repaTation because they were prevented, from
the same Cause, tllling their crops; and others
found their claims upon the seizure and appropt
alton OF their pefsonai property by the hostile
savages. Is there anything peculiar IN this state
of the facts which should authorize and require
the government TO pay for these real and specula
tive losses! The rule which has been uniformly
pursued by this government towards its citizens
is to pay only such losses as were occasioned BY
example, if the buildings of citizen are occu
pied by troops, and are destroyed by the enemy
on account of such occupancy, the government
will indemnify; but for casualties arising in the
progress OF the war from the action of the enemy
or the citizen himself to his property, no indemni
ty ha been made, whether the enemy was white
or re and 1t would be- in the judgment OF your
con mittee, highly inexpedient to change the rule
Wa is calamitous TO the government well as
- the citizen and If the former should attempt
IN addition TO the support of armies and navies &c
ldemnliy TO the citizen, for every personal loss
positive and mediate it would entail most bur
densome public debt, to be only discharged event
ually in national bankruptcy. Every citizen en-
counters share of the sacrifice of a national war
and would not be Just 10 tax all to relieve from
that sacrifice few whose losses may be suscept-
Ible of ascertainment. when the great mass have
| been equal sufferers, remotely, if not directly
Your committee. being satisfied that any egiS
lation upon the subject is inexpetent, ask to be
discharged from the further consideration of said
resolution.