The true Democrat., 1855-04-11
NO. 26.

; devote to the maintenance of common schools.
 The amendment further provides for recla- nations on this fund hereafter so that if per- sons come forward who prove that they are properly entitled to share of the fund, the secretary of the interior can immediately ap- ProPriate so much of the principal as will satis- y 'iaC outstanding claim, and of course the payment o1 interest to that amount ceases- II lie eAte'ie o1 thls proposition applies only to thiS speclai case, which arises ill consequence of the urgent entreatleS of the delegates of the ChoctaW nation, and cannot be carried beyond the precise case to which it is applied. differ with the Senator from Virginia, who supposes that the consent of the trustee in this case will not discharge all the obligations and responsibi htles ofthe trust. These are independent people, and in the management of their own affairs they evnce quite as much intelligence and re- gard for their own interests as we do in the ma- nagement of ours They are educated, intel Ggent, and civilized gentlemen, and would dis cuss financial question with the best of us, with as much shrewdness and sagacity as any person. This, therefore, is not an attempt to overreach dependent and ignorant people, but avery gracious condescension on our part in yielding to the importunities of these persons to enable them to carry out worthy and lau- dabe purpose.
 This explanation it appears to me, Mir. Pre- sldent, will strip this proposition of all those features which seem to alarm and excite the apprehenslons Of the Senator from Virginia. l, no more than he, propose to embark the secre- tary ot the interior Tn the investment in all kinds of fancy stock, in all kinds of reckless schemes of moneys which we hold in trust for persons who are dependent on us for the fdeli- ty with which they are administered This re- qulres the consent of an intelligent and saga cous people. My own interpretation is, that the proposition will first have to go from the secretary of the interior, and be ratified by the Choctaw council, before the investment can be made; but if after all, the secretary of the in- teror thinks this would be an unwisc invest. ment of the money he may, at his own discre- tlon, hold 1t in trust in the treasury of the Uni ted States, and pay them the interest annually at five per cent.
 Mir. Adams. do not know that I under stand precisely the amendment which has been presented by the Senator from Arkansas I wish to inquire of that Senator if it extends any further than to that portion of the Choctaw funds, owners for which cannot be found?
 Mir. SEBASTIAN. will answer the Se- nator from Mississippi, and am glad he has made the inquiry, for l know how much inte- rest he takes in the welfare of this particular tribe. It extends no further than the residllum which Is left in the hands of the United States agent unclaimed, ln consequence of no person being found entitled to it.
 MT. Adams. Then, sir suppose, there be- ing no claimant, the Choctaw nation would be better entitled to It than any person. As has been shown by the Senator from Arkansas him. sell, they are quite as competent to receive that fund and ban 1t out or invest 1t, as this government through the secretary of the inte- ror or any of its agents. In the treaty with the Choctaw Indians, certain portions of land were reserved to the then orphans of that na- ton. They have long since been of age- There is an accommodating fund still to be de- rived from that source. It is their individual property as much so as any property that you, sir, may hold in your own right. This govern ment has no authority to make any disposition of 1t, except according to the direction of the particular Indian entitled to the proceeds of his land. If, however there are cases, as I now learn for the first time, where the parties have died, or If reservations have been given to or phars who had no existence the money pro- perly belongs to the Choctaw nation, and I should cheerfully vote for a proposition to au- thorlze the proper officers to pay over the mo- ney to the nation, to be disposed of as they
 
 Virginia, that the investing of this fund.- or any other trust fund held by this government in State stocks, can never receive my sanction.- If it were invested in United States stock it would be little safer; but these men are just as competent to make their own investments, and dispose of their own funds as we are to do 1t for them
 MT. Hunter. MT. President, this fund be- longs either to the Choctaw people or to those individuals who have not appeared to claim their rights. Ii 1t belongs to the Choctaw peo- pie, 1t ought to be paid to them, as the Senator from Mississippi proposes If 1t does not be- long to them, but is to be held in order to meet the possible demands of those for whom it was originally intended, but who have not yet appeared, then 1t seems to me it ought to be held in the treasury of the United States, for we are not liable for the interest until they do appear. We have been ready to pay, and we ought not to allow interest until they do appear. We must take either the one view or the other. If the money belongs to the nation, let us pay 1t to the Choctaw nation and have no more to do with it. If 1t belongs to individu- als, let keep it in the treasury until they ap- pear to claim 1t.
 The amendment was agreed to.
 Mir. SEBASTIAN. l have further amend UlOut to prcSeUL IOIll Iuc COululltU66 on lQO1an affairs:
 SEC.-. And De at f4'taer enacted, That to enable the President of the United States to carry out, in good faith, the recent treaties with the Ottoes and Missourias, the Omabas Dela- wares Sacs and Foxes of Missouri, the Kicka- poos, and the united tribes of the Kaskaskias and Peorias, Piankeshaws and Weas, Shawnees and Miamis, there shall be, and hereby is, ap- propriated the sum of $2O,OOO, in addition to the appropriations heretofore made, for the execution of they surveys required by said treaties. And where the nett proceeds of the lands ceded by either of the said tribes are re- quired to be paid over to the Indians, the Pre- sident shall cause said lands to be classified and valued; and when such classification and valua- ton have been made to his satisfaction, he shall cause said lands to be offered at public sale by legal subdivisions or town lots, at such times and places. and in such manner and quantity, as to him shall appear proper and necessary to carry out faithfully the stipulations in said treaties; and said lands shall not be sold at pub-