The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-02

amount OF money being paid TO Indian agents and sub
agents think therefore it will be better TO limit it, at
all events the proposed by Governor Stevens
The PRESIDING OFFICER fMr. SruARr) The Chair
viii suggest that the question first be taken such amend
ments not objected TO- and then it would be in or
der TO amend the amendment to which reference Is now
made If desired the question will now be taken on all
/ the amendments except that one.
The question accordingly taken upon all of the other
amendments, and they agreed to.
| The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question Is now upon
the amendment which has been excepted.
/ Mr. HUNTER have no objection TO the reduction. l
do not care about the have followed the estimate
of the Indian Department believe is important that
something should be appropriated because these tribes have
been invited to meet in council They viii meet there in
great numbers and there is not provision made for them
| Mr. PEARCE l move to amend the amendment by in
sertng in place of 100000 the amount which Governor
Stevens estimates for that il is $4,000 instead of
scr 900 1t is small reduction, but think if we give
what he asks for, 1t will be sufficient
The amendment 70 The amendment was agreed TO-
Mr., PRATT II the senator from Tennessee is right do
not think there should be any appropriation for the
pose indicated by the amendment IT, he says the tribes
for whom it is proposed make appropriations not
within thousand miles of any white settlement and there
emigant which goes their habitaton, do
not the for commencing treaties with the numer
nations of Indians who so far removed from us as
not to interfere with at ALL with our people who are
going from section of the country to the other There
no necessity for the appropriation the senator from
Tennessee is right and do not understand the senator
from Virginia to differ from him in regard TO the facts IT
known to that if we once commence the system OF
treating with the nations of Indians mentioned
in the report which has been read shall increase
year appropriations to each of them 1t not presents
for this year alone for which we making ourselves
sponsbe but it is the OF future appropria
tons for the tribes mentioned SO that in all future time
shall have annual increase Of the appropriation for
those different purposes IL the senator from Tennessee Is
right as presume he is do not think the appropriation
ought to be made
| Mr. ATCHISON (Mr STUART occupying the chair.)
1t TO that if the argument of the senator from
Maryland is worth anything at all goes to reject the
whole appropriation
| Mr. ATCHISON. Now, if l understand the matter
Alright this appropriation is asked for account Of and
the necessity for it grows out Of communications OF Gov
Stevens to the Indian Department The senator says
this not the line of route to Oregon or Washing
| ton.
| Mr. PRATT. So understand.
Mr. ATCHISON. 1t is not at this time it is true The
main line is through the South Pass but the probability
that in future this win be the for those from the
extreme northwestern States being the nearest and best
| route to the Territory of Washington
Now sir the government Of the United States has never
had treaty with the Blackfect We have agent on the
head-waters of the Mississippi who has had talks with
them for many years. but yet we have never had treaty
with them They anxious now, it seems from Gov
Steven xTeport and other reports TO treat with the
United States and for very obvious reason. They
other bands of Indians in their negbborhood obtaining
annutes from the government of the United States and
they desire TO be bound TO the government by the
their neighbors the Crows and other Indians
They say further informed by Mr. Culbertson who
trader among them for many years that the means
of subsistence giving out They have heretofore
subsisted the buffalo They have followed the buffalo
from the head-watcs of the Mississippi to the waters of the
elbow stone and frequently sOuth oil Une 1ellOW
The buffalo giving out The means OF subsistence
which formerly so abundant among them, are be
coming and and every year hundreds of
| them die, ii is said, from starvation.
| They have been informed by other Indians and by
traders thar the Of the United States has
agents among the various tribes Of Indians; that the
sends them missionaries backsmhs and other
persons teaching them the arts of civilization by which
they viii hereafter be supplied with the means OF subss
The Backet anxious TO he placed in this cate
goryin the same condition with other Indians If this
be so why they should not be placed
the footing If they desire to commence the work
of civilization they should have the of doing
and the must be furnished by the United States
You must furnish them with backsmhs and with farmers
and to do this you must treat with them Ny opinion
is that the of 100000 little enough for the pur
pose
Mr. PRATT. The amendment proposes to appropriate
$4,000.
| Mr. ATCHISON Then the argument is still stronger
II 900 be necessary surely $4,000 is little enough
think sir that the demand Of the Blaceet is right just
and proper that they should be treated other Indians
and Of them We have treaties with the Ore
gon Indians with the Indians Of Washington Territory
bands that from the Pacific 10 the Cascade
noun tains and to the Rocky tainswho
in communication with the Blackfect Then the Crows
the Sioux the Pawnees and the Camanches and all the
other Indians have treaties with Perhaps the Backiec
the only exceptions to this general rule Then
sir think il is good policy to treat with them am sat
sed that to transport $4,000 $4,000 worth of presents
into the Backfeet country, would require three times the
amount Of the original cost OF the goods Then $4,000 is
certainly necessary.
| Mr. HUNTER | understand from the Indian Depart
ment that the cost Of transportation for presents will be
heavy think something like twelve fourteen cents per
pound That is for the increased estimate
understand also that il Is desired with the tribes
which range on both sides Of the mountains in Washing
ton Territory well along the route II Us true that
Governor Stevens looks TO the further probability that
there may be emgran route along that direction and
| think he says wagon pass has been found, But, in
order that the Senate may the grounds which the
department rest this appropriation ask that the letter Of
/ Governor Stevens may be read.
The Secretary accordingly read the letter follows;
orrror or SurERISTrSpEST OF ISpIAs ArrAias
OLYMPIA, WAsntYoroS TEpRToRy,
/ January 81, 1854
S have the honor TO inform you that have this morn
ing received from Lieutenant Mullan, In charge winter
post in the valley Of the St Marys river in conncxon with
feet Indians since the period OF passing through their
country, copy Of which s herewith enclosed II
that Notwithstanding the promises made council at
Fort Benton they still committing their terrible depreda
ons; and consider that the convening council
Fort Benton during summer which recommended u
Communications from that point, Is become
ccssity. Its my belief that the chiefs whom at Fort
Benton abiding by their promises but their Young
numerous, and require stringent To compel
them TO abandon their accustomed depredaons Is men
the American Fur Company purchase horses of the Indians
without inquiries 10 where fhey obtained and Il s
my impression that those in charge Of these posts have not
paid sufficient attention to this matter.
win most urgently repeat my recommendations TO con
the council at Fort Benton and though would at
opinion is that military force should be
OF the council and that military post should be established
at this point II then, after fair trial Of the influence of
kind treatment Outrages continued committed the
force Of should be brought bear upon them
with great force ASeport Just received Fintbnm
| ,nfs tho .f