The true Democrat., 1855-04-17

that portion of the claim; so that there are no private rights interferred with. But, in the mean time, what disposition is to be made of thls unappropriated fund?
 The Choctaw nation has, through their dele gation here, Ca body of very intelligent men, representing nation who not only occupying a front, but the very foremost, rank among the civilized Indian tribes in the West, , asked that 1t shall be funded in the United States, as their friend and trustee, for 1t is not paid over to them yet, in order that they may be enabled to establish and carry out a system of common schools ln the nation, which has already been inaugurated, but under such auspices that they cannot prosecute it effectually. No person will be injured by the appropriation. Or the con- trary, 1 think 1t is just and benevolent dispo- stion by the government to forward the gene ral objects of the enterprise which they wish to accomplish. do not put it upon the ground that there is a legal obligation to do so So lar as we assume any responsibility here, 1t is voluntary; but, for one, am willing to do 50 for all those Indian nations who are willing to take the funds and appropriate them for purpose so laudable. It is the first example in the histo- ry of those nations where they have asked that the funds of the nation may be appropriated
 
 arrangement after all It is to make the fund productive while it is now idle for purpose of this kind; and I ask, IS the Senate going to turn deaf ear to the first genuine proposition cmanatlng from an Indian nation to appropri. ate its moneys fora most laudable purpose, and in the only true direction to attain anything like the civilization of the tribe? I have not put it upon legal footing-rothing of the kind. admit It to be gratuity and hope the Sen- ate will agree to it.
 As to the particular feature objected to by the Senator from Virginia, and " whch seems to alarm him, that 1t is to embark this government in general scheme of investing all the trust funds, l have no particular objection to that; but shall not insist upon it. I shall be per- iectly content to get the balance of the amend lnent. l am not tenacious on that point. If the Senator objects to 1t, let him wipe out the obnoxious feature. My objectis to give the aid of what Is now small, unproductive fund, to ald thls trbe m the enterprise which they have Inaugurated under such unpropitious circum- stances.
 Mr. Hunter What do object to is the ln- vestment Of this money in the State stocks I do not object to the appropriation of the fund to purposes ot education among the Choctaws; but do object to conterrlng on the Secretary of the interior the power to invest Indian money in State stocks. think it is the commences ment of bad system.
 Mr. Weller. It can be modified so as to ob viate that difficulty
 Mr. Hunter. Let the Secretary read the ameudment, so that we ascertain its terms, to see whether It can be 50 modified
 The ammendment was accordingly read again
 Nr Weller do not sec any objection to the amendment as 1t now stands The Choctaw hatlon IS regular, organized, constitutional gov- ernment. The Chocta~s have made more rapid advance than any other tribe of Indians. Fms investment ls to b. made in State stocks. or other securities, under the direction of the Choctaw nation. It IS to be done at their risk. and cannot see how, in any event. the govern mentor the Unlted States can. at and subsequent tune, be held liable for any loss which may be sustained by the failure of the States to redeem theT bonds. The investment Is 10 be made with the consent of the Choctaw nation they beng regular, organized government, with full capacity to make contract. We simply come ID and consent to act as trustees for the Choctaws, to make the investment receive their interest, and pay It over to them. I cannot, for the life ot me, discover any objection to this amendment; nor do consider 1t as the con- mencement of a system 10 invest Indian mon- eys in State stocks. I should regret as much as the Senator from Virginia, to see the govern. ment engage in that again. because, in the end. 1t must be loser
 Mr. Pratt. There is one difficulty which I desire that the chairman of the committee on h. dian affairs should answer, for if it be not ex plained satisfactorily, do not think any of us can vote for this amendment The fund which Is to be disposed of is, if understand it, a fund belonging not to the Choctaw nation, but to indj- vlduals of that tribe or nation. Now, the propo- sitionis to divert this fund.- which is an ndivid- ual fund and not natural one from the indiyid- nals to whom 1t belongs, and to vest it in the nation for some national purpose
 Mr. SEBASTIAN. 1 conceive from the Senator's remarks that lie evidently misunder- stands the question. It is true these funds be- long to two classes of individuals, if may say 50. The money has been in the hands of the United States agent under an appropriation made by an act of Congress for their payment All who appeared and asserted their interest have been paid. The residnum which renal ns is what might ba called the lapsed interest of parties who are either extinct or probably nev- CT will make a claim. This proposition is lot to take It away rom those parties. but me- rely that the government shall hold it in trust, and pay the interest on 1t to the Indians, and devote the interest simply to national purposes, deserving the principal to pay the claimants, whenever they may come forward. This is a provision in the amendment that whenever any claimant comes forward, 50 much as is due to shall be paid to him. and interest on that cease at once. The Government is to hold the money in trust-to take the principal and invest it as trustee. If one of the benefciaries claims it, they have to sell 50 much of the stock as will amount to that principal, and pay 1t over Itis not an appropriation, but merely making an idle fund active for short period of time.
 Mr. Hunter. Mir. President, we have had some experience upon this subject of investing Indian money in State stocks. We have done it before; and when the State failed to pay their interest, we considered ourselves bound to make it up to the Indians: and so it would be in this case. Notwithstanding the provision that the Choctaws are to give their assent, if we should invest their money in State stocks and the States should fail to pay the interest, we should