Squatter sovereign., 1855-04-17
Gen. g. W. Whitfield.

>sC1ls w OiIlCS Ilo cOLOUIu III
Washington, be has labored assiduouslv
for the interests of Kansas Territory, and
by his personal popularity, he has accom-
plished even more than the most sanguine
expected. Through his influence the citi-
zens Of Kansas have been favored with
Mail facilities and through his indomi-
table perseverance, every act introduced for
the benefit of his constituents, was forced
through Congress.
Below will be found his remarks, in the
the House, in Committee of the whole on
the state of the Union, while discussing
the Senate amendment to the Indian APP
Yropriation Bill.
The following Senate amendments be-
.ng under consideration:
SEC. S. find be 1T further enacted, That
to enable the President of the United States
to carry out in good faith the recent trea-
ties with the Ottoes and Missoufias, Oma-
has, Delawates, Ioways, Sacs and Foxes
of Missouri, Kickapoos, and the united
tribes of Kasllasllias and Peorias, Pianke-
shaws and Weas, Shawnees, and Miami
les. there shall be, and hereby is, appropria-
ted the sum of $4,000, in addition to the
appropriations heretofore made, for the
execution of the surveys required by said
treaties; and where the net proceeds of the
lands coded by either of said treaties are
required to be paid over to the Indians, the
President Shall cause said lands to be clas-
sifed and valued; and when such classif-
cation and valuation have been made to
his satisfaction, he shall cause said lands to
he offered at public sale, by legal subdivis-
ions or townslots, 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 public Or private sale for a less price
than that fixed by the valuation aforesaid,
till otherwise directed by law: ProUided,
That the President may order new trca-
ty to be made with the Delawares, Ioways,
Weas, Peorias, Kaskaskias, and Pianke-
shaws, or such Of them as be may deem
necessary.
The first question before the committee
was upon the following pending amend
Inents to the same, recommended by the
Committee of Ways and Means:
After the words 'sthe President shall
cause said lands insert the words ''or
such parts thereof as he may deem proper"
and TO insert, after the words "fixed by the
valuation aforesaid" the words, '.nor shall
any land be sold at public sale at less
price than 81 25 per acre" And also to
strike out the words I" ProUided, That the
President may order new treaty to be
made with the Delawares, Ioways, Weas,
Peorias, Kaskaskias, and Piankeshaws, or
such of them as he may deem necessary"
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman
from Kansas Mr.. WnITFIED1 is entitled
10 the floor upon the amendments; hut as
he is not present the question will be ia
ken, if no other person desires to discuss it.
The question was taken; and the amend
ments We're agreed to.
The question then REQUIRED upon the
amendment offered yesterday by Mr. ORR,
as follows:
Strike out the words "till otherwise d.
rected by law" and insert in lieu thereof
the words "for three years, and thereafter
as may be directed by law, pursuant to the
treaty."
The question was taken; and the amend
ment WIS agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN. The question now
is upon concurring in the Senate amend
ment, as amended.
Mr.. PHELPS. | desire to offer an
amendment to the amendment. l move to
strike out all after the word s'treaties," in
the ninth line, that is, all after the word
''treaties' where it occurs the second time.
That is the amendment which l intended
to have offered yesterday, but was proven
tod 1Ir thn tal 10
fore the previous pending amendments
We're acted upon. | do not desire, howev-
CT, to detain the committee now, as the re-
marks which I submitted, yesterday to
the committee were made In view of this
amendment. l will only say that the
amendment proposes TO strike out all that
mart of the Senate amendment which re-
lates TO the valuation and classification of
the lands which the Delawares, Ioways,
Kiclapoos, and other tribes of Indians, &C.
ded in trust to tie United States.
Mr.. ORR. ] hope the motion of the
gentleman from Missouri viii not prevail.
If his amendment is adopted, the effect of
IT will be 10 leave these Indians without the
Legislation which attempted to show yes
terday was so necessary to protect their
rights and to carry out our treaty stipula-
ton with them. | hope, therefore, his
amendment viii be rejected.
Mr.. WHITFIELD. In taking the floor
at this time. on the pending amendment.
promise the committee, at the outset, that
will not detain them with a long speech.
1t is known, Mr.. Chairman, TO the Com
naittee on Indian Affairs that have been
opposed to this amendment from the time
II was first introduced. and desire briefly,
to state the grounds of my opposition to it,
am aware that in this opposition have to
contend against two or three committees of
this House, and 1t therefore seems almost
useless for me to occupy the time of the
committee in the expression of my opin-
ions. Yeti deem ii my duty, as the rep
resentative of the people of Kansas-of a
community of high-minded men-that
should repel some OF the charges which
Were made upon them yesterday. The
II