Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-21

grcSs. when they came to demand i,,Sticee He
hoped that Congress would not suffer such 10
be- the case.
Mr.. WaShburnc of Wis. said that lie Was a
member of the Committee on Military AiairS
i'll the 3ith Congress, and knew something
about the bill now before the House. The States
OF Alabama and Georgia appeared before that
committee with counsel. who were fully able
10 represent their interests but the committee,
alter careful examination Of the evidence.
llad decided that there was 10 iouudation for
the claims. Tie was therefore surprised 10
the bill again before the House unanimously
endorsed by the prcScn, Committee on Indian
Affairs.
Mr.. W. contendcd that the citizens Of Ala
banIa and Georgia had justly suffered the losses
for which they now claimed indemnity. By re-
peatcd treaties and frauds, the Creeks had been
cheated OIL, of their lardS. and had been driven
10 the verge Of desperation. The whites wanted
these lands. because they were good cotton
lands. He lid not. considering these circum
stances. wonder that war had en>ucd. for. in
spite of the arguments Of the gentleman from
Alabama Mr.. Shortcr.J il was 4 war.
Mr.. Shorter replied that il had been repeat
cdly decided by different Administrations that
the hoStlltlc' of minority of the Creek tribe
could not he construed as war Oh tie part Of
the ma aority. The Commissioner Of Pensions
hai frcqucutly refused pensions to persons en-
gagged in supprcS>n. these ho>titics. on the
ground that they had not done war service.
Mr Wa>hburnc said. in reply, that Congress
had recognized it a> n war. by making al ap-
preparation Of $joo.ooo to put it down The
commissioners who had been sent 10 Alabama
and Georgia by recommendation of President
jackson, had also reported that the majority o!
the Greeks participated in the ho>tli,ic>.
General Jcsup had said in his letter that not
more than forty or fifty Indians were engaged
in these dcprctla;ions and outrases. Was il
possible that small 4 number could have dc
Stroycd 30 large Al amount Of property
amounting A. w!s claimed. 10 over $1,000 900
in thckly settled country. And We, these
brave AlabamanS and ticorean> came PRAYING
Congress 10 indemnify them for losses sustain
ed NJ the hand oi snail band Of Greeks
Mr.. W. could not admit the justice of these
claim, although the principle on which they
were grounded applied no where more forchly
than to the district which he represented. Iha!
district WAS the seat OF the Black llawk war
4 good war--onc which tended TO cirillc the
Indians anu which made great men hcrlc>.
The people Of his district. who were engaged
in this war had rs much right 10 indemnity. As
those who sustained losses BY the Crech hos
ttics. But the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Of the present Congress, had decided against
claims for losses in the war with Black Hawk.
Here was a precedent which applied Ia thcprc-
sent ease. There was no reason why the pc0
pic oi Gcor.a and Alabama should have 4 full
cr measure "l justice than the people Of Wis
conSin.
Mr.. Stephens Of ia, moved that the COM
mittec rise. but Withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Shorter asked il the gentleman from
Wisconsin Mr. WaShburnc had. As he under.
stood him. stated that the "brdrt .ilabamianS
and ticorcians" hal ile'l, without making de
fence. from Il small body of hostile Greeks. and
had now come PRAYING Congress for assistance
and indemnity: .ts for the Jrafc,y part of the
gcntlcmanS speech, il was false and >andcrOus.
Cries Of ''Ordcr. Order
Mr.. Wa>hlurnc The gentleman is very
brave aS illustrated i'll his remarks to-day.
Mr. Shorter made no reply.
The Chair regretted that such language had
been used and would have called the gentle
man Mr. Shorter To order beforehand. had he
known wha, would have been the purport Of
his remarks
Mr.. Crawford Of Tia. advocated the passage
of the bill. and hoped that no gentleman would
oppose the payment Of the claims. H.
confined his remarks principally 10 the legal
merits Of the case. conlcnding that it was the
duty Of government 10 protect the lives and
property Of the people, and that the dcprcda-
tion> for which indemnity was asked were not
committed in period Of actual war lie cited
numerous prcccdcntS 10 sustain his position and
advocated the passage Of the measure a. mere
act Of Justice to the claimants.
Mr. Stanton Of Ohio, contcnicl that these
claims could not be paid, inaSmuch as the
government had always refused 10 pay for
deprcdationS committed by Indians, either in
state Of incipicnt or actual war
The committee then rose and the House
adjourned ill Monday.