The true Democrat., 1855-04-17

now allowed to the governor of the territory of Oregon.
 | Mir. Gwln. hope the chairman of the committee on Indian affairs will not insist on that amendment It is runious to the public interests in the territory of Washington as am assured by the delegate from that territory. I trust therefore, it will be rejected.
 | Mir. Stuart. have had some conversation with the chairman of the committee on Indian affairs on this subject, and will suggest mere- ly-for I have no feeling about it-a modifca- tion of the amendment. The existing law au- thorizes the President of the United States to separate these duties wheneve he thinks 1t pro per; but there is difficulty attending doing so,
 because it reduces the salary of the governor. Now II this amendment were to be modified, so as to provide that, if the President deems it pro- per Tn any one case to separate these duties, and shall do SO the salary of the governor shall remain as It Is now for both services. l think there would be no objection to it. 1 have no feeling about the matter myself; but have con versed with several individuals residing in the territories who are interested in this question and it seems to me the power ought to be left with the President to divide these duties Per haps Tn one case he might think 1t proper, and not III another; for instance, he might divide them h Minnesota, and leave them as they stand n Washington territory, or ulce verso: but Whenever he separates them let the salary of the governor remain as 1t stood before the sepa- ration. l think that would be satisfactory arrangement
 Mr. Hunter. doubt the policy of the sep aratlon of the two offices It seems to me the governor of the territory ought to have the con trol oi the Indians in that territory; at least so l lY,1yt tHN
 an affairs and especalyin the distant territory ot Washington. The result of my inquiries and l have made some--is, that it is bad policy to separate the offices. I believe the only in- stance in which it has been done on this side of the Rocky mountains was to meet a pe- cular difficulty in Utah; and I believe the result of our experience has not been such as to encourage the practice ] hope, there fore, that the amendment will be rejected. and that 1t may be the pleasure of the chair man of the committee on Indian affairs not to press it.
 MT Gwin. The delegate from the territory of Washington says it would be ruinous to the prosperity of that territory to separate the two offices ] hope the proposition will be reject ed
 Mr. SEBASTIAN. Mr. President. the Se- nator from Michigan states very truly that the amendment asserts the general principle and the general practice of the Government hereto fore. The Senator from Virginia is mistaken Tn supposlng that there is but one territory which forms an exception to this general poli- cy Sir, the policy proposed by this amend ment has been the usual policy of the govern ment of the United States. The governors of of Kansas and Nebraska are not superlntendents ot Indian affairs i'll those te-rltories and in Ore gon large and very prosperous territory the policy ot separation has worked remarkably Well. Of one thing ] am quite sure: either the ottlces ought to he reunited in Oregon, or sepa- rated III Washington territory; because the ano- maIy prevails there, n the same region of coun- try ot separator in the one territory, and combination ot the duties of governor and su- perlntendent in the other, say the policy has generally been to separate the two offices Now, sir, as to the application of that general principle, which have no doubt is sound one l could give many reasons why 1t IS 50. As to the necessity ofenforcing 1t in Washington terri tory at this time, 1 must admit that, Tn conse- quence ofintormatlon which have since receiv- ed, and which was unknown to the commit tee at the time they adopted this amendment, it is probably doubtful policy in that case to separate the two offices from the fact that Cover nor Stevens has inaugurated an Indian po- cy there which, whether right or wrong, it is best to give him an opportunity of carry ing out. For that reason, so far as that terri tory is concerned, shall not insist on it. 1 As to the territory on this side of the Rocky mountains, Minnesota, 1 am clearly of opinion that the separation ought to take place That territory, on the one side, Is surrounded by Me- braska, immediately below which is Kansas, both of which are subject to the jurisdiction of superintendent of Indian affairs not connec- ted with the governors of the territories. The country on the other side belongs to the north ern superintendencv Here is territory in which there is conflict of interest, between the white settlers on the one part-those men who control the political opinions of the governor and the reserved tribes of Indians on the other; and we ought to have separate officer to take care of those Indians This contest is perpetu- ally going on The inevitable consequence is, that, either the country IS locked up from set- clement by 2 policy favorable to the Indian, or the interest of the Indian is subverted before that of the white settlers. I think that where there are two distinct interests, as in Minnesota, those interests ought to be protected by two differ ent officials.
 There is law existing at this time which a,l- thorizes the President to exercise the power of separating the offices of governor and superirl- tendcnt in Minnesota whenever he thinks pro per to do so. l understand, informally, that it has never been done in consequence of the ef- feet being to reduce the salary of the governor of the territory below what is deemed just equivalent for his services; and to reduce his compensation might be considered as reflec- tion to the official ability of that gentleman- The view which the Senator from Michigan takes would obviate that difficulty; and I am disposed therefore, to adopt the suggestion which he makes; and if he will move an amend ment embodying his sentiments on that point I shall very cheeriully agree to it, and yield my opposition, for the present, on the retention of the two offices in the same person in Wash ington territory.
 Mr. Stuart. The sense of the Senate can be taken on the proposition which I have sug- gested, but it will require some time to modi- fly the amendment so as to correspond with that The Senate, however, understand very clearly what the proposition is.
 MT. SEBASTIAN. ask, then that this