The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-11
Is il beneacentr Is il KIND I Is il philan-

cannot live under our benign influence though they were
able 10 subsst under the government Of Mexico2 What
compliment is this 10 our institutional What compliment
10 the progress Of this country We heard nothing OF
walton among these Indians when California belonged 70
Mexico We heard nothing then OF Indian desoaton there
These things have sprung up since the acquisition Of that
country and they incident the character Of the peo
pie who went there almost without government and with
out law and went into the mines These difficulties
which do exist and very embarrassing doubt in
californs For myself would rather that California
should manage these Indians than that the general
men should do for the State would know better how to
get along with them But what want 10 say is, that
am prepared 70 vote just as much money any other
man TO protect the people OF California and benefit these
indians, but want 10 do II on such principle that when
act can understand what am doing When am going
to establish system that is to be permanenta system
that will not only work in California, but in all our
Territories and in the States where there Indians
located wish 10 do it ntelligeny. know that II Is
embarrassing to exercise the of the general govern
ment over Indians within the limits OF State have been
raised in State where that the case and il rise
TO constant series OF difficulties and perpextes and led
| TO many conflicts between the two governments If we
adopt this plan of making large reservations in California
there will be such conflicts 1t is dangerous experiment.
and one in which do not wish TO be instrumental until it
| is well prepared, well organized and well arranged.
repeat think that we had better drop this appropfia
ton for the present and let the senators from California
ask for a committee and let them digest plan organize
the Indians properly Let that be brought up separate
propositions which discuss and properly understand
Then if the money be necessary let make appropria
Mr. SEWARD. Mr.. President cannot let this debate
close without offering correction to remark made by
the senator from Georgia. lie expressed what Is think
the universal understanding that there has been decline
decay, Of the Indian nations and within the last
sevenyfyc years and he applied the statement especially
the Indians in the State of New York. ndcpend
emit powerful, once the only republicans this
continent and who have always been republicans. This
has been the received opinion which has gone into phloso
ply and gone into history. But sir eight
years ago caused TO be taken of the Six Ma
tons We found Them to be sure scattered by the hand
of Proyidencesome Of them remaining upon their ancient
huntng-grounds Others dispersed throughout Canada,
Others ut Green Bay Others still further west and others
again further south But the result OF the whole that
when you to correct the exaggerated estimates of the
number ofthe Six Nations which derived from tradition
in the early settlement of the country and ascertain the
whole number left found that they had not diminished
but the other hand that they remained about the same
They have not increased rapidly the white in
state of standardization, initiatory stage of civ
ization, but at the time, they have not decayed
4 by and by famine much they did before.
This is consoatory to those who believe that the expert
mcnt humane and certainly encouraging to those who
felt impressed with the wisdom of the plan Of drawing
these Indians into reservations and separating them from
the corruptions and from the violence of the whites
II Mr.. PETIT Before vote this proposition wish
to get little more information and hope shall be able
to get it from the chairman of the Committee Indian
Affairs If understand it, this proposition from that
committee to appropriate Sl25000 to establish Indian
settlement in California the public lands of the
! try.
4 Mr. PETIT Five settlements or localities The sena-
tor from California in substance add SIS 900 to
the amount proposed by the committee His amendment is
10 strike out Sl25000 and make the amount 100000
Now wish to ask the chairman of the committee whether
we under any treaty legal obligation TO furnish this
amount any other amount of money to the California
Indians whether relation towards them is pre-
cisey what our relation is towards all the wild Indians
with whom we have treaties at ALL In short if We
under obligations to furnish money for the sub
sistence of these Indians wish to know whether we are
not under like obligations I'LL other Indians with whom
we have no treaties? Is this anything else than moral
obligation, if it is that and under like
moral obligation all the other Indians within our juris-
dction2 Can the senator answer
Il Mr.. SEBASTIAN. In answer TO the nterrogatores OF
Indiana. 1 lions
with the Indians of California precisely such as they
towards all the Indian tribes with whom have
gotiated treaties and that under the ob
CATION and more to provide for them for other In
diane with whom have stipulations to pay money
He may term the obligation moral legal is believe
the common obligation of humanity. The Indians of Cali
forna occupy towards this government position some
what different from what our Indians do for by III,
Spanish law they not regarded having any inercs
in the country at ALL but were always treated ten
ants at sueranee and the consequence was that they
congregated together in the Missions by tho differ
officers and subordnaes the Spanish and excah gov
ernments, who were at different times among them
They we're never regarded by those having
any interest in the soil We did time make treaties
with these Indians but the treaties rejected by the SEN
ate This plan Of collecting them together in military res
eryatons 10 be carved out Of the public domain Of the
ted States, adopted the last session of Congress
and has been partially executed to the of locating
I only reserve.
Mr.. WELLER The senator will allow me 10 saw that
i was never contemplated TO make five reservations in Cal
forna The bill which passed the last session O.
Congress authorized five reservations to be made in Cali
reservations should be made in the State California
supposed there might probably be or three there at the
outside and that the other two three would be In Utah
!, or New Mexico both.
d Mr. SEBASTIAN. The senator from California state,
rightly the Of the law The Territories of Utah and
New Mexico embraced. know the fact however 10
be- that the superintendent contemplated this MS proy
on TO be carried into execution with reference chiefly
the State Of California
Mr. PETIT wish TO ask the senator from Arkansas
another question-and that Is whether the California In.
dams do not claim and whether not concedc them
do to all other Indians within our jurisdiction the
possessory ee TO their lands DO they not in that re
spec hold the relation to this government that the
Indians east OF the Rocky mountains do
4 Mr.. SEBASTIAN. We have acted towards them ON the
snpposon that they occupied the relation TO us
and that they have the title their lands as the In
dams in other parts OF the United States
Mr. PETIT Then so far from this being an obligation
resting upon u.s. think IL is quito the reverse The soma
tor tells us that under the law Of Mexico from which ma
ton we acquired This country and the jurisdiction over
these Indians they allowed that possessory
right which have always yielded appcrtaninr 10 the
Indians in all countries We therefore acknowledge
their ownership OF the unoccuped and ungraned territory
OF California over which they roam, and from them we
must acquire the right TO IL do TO all the lands of
our own Indians, by purchase They have possessory
right to the land and they TO dispose Of IT. They
sc1 IL 20 for largo arnamnfs it.brrdy, II
tney arc tribes as understand they and pre-
pared 70 make treaties with them have done with
other tribes Of the Rocky mountains have seen no
good reason why should now adopt in California this
new policy Of collecting the wild Indians and saving to
them Notwithstanding you all this country and
have subssted yourselves heretofore under govern
ment than oursunder which denied to you even the
right Of occupancy which yield-yet feel ourselves