New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-20
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Correspondence Of The NJ Y. Tribune.

took the Oath OF ONCE Chls morning, anu
entered upon hia dgtes-just one day too late
The Indian claimants, believing this to be their
last chance, have been in full force for several
weeks at the Department, pressing their CLAIMS,
| and up to late hour last night the old Com
missioner was engaged in signing warrants for their
| payment. The sum total have heard estimated,
yariously, at from 800, 900 to $500, coo.
The claims against the Sacs and Foxes were pald.
This is one of those shrewdly managed eases which
leaves the Indians poor without giving them any os-
tens ole ground of complaint. Last Summer, unu'f
the management of Mr.. Perry Fuller, the resident
agent. they made treaty to sell their lands, and in
the treaty il was stipulated that the Commissioner
should pay the back claims. These claims they had
| no definite knowledge Of but now, when the mat
ter is settled their land is gone and their money
| gone There is general feeling in the community
! that