The true Democrat., 1855-04-11


 States. The President has sent us message recommending this appropriation, and this sum of $06, ,43O will, in my judgment, result in a saving of hundreds of thousands by turning these Indians, who roam over the praires and commit depredations, into agricultulists. A portion of them are now so, and the effect must be good one.
 The amendment was agreed to-
 MT. SEBASTIAN. am also authorized by the committee on Indian affairs to offer the fol- lowing amendment:
 For reimbursing to John w. Whitfield, late agent for the Indians on the Upper Plotte. the amount expended by him for ransom from the the States of white and Mexican prisoners $17O.
 MT. Hunter. I understand that the general provision, offered by the committee on finance, was to cover this among other objects. This was case mentioned when the estimates were sent in-the case of Mexican boys who were restored by agent Whitfield. The amount of $5,OOO, appropriated by an amendment already adopted was supposed to be large enough to cover that and others. Either the one or the other provision ought to be stricken out
 MT SEBASTIAN. The only difference is, that one is a special appropriation for particu- lar case and the other Is a general provision which understood to be prospective one en- tirely. If the one referred to by the Senator from Virginia covers past transactions, I see no reasons specially for this amendment, except that this sum is already audited as the amount of the expenses of MT. Whitfield, for ransom ing Mexican boys from the Cheyennes and Apaches.
 MT. Hunter. The general appropriation which has been inserted on the reccommen- dation ofthe committee on 6nance, will cover it.
 Mr. SEBASTIAN Then I withdraw the amendment, and rest on the general pro- vision.
 Subsequently, Mir. SEBASTIAN renewed the amendment, stating that Mr. HUNTER had Withdrawn his opposition; and it was agreed to. Mir SEBASTIAN. The next amendment of the committee OH Indian affairs is to insert the following, as an additional section: SEC. And be dt .ftatlier enacted, That the eighth section of the act approved the 31st of July, 1854, authorizing the payment of per capi- t0 allowance to Cherokees, east of the Misss- slpIl, to be so amended as to authorize the pay ment of all such Cherokees, as being properly entitled, were omitted on the roll D. w. Siler, from any cause whatsoever
 Mr. Hunter l trust the honorable Senator from Arkansas will explain this provision.
 Mr. SEBASTIAN. This amendment does not embrace any new appropriation at all The sum of S5,UOO was appropriated at the last Sns- sion of Congress to pay certain class of Chcro- kees; but Ill the description of the benefciaries l under that provision, reference was made to a wrong roll. The mistake occurred in this way: Reference was made to the Mallett roll when It should have been to that of Siler.- This IS to correct that error, in order that the money may go to the persons for whom it was originally intended. It involves no increase of appropriation at all.
 The amendment was agreed to- MT. SEBASTIAN. The committee on h. dian affairs also authorize me to offer the fol- lowing additional section:
 SEC. -. And De t furt1er enacted, That the secretary of the interior be authorized to invest in safe and profitable stocks to be designated by the Choctaw nation, and at their risk, or, at his discretion. to hold in trust at an interest of five per cent, all such moneys now received or hereafter to accrue from the Choctaw orphan lands in the State of Mississippi, or from the fund appropriated for the redemption of Choc- taw scrip annuities, which may remain on hand by reason of the death of the parties properly entitled to claim the same And that the said secretary be authorized to pay the annual n- terest thereon to the Choctaw nation, for the support and maintenance of such neighborhood or common schools as they may establish among the Choctaw nation west of Arkansas ! Provided, That upon lawful claim made upon such funds by any party entitled, the principal of such amount shall be paid, and the interest on the same shall cease.
 Mr Huntar This iS rrOpOcitiop oc I m derstand it, to allow the secretary of the interior to invest these Indian funds in the State stocks think we have had some experience on this subject which should warn us in regard to the dangers of such an experiment.. 1 do not re- gard the provision that 1t shall be at the risk of the Choctaws as being worth anything; because if the money should be invested in State stocks, and those stocks should turn out to be worth less, or worth less than par, this government would be held bound, as guardian, to make it good. Such has been the history of the past; such will be our own experience in the future if we attempt to renew that policy, which l had hoped was exploded. 1 think we cannot commence more dangerous system than that of beginning in this way to invest the money of the Indians, or of the government in State stocks; because if we once commence, 1t will go OoAoAOhS only this, but other money of the government in these stocks. I hope the Senate will vote down the amendment.
 MT. SEBASTIAN. Mir. President, do not think that the Senator from Virginia compre- hends the full extent of all the provisions of this amendment. In the first place, the amount is very small. and the amendment does not em. brace the general proposition of investing all Indian moneys or trust funds in State stocks. l am aware that proposition has never received much countenance in the Senate heretofore The reason why have brought forward this proposition Is, that it has been urged most ear nestly by the Choctaw delegation now in this city, who pressed upon the consideration of the committee on Indian Affairs the necessity of making available what, to them, is now use. less fund, and of appropriating it's proceeds to what every one must admit is a laudabe and praiseworthy enterprise
 There are now about $17 OOO of what is cal led the Choctaw orphan fund, and $l2O,OOO of the Chcctaw annuity fund. These amounts have been appropriated heretofore and sent out to the agent of the Choctaws for the purpose of being dgbursed and having remained there a sufficient length of time they have become laps