The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-10

mgh be paid in money Now the annual indiscriminate
strbuton Of their national funds among the Indians
gradually working their ruin; whereas wise policy such
any parental should adopt would necesss-
rily produce the happiest results.
The details Of the system should OF course be modsed
10 suit the varied conditions Of the several tribes but Inc
uniform application Of its leading ideas 10 the governments
Of the tribes in the Central and Northern superintendent
ces is, conceive, indispensable.
Thondtion Of affairs in the Southern superntendency
presents gratifying spectacle The four great tribes OF
Chocaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, and Creeks with
the kindred band Of Seminolcs occupying the terri
tory west OF Arkansas, have steadily improved IN
morals educaton the comprehension Of and respect
for the the rights OF persons and OF property AMI IN
knowledge Of the the ry and principles Of government
They have regularly organized governments constructed
nors Legislatures, codes Of laws aud judicial gi,tra
cies to expound them. There the path Of duty h pa n
Every should be held out to them per
in well doing, until the period arrives when ripe
for citizenship they sha be admitted to the full enjoy
mcnt Of all its rights and privileges.
One grievance however, 10 which they are subjected,
and of which they justly complain deserves the conside
ration of Congress While the constitution laws and trea
ties OF the United States this territory
there is no local tribunal to take cognzancc of
the which arise under them which, therefore, are
for trial to tho United States District Courts in the
state of Arkansas. This not only great expense
ana Inconvenience TO the suoIs but in criminal cases
especially, nterferes with the impartial administration
Of justice. Choctaw or Chickasaw, accused OF an
against the laws OF the United States is hurried
away from his friends, 10 be tried at u remote point IN
community which has no sympahy with HIM Unable 70
compel the attendance Of hs witnesses and deprived OF
the aid and comfort extended to the white man similarly
situated he defends himself under great disadvantages
there manifest injustice IN this which should be RENE
tied once and would suggest the establishment by
Congress OF District Court Of the UIed States for this
territory TO hold least annually for each of
The four tribes of Cherokeos Greeks Chocws and Chcka
Among these tribes there educated well read
lawyers, and the holding of court in their country would
create in the minds Of the people respect for the laws and
/ give dignity TO the administration Of justice
The Indians of the Territories Of Washington and Oregon
| are still FESTIVE and begeren This disposition on
| their part evidently springs from disbelief in the
strength and ability Of this government to punish them
for trespasses committed upon our settlements. II is
the duty the government disabuse their minds This
best be done by peaceful means Let an appropria
be made TO defray the expenses OF delegation from
each Of the large tribes in those distant Territories, to
Washington and ether eastern cities. Let them KNOW by
personal observation our numbers see our improvements
and estimate strength They would readily conclude
tina; further hostility would be absurd and when they
carried the story of greatness and power to their PEG
ple change would come their minds and might
then reasonably hope for the establishment, by treaties,
of good understanding and perpetual peace between US
Such appropriation would be in my Judgment an act
4 OF true economy.
During the past year large amount paid into the
treasury of the United Ses accounted moneys belong
ing certain Indian tribes. The several treaties under
which this amount derived devolved upon the Pres
dent the duty OF causing II 10 be invested ~ some safe
profitable stocks to be held by the Secretary of the
Interior in trust for the respective tribes In pursuance
of your directions tn Indian trust funds were invested
in State stocks which were deemed safe and profitable
The amount OF bonds purchased was III 46 o. cost
| ing 81, 29l or 40.
The investment having been made at time of unusual
financial embarrassment we were enabled TO make a
profit of $780, 81 for the Indian tribes and at the
time to afford relief TO some extent to the business com
| munity.
The report of the Commissioner of Pensions presents
satisfactory of the operations OF that bureau during
the year The business OF the Office has been brought
up date nearly is practicable and the large
clerical force required despatch the heavy abos de-
VOWED upon by the recent laws granting bounty land,
has been reduced 10 conform To the present exgen
| cics Of the Office.
