Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-04-01


object Of the bill is in direct and open violation of those
engagements To show what the leading principles
md guarantees under which all the emgran tribes in the
country west of Missouri and Arkansas induced to
exchange their lands of the Mississippi for others
west will read clause from the treaty made with the
Cherokees in 1880 The third article of that treaty
tains this clause:
The United States hereby covenant and agree that the
lands ceded the Cherokee nation in the foregoing article
shall time, without their consent be included
within the Territorial limits or jurisdiction of any State
Territory" .@" ...l ....
This exhibits the true character of the policy and prin
cpes adopted by the Governments in setting apart the
country west of Missouri and Arkansas permanent
and exclusive Indian habation To show that there was
distinction in the principles policy of the Govern
ment in alotng portions Of the country west Of Mis-
souri, and west Of Arkansas to tribes emgratng from the
States east of the Mississippi propose to read from
treaty made with the Senecas and Shawnees OF Ohlo
made at Lewiston in 1884, and resident in the terri
tory of Missouri clause similar to the one have
just read from the treaty with the Cherokees The tenth
article Of this treaty contains the following stipulation;
"And the United States guaranty that said lands shall
be included within the limits Of any State or Territory
subject to the laws thereof
similar guarantee is to be found in the treaty made
with the Shawnees of Wapaghkoneta in Ohio in the same
year. and in two three other treaties made ut different
dates with tribes which emgrated to the territory west Of
Missouri. ... -"
. Mr. SEBASTIAN beg to interrupt the Senator
moment understand him to be speaking of the trea-
ties which contain in the stipulation that the tribe
shall be included within the boundaries Of any
State Territory. That class is small one The Che
rokees to whom he alluded not embraced in the BILL
The Shawnees of Wapaghkonea have lost the beneht OF
similar stipulation by Incorporation with the Missouri
band by which they surrendered all their nationality and
their treaty stipulation by the same act. Congress-
year ago. allowed them compensation of S6oooo or
$4,000 for the lands they to have had under the
treaty with them. The other Shawnees not within
the limits of the proposed Territory admit that small
tribe of Ottowas numbering two hundred souls and
ing thirty thousand of land, still remain and
protected by the stipulation in their treaty similar
that of the Cherokees This obstacle, such 1t u.s.
still stands .v .... \
Mr. BELL. The honorable Senator says that the qua
rantee in the last treaty referred to, made with the
Shawnees of Wapaghkonetta, was abrogated. How!
They induced to give up their lands east and sell
them upon certain terms and with the same assurance
upon WHICH other Indians gave up their lands east,
namely, that they should have permanent home IN the
country TO which they agreed to and that their
home should be included within the bounda-
res of any State Territory They were to have an
allotment of land of the lands coded to the Shawnees
of Missouri in 1885, if they not satisfied With that
arrangement they have other lands, in the same
country, OF the Missouri but they agreed with
their knsmen to live in with them on their lands
and set claim upon the Government for the value OF
the lands they promised in the treaty. and their
claim was allowed How does that deprive them of the
protection of the guarantee that they should never be
surrounded with white population relying upon which
they ceded their lands in Ohio? BY no technical by no
ingenious interpretations the Government avoid the
obligation entered into with them. g....s-: ..H
But my friend reminds that the Cherokees do not re-
that they do. read clause from the treaty with them
to show the principles upon which the policy of the Indian
removal adopted by the Government in 1885, and
read clauses from the treaties made with the Shawnees
of Wapaghkonetta in Ohio, and made in the same
year with the Senecas and Shawnees of the same State
and referred to others to show that there was no differ
recognised by the Government as to the terms and
conditions upon which the Indians were removed between
the country west of Arkansas and that west OF Missouri
Amy treaty made with tribe which took an allotment OF
land west of Missouri with similar guarantee against
hl;aby, tnf.
lands and that treaty ratified by the Senate fixed the
destination of that country 1t was to be Indian territory
and other long single tribe existed which emil
grated to under that guarantee That was its desna
ton as understood by the Senate and the Executive
when the treaty made with the Shawnees of Wapagh
kouetta with the Senecas and Shawnees of lewiston
with the 0ttowas and the two other tribes which emigra
ted to the territory west of the Missouri and whether
those treaties has been abrogated not whe
1her Of the tribes treated with upon the
terms happens be included within the boundaries
cited in this bill not, is materials they emigrated
the territory of Missouri and reside there
My argument is, that all the emigrant tribes which
moved after 1880 induced to under the
and guarantees whether specifically stated
the treaties made with them not; and that it woul
be fraud upon the Indians to give different nterpre
tationt the obligations of the Government The
and extent of the obligations contracted with the Indian
tribes which emgrated to the country west of Missouri
and Arkansas in conformity with the policy of Indian
mova adopted in $780, and the proper Interpretation
and construction of those obligations, will be best
planned by referring to what said upon the subject
by man who was the chief and responsible actor
in all that relates both the adoption and execution of
that policy the message of the President of the Unit
ed States General jackson to Congress in 1885 find
the following passages connected with this subject:
The plan of removing the aboriginal people who yet
settled portion of the United
country of the Mississippi river approaches its
nation.
preceding experiments for the improvement of the In
dams have failed II be established fact
they cannot live in with civilized community and
prosper
The necessary measures for their political advancement
and their separation from citizens, have been
elected The pledge Of the United States has been given by
Congress the country destined for the residence of this
people shall be forever secured and guaranteed to them
country of Missouri and Arkansas has been
signed them, which the white settlements
be pushed No political communities can be formed in that
extensive region except those which established by the
Indians themselves by the United States for them and with
their barrier has been raised for their pro-
lection against the encroachents ofou citizens and guarding
them possible from those evils which have brought
them to their present condition
Mr.. President, must be allowed to feel than
common sensibty to any violation of the obligations of
the Government contracted with the Indian tribes When
this whole subject of Indian rights and Indian wrongs
was brought the notice of the country and thoroughly
discussed-our relations with them claiming to be the
guardian of these children Of the forest and they looking
up the President their Great Father-I chair
man Of the Committee Indian Affairs in the House of
Representatives and had to bear my full share of
sponsbility in sustaining the policy of Indian removal
against the attacks OF its opponents.
Ihave always differed from my friend from Texas mfr
HousroN and others, who have maintained that the In
dian race is susceptible of high development of their
mental faculties the white race and that all their mis-
fortunes be attributed to the encroachments of the