Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-12-07

iuu UGH pilu NY NeW lOfk' w nen New
York made a settlement with the tribes, they
were still on the ground, in actual occu-
patton of the lands. Here the case was not
20. IL they had not abandoned their lands
forever when the people of Vermont settled
upon them, they had deserted them to such
an extent and for so long time that II less
proportionate sum would be deemed Just and
equitable. lie had induced them to submit
the amount to the General Assembly, and .
they were quite willing to have the amount |
which they should receive secured for cdu-
cational purposes. Though the sum named |
in the bill was small one, he believed tlc
claimants would accept it, for the sake oil
having the business finally closed and if
they did, of course whoever was charged
with the settlement of the matter would take
an absolute and perpetual release of all fur
Their claims If the claim should not be ad
justed now, 1t would have to occupy atten-
ton again hereafter. The State, by her
highest authorities, had virtually admitted
that there is claim-nnd that claim the
ctate would. some day. if not now, liquidatc.
1t could be best done now
Senator Reyes, of Windham Co., said he
had known hardly anything of this subject
before he took his place in the Senate. Ills
prcposscssions had been against tine claim,and
surprising it to be groundless he entered into
an examination Of the case to find reasons for
opposing it, lie had not confined himself to
the reports which had been made to the Le
gislature but had searched in works of ac-
knowledged authority on the history of the
Iroquoio. l., rr;to of his -Gi-d'eee tho con
clusion he lad arrived al was that the claim
was righteous one--he did not see how any
one who would carefully examine the sub
,ect could reach different conclusion. The
strifes for sovereignty between the French
and English were never considered to affect
the title to the lands, and the same was true
of the striles between the Americans and the
English. The ownership Of tribes who lived
by hunting. was different from that Of civil
lied people who lived by cutivating the
soil. The former were roaming the latter
stationary--the occupancy even by an Indian
family of n bit of land to plant corn on, was
not in their wild State treated as any thing
more than q temporary possession. Yet the
tribes had certain acknowledged divisions
between their respective hunting grounds,ac-
guessed in among themselves from age to
age In the yicissitudcs of war or the chase,
they frequently left them partially for IL
time, hut did not thereby relinquish their
ownership for such purposes. There could
be no reasonable doubt both from the direct
testimony OF early travellers, as well rs that
Of the Indians themselves, that the tract of
country IN question did belong after the In
dian fashion. to the Iroquois. No evidence
is shown that the Indian title was ever eX-
tinquished. while all around that region it
had been. The claim, it was to he noticed,
is not to the rigM of so,l-as civilized men
claim lands, but that their use as hunting
ground had been taken away and for that n
conversations was asked. 1t might not come
within the province of courts of law to adju-
dictate such IL claim, but it did come within
the province of the government of n country
to consider and treat 1t fairly. Both the |.
5. government and the State governments had
Z =
were, good NOT TO he vacated by strifes be-
tween civilized governments or even by wars
with the Indians themselves, but by agree
ment, and for material considerations. Equi-
tably the State Of Vermont was the only par
ty to whom these Indians could come-and
/ as suUu as potled times ullp>v, ID ~ thay did
come 10 her mud th""sh jneti"n had not
/ h., Il I,,, .
/ should not be done now.
The speech of Mr. Reyes was comprehen-
/ siye, calm and statesmanlike, and was lis
tened to with deep attention. Indeed the
whole discussion was one of great interest
! perhaps the most SO of any one in the Senate
/ during the whole session Though one or
two Senators said that their unfavorable
! prepossessions were not wholly removed, and
/ therefore they could not vote for the bill, it
/ passed the Senate by great majority.
1t was unfortunate for the consideration of
a bill Of that character, that it came up in the
House on the last evening of the So ssion
/ The press Of business is inevitably SO great
on the minds Of all at that time many
have their attention chiefly occupied with
the hoped for success or defeat Of some parti-
cular bill or bills. and there is so much more
noise and confusion then than at other times,
that a more uniayorable moment for consi-
dering a Till SO out OF the track of ordinary
subjects of legislation in this State as that
one was, could not have been found. With
great many, to 60 against measure which
! fanl tnl n i'm n
fully understand, is thought to be the safest
and surest way-especially where money is
to be appropriated. What with the old pre-
JUDGES Of some who had only thought of In
| dams in connection with stories of border
warlare--of others who could not see how n
claim could exist which could not be brought
| to the test of the Vermont Laws--of others
who doubted whether il the claim was a good
one, more than $1,000 ought not to be given
to quiet it, and who therefore would not
vote for anything with their present know
ledge, the bill was lost by considerable
majority.
The subject will of course come up again,
and it is to be hoped that the action Of this
year will not prejudice Its final adjustment
in satisfactory way. Whatever apologies
must be made for the men Of other days,
whose minds were occupied with domestic
and foreign strife and the labors and trials
Of opening new country, and who looked at
this claim with distorted vision, those apo.
logies cannot be made for the people Of our
own time. The State is able its inhabitants
enjoy prosperity in their possessions and
We believe they will not long allow a spot to
remain on the honor Of the State, nor an adj
vantage to he taken Of those who have no
power to enforce their claim, beyond what
lies in steady appel to the sense Of Justice
in its Legislature. They will never allow