For some years past practice has prevailed of pay
ing to the children and sometimes to the administrators,
OF deceased revolutionary soldiers and their deceased
| widows. the amount Of pension TO which such sol
| diers widows would have been entitled had they
succeeded in making good their claims during their life
time but never grandchildren, such At the last
term Of the Supreme Court decided in case in
yolying the distribution OF certain pension moneys which
had paid administrator for the exclusive benefit
Of the children Of deceased widow OF revolutionary
soldier, that grandchldrenr a'Pes-stood in the same
relation such claims children and was subsequent
y contended that the effect OF that decision not only
to affirm the legal correctness Of the practice alluded TO-
but 10 enlarge 30 as 70 embrace class oil claimants not
| previously recognized by II.
Seeing that large amount o money had already been
drawn from the treasury under the practice oi the
Office, and doubling whether the court had gone be-
yond the question OF distribution involved IN the
cause before IT, and decided to the law ON which that
practice founded, awaited myself OF the hrst case
that arose elicit the views OF the Attorney General
both the encc, Of the decision of the court and
the legality OF the previous ruling Of the Office He
thoroughly investigated the whole subject, aud gave
lucid and convincing opinion the law OF the case;
IN which he came 10 the conclusion that soldiers Wild
ows who might have been entitled 10 pensions in their
lifetime but died without establishing their right or re-
ccivng the same LEFT no estate IN Their claims which
could be inherited either by grandchildren or children
that arrears Of pensions which alone, by the statute
were nhertabc, only existed in cases where pension
had been received and at the death OF the pension
\ cr, a portion left unpaid and that the Supreme
Court In the decision referred 10, had not passed upon
was law for the payment of pensions IN such
and money could be drawn from the treasury with.
out previous appropriation any payment ordered by me
would have been against law and would have amounted
10 naked act OF legislation by executive officer felt
hesitation therefore, in ordering disconnuance OF
the practice in question: and all the coming within
I "a q
pass law giving 10 children aud grandchildren the
ions their deceased would have received had
the proper proof been made out during their lifetime.
pension Is bounty given by government Tor mero-
rcu personal service and the first Law granting pensions
for revolutionary services confined the bounty TO the ndi
soldiers But whether this restriction be correct or
not Il self evident that the great nducemcnt IN all pen
sion laws 10 relieve and compensate, In his own proper
person, the sofsacricng SOLDIER who rsked his lie,
wasted his energies, and neglected s private affairs ID
the service OF his country The Law has extended ~ pc.
ncence from the soldier 10 his widow and there has
stepped II Congress shall take step further and
vide for children and grandchildren on account Of the
services OF their ancestors the question arises Why take
care Of the children and grandchildren Of those whose
fortune Il 10 live I'LL Congress had passed pension
act and moi ~ those equally mertorious who died tie
service who dragged oui miserable existence uncarcd
| for and unrccogniscd by the goycrnmentf
The children and grandchildren and great
Inheritance derived from glorious ancestry
the liberties they enjoy. and IN ihe institutions which
81 our revolutionary heroes has dealt out - them with
sparing hand tpto the 3oth June, 1857 under the
pension laws q ISIS, ISIS and 1881 goo hal been
paid revolutionary soldiers aud under the acts o 1880
1888 1s4s and 1855 SIS 302 eco had been paid 10 the
widows Of revolutionary solders-making an aggre.
gate In money Of sixty millions Three hundred and
fourteen thousand six hundred and twenty dollars, be
sides large donations of land and disbursements q mo
ney under other laws, on account OF Revolutionary SER
| vices.
The determinations pointed out by the Commis .ioner 81
Pensions, a. existing between The invalid aud haipay
pensions for the army and navy, would seem u demand
revision and correction by Congress some reorganization
q the systems upon which ,ho pensions are granted $
desirable, not only because Of the nadeauscy q the low
rates 10 relieve tie wants OF those intended " be bene
fitted but because of the manifest prvprety o. making
like provision for those Of corresponding grades IN the
az the service who may become disabled while
| in the faithful discharge Of duty.
During the past year al ss3 warrants Tor bounty land
have been issued requiring TO satisfy them hve millions
nine hundre4 and fifty two thousand hundred aud
sixty Of the public domain and the number issue
under all the bounty land acts Of Congress from the reyo
lutonary the present time 5l1 ESQ., requiring TO
/ Sfx m hundred