Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-12-15

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view there was claim which, vague as the
grounds of ii would be considered before
court Of law, should not be treated as altogeth-
er unworthy Of reeard-there could be no tea-
sonable doubt that the region in question once
was considered part Of the Iroquois hunting
grounds, and though they seemed to have made
lille use Of it for a considerable time previous
TO the Revolution, there was no evidence Of
their having altogether abandoned il, and none
that any compensation had been made to the
Indians for il. II had been the practice of the
governments Of this country to consider the In
dian title as valid, 10 certain extent, though
they eould shnw no written records Of their
ownership, and to remunerate them for it, This
claim had been urecl for nearly sixty years,
and no doubt il would be urged til il was set
tied by agreement lie was so far satisfied
with The Rrousds Of the claim and the reasons
for its adjustment, as provided, that he was
ready to vote for the bill.
Senator iIotchkiss, Of Lamoile Co., 1.-THE
commissioner, and also chairman Of the com
mitiee on claims,) stated somewhat at length
the relations Of the present claimants to the
great body Of the lroquois who once occupied
a considerable pan Of Central and Northern
New York difficulties which the tribes
had TO encounter with the French and English,
both OF whom claimed their friendship and aid
in the wars with each other and both Of whom,
treated their Indian allies quite often more like
enemies than friends New York had years
ago quieied the title Of the Iroquos, in that
State, by direc, appropriations for that purpose.
He had urged upon the Chiefs no so large sum
could he looked for from Vermont as had been
paid by New York. When New York made
a settlement with the tribes, they were still on
the ground, in actual occupation Of the lands
Here the case was not so. If they had not
abandoned their lands forever when the people
Of Vermont settled upon them, they had desert
ed them TO such an extent and for so long a
time that a less propofliUnaie sum would be
deemed just and equitable He had induced
them 10 submit the amount 10 the General As
sembly, aud they were qli,e willing to have
the amount which they should receive secured
for educational purposes. Though the sum
named in the bill was a small one, he believed
the claimants would accept it. for the sake of
having the business finally closed and if they
did, of course whoever was charged with the
settlement OF the matter would take an abso.
Lutte and perpetual release of all further claims
IL the claim should not be adjusted now, it
would have to occupy attention again hereafter.
The State, by her highes, authorities, had vir-
tnally admitted that there is cam-and that
claim the State would. some day, il not now,
liquidate. II could be best done now.
Senator Keyes, of Windham County, said he
had known hardly anything of this subject be-
fore he took his place in the Senate. His pre-
possessions had been agains. the claim, and
supposing il to be groudless be entered into an
examination Of the case TO find reasons for op-
posing it. He had not confined himself 10 the
reports which had been made to the Legisla-
ture but had searched n works of ackrowl-
edged authority on the history Of the Iroquois.
In spite Of his prejudices the conclusion he had
arrived at was that the claim was righteous
one-he did not see how any one who would
carefully examine the subject could reach diff
ferent conclusion. The siriies for sovereignty
between the French and English were never
considered 10 affect the title to the lands, and
the same was true of the siiiles between the
Americans and English. The ownership Of
tribes who lived by hunting, was different frum
that Of civilized people, who lived by cultivat-
ing the soil. The Turner were roaming the
latter siationary-the occupancy even by an In
dian family of Bit Of land TO plani corn on,
was not in their wild State treated as any thing
more than temporary possession. Yet the
iribes had certain acknowledged divisions he
tween their respective hunting grounds, acqui-
esced in among themselves from age TO age
In the yiclssiiudes Of war or the chase, they
frequently leh them partially for time, but
did not thereby Telinquish their ownership for
such purposes There could be no reasonable
doubt both from the direct testimony of early
4 travellers. as well as that of the Indians them
selves, that the tract Of country in question did
belong after the Indian fashion, to the Iroqnois
No evidence is shown that the Indian title was
ever extinguished, while all around that region
il had been. The claim, il was 10 be noticed
is not TO the right Of sOii-as civilized men
claim lands, but that their use as hunting
ground had been taken away, and for that a
compensation was asked. Il might not come
within the province of courts of law 10 adjudi.
cate such claim, but it did come within the
province Of the government Of a country "a
consider and treat it fairly. Both the U. S
government and the State governments had con
sdercd the Indian claims, such as they were
good,-not to be vacated by slrifos between
civilized governments or even by wars with the
Indians themselves, but by agreement, and fol
material considerations. Equiiably the State
of Vermont was the only party to whom these
Indians could come--and as soon as settled
times allowed it, they did come 10 her and