The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-03

snc q Aad 1s further enacted That and after tn
S0h day OF June next all laws parts OF laws IN force
providing for the appointment employment Of saperin
endents Of Indian affairs fwhaever character for Of th
Indian tribes east of the Rocky mountains and north OF
Mexico and Texas shall be- and the hereby repeal
ed and that the President be- and he hereby authorized
three snpernendents of Indian affairs for said Indians, VIII
shall receive salary each of 81 000 and whose dut
tribes Of Indians as the President OF the United States
Secretary of the Department of the Interior direct
ed by law to uperintendens OF Indian aiars Propsded
That the of Minnesota shall continue to be- eeio
superintendent OF Indian affairs for that Territory until thu
President shall otherwise direct.
say il viii be that the intention Of Congress to
clear out all other modes of superntendng Indian affairs
and eonde il to those three general supernende Look
at it, There is superintendent South there is another
in the vicinity OF Missouri and still another North who
resides in Wisconsin, II would make the provision here
complete To separate those duties in Minnesota, and give
the duty Of conducting Indian affairs there to the supern-
tendent in Wisconsin, all Of which will be effected by the
provision which the chairman of the committee has
introduced but said before the provision Of law
not be properly carried out by the President because he
| cannot add to the salary of the governor such
do not understand why should not do right things
in the right places We have under consideration the
question of Indian superntendences Here is the place
hen of all Others to make that part of it complete and
when to the other place shall propose to add
such sum to the salary OF the of Minnesota
shall place him on proper footing But sir there is,
apprehend in the experience of for
tanning the superntendency of Indian affairs with the
governors of the Territories have the authority of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs which have just read,
sanetonng that view He says that the duties should be
separated in all cases.
Mr. HUNTER think would rather leave this mat
the discretion of the Executive think would be
better do that than make it imperative. have my
self doubts to the policy Of separating the two Off
ces can well conceive, especially in the distant Terrific
res that the two powers ought TO be united in the hands Of
the governor who would be enabled eectually to
control the Indian tribes and prevent It may be
For that to me better to follow the sugges
ton of the Committee on Indian Affairs and leave the mat
ter TO the discretion OF the President
Mr.. WALKER. As a member of the Committee on In
dian Affairs feel it my duty to say that after good deal
of reflection upon this subject have very opposite views
to those of the senator from Virginia believe that
of the most fruitful of the difficulties among the In
dian tribes and between the Indians and the whites has
been account of the inability the part of the COVER
of Territories bestow that attention to the supern
tendency of Indian affairs which il requisite they
should bestow We know that at the of the year
when the Indians require the supervision of the agents. and
of their supernendents than at any other metbe
winter seasonhe Legislatures of the Territories are almost
always in session.
The governor has in the duties Of his office governor
about much to attend to he do and very frequent
ly AT those times when Indian affairs might call
him from the seat of government he cannot attend to them
but in the hurry Of the discharge of his duty he employs
to the task imposed The Indians perhaps dislike the per-
who is sent TO them he is odous to them they have
contempt for him, and i'll feeling springs up between them
and the government in consequence of this mediation Of
improper person who has attend to the duties Diff
fcutes begin in consequence Of the neglect necessarily
the part of the governor and the Indians begin to seek to
settlements There is whose special duty it is TO
superintend them TO concate them and to supply them
with what il necessary that they should be supplied with
The result s that difficulty arises in consequence Of
this than from almost any other cause.
do not know what would be the effect in regard to the
ton onered senator Iforh michigan. It's
would be to separate the Office of governor from that OF
superintendent in Minnesota but what effect would have
upon the present oceupon the present location OF the
oiiee-I cannot determine This much however, have
determined mind to do 10 vote for the PROPOSE
ton Of the committee amended according TO the motion
Of the senator from Michigan; but cannot vote for 1t as
offered by the chairman of the committee.
why, while there Is superintendent
for the North termed the northern superintendent he
should not in point Of fact have the superntendency Of
The Indians Ii is his duty attend Them II is his
duty study the best policy the best system for conduct
ing the business of the office and to communicate frequent
" with the Indian Bureau is his business TO learn and
to practise what he learns in regard 10 them IL cannot
be so with the governor believe that one Of the most
efficient officers Of the United States in the Indian service
Is the individual who discharges the duties of the
northern superinendenoy. believe that he could take
charge superintendent of all the Indians in the North
west and discharge the duties 10 them faithfully
and their interests and those Of the government bet
than the governor Of Minnesota with the great amount
Of duty resting upon him as governor can possibly do
say this with considerable knowledge Of Indian mat
ers ip that portion Of the country It is where my home
is With many of the individuals Of these tribes their
chiefs, &C. am personally acquainted, and know Their
great soicude to have ms their superintendent
or agent or Hlocal father they him, who shall
give his undivided attention 10 their Affairs do not
think those affairs receive proper attention long
the duties Of his office as governor and those OF uperntend
ent of Indian affairs.
Mr. DOUGLAS Mr. President | have great doubts
about the propey Of adopting amendment like that Of
the from Michigan II contemplaes change in
our Indian Department. very radical and sweeping
change Heretofore II has been the custom that the gov
ernors OF Territories should be supernendens Of Indian
affairs within their limits In Oregon think such istsy
case now; and in Utah. and in New Mexico, also. IL has
usually been the in all the Territories have never
heard complaints Of that mode of conducting Indian
aTars If forty fifty years experience has proved
that IL Is not proper and efficient mode Of conducting
them IL would be good for change but do
ought TO be well maured by the Committee on Indian A
hrs and brought forward in Indian bill by those who
have directed their attention to the subject and not sprung
upon suddenly by way Of amendment TO the Indian
appropriation bill.
think II ought also to be general know Of no
why this change should take place In Minnesota that would
not apply the other Territories; and sir IL to
upon il until can hear from those who understand the
question better not that there is any
applying to Minnesota that does apply elsewhere.
do understand therefore what ground the propos
ton is brought in at this time and place. and not applied
/ to the other Territories.
But again IL we should conclude 20 dispense with the
services OF governors Of Territories superintendent
of Indian affairs another question very properly arises
The salaries Of the governors then would necessarily
be raised The form Of the territorial laws Is that
the governor receives $1,000 900 year governor
and 300 81 900 superintendent The effect of h,
amendment TO The amendment would be TO leave the gov
with salary that Is not sufficient to deray his
penses ALL The act that provides for releasing hin
from his Indian duties and thereby takes away onehaf
his salary certainly ought provide for adequate sal
II airy for him in his capacity governor
Inasmuch therefore ii involves other matters that