The true Democrat., 1855-04-11

two places in this clause Does the chair un- derstand the Senator from Arkansas to move to strike it out in each case?
 MT. SEBASTIAN. Yes, sir.
 l The motion to strike out was agreed to.
 The President The second amendment of the Senator from Arkansas is to increase the salary frnm $75O to $1,OOO.
 The amendment was agreed to, and the amendment of the committee on finance, as thus amended, was adopted.
 Several of the amendments of MT. Hunter were agreed to-
 MT. SEBASTIAN. I have number of amendments to offer from the committee on h. dian affairs. The first is to insert the following additional section:
 SEc.-And De it Jurther enacted, That section four of the act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations With various Indian tribes, for the year ending June 50, 1855, and for other purposes" approv- ed the 31st of July, 1854, shall not be so con- strued as to interfere with the act entitled "An act to authorize the President of the United States to cause to be surveyed the tract of land in the territory of Minnesota, belonging to the half breeds or mixed bloods of the Dacotah or Sioux Nation of Indians, and for other purpo- ses," approved July IF, 1854: Provided, That so much Of the money appropriated by the first named act as may be necessary to carry out the last named act shall be applicable thereto
 MT. Hunter. 1 should like to hear that amendment explained.
 MT. SEBASTIAN. At the last session of Congress there was a section of the Indian ap- propriation bil and also special act relating to the same subject passed. It was inadvertently lone. Upon examining their provisions, they were found to be in some respects inconsistent This amendment merely reconciles that difficult ty, and retains the appropriation made in the Indian appropriation bill of last year to carry out the object for which it was appropriated, but which object was more specifically decrib- ed in the special bill passed on the same sub- ject. It relates to the half-breed reservation In Minnesota, makes no new appropriation, but simply enables the Commissioner of the Gen. eral Land Office to execute the act as it was passed.
 The amendment was agreed to-.
 Mr. SEBASTIAN. The next amendment of the committee on Indian affairs is to insert the following additional section:
 SEC.-Be it .fuatber enacted, That the Secre- tary of the Interior is hereby authorized and re- quired to cause to be paid to the North Caroli- na Cherokees, embraced in the roll of D. w. Sler or to the legal representatives of such of them as have died since their enrolment, the sum of S53 B respectively, for the expenses of their removal and subsistence, now held in trust by the United States, according to the terms of the fourth section of the act of the 18th of July Anno Domini, l040; for which purpose there is hereby appropriated the sum of S42, ,29O, ,69: ProG5ded, That each and every Indian so receiv- ing such payment in full, shall give their as- sent thereto: AnM provided, ,furthe1, That said Secretary shall be first satisfied that the State of North Carolina has, before such payment, by some appropriate act, agreed that the said Che rokees, may remain permanently in that State, anything in the treaty of 1885 to the contrary notwithstanding
 MT Hunter. I should like to know what is the effect of this additional provision
 MT. SEBASTIAN. A word of explanation will set the matter right. In the act of 1S49 there was an amount ofS53 3S apiece set apart in the Treasury of the United States in trust for such of the North Calolina Cherokees as had been suffered to remain in the State of North Caroli- na. The provision was made that the United States should pay interest on it at six per cent until they did remove, and that whenever they did remove the principal sum of S53 B should be paid to each of them, in lieu of their con- mutaton allowance for removal and subsistence under the treaty of 1885. The government has paid the interest ever since, and is bound perpetually under that act to pay the interest | It Is the wish of that small remnant of peo- pie now not to remove, and 1t is understood that the State of North Carolina has manifest ed, by its legislation, disposition to retain them in the State, and make them citizens This amendment provides for the redemption of that perpetual annuity by paying of the prin- cipal, and wavng the right of the government of the United States to insist on their removal under the treaty. To the extent to which the appropriation is asked 1t is debt of the gov ernment drawing six per cent interest in per- oetuity; and this proposition is to redeem the principal by paying it off, and to wave the ob- ligation which the Indians are under by the treaty of 1885 to remove to the west on cond- tion that the State of North Carolina will give its assent. live decline to adopt provision of this kind, the only consequence is, that we shall be paying an amount of between three and four dol lars year to each head of an Indian family in the State of North Carolina forever. To that extent it is part of the national debt. The h. dans desire this provision, and l see no earthly objection to its being done.
 Mir. Bell. I did not hear the explanation of my friend from Arkansas altogether, but from what gather from him, sitting at this distance I understand that this amount of money was ap- propriated subsequent to the treaty of 1885, upon condition that they would remove. I should Ike to be informed on that point.
 MT. SEBASTIAN. A word or two think, will satisfy the Senator. This amount. which was appropriated by the act of 184S for the benefit of the North Carolina Cherokees, held in trust by the government at six per centum, is an allowance for removal and subsistence under the treaty of 1885. I think that state- ment will enable the Senator to understand it, for he had a very large agency ih procu ring that appropriation. This proposes now to pay off the principal of that debt to those Indians, and waive the obligation of the Co., vernment to insist on their removal under the treaty.
 Mir. Badger Provided the State of North Carolina shall consent to their remaining perma- nently in that State.
 Mr. SEBASTIAN. Yes, sir; that is the pro- vison
 Mr. Bell It seems to me still that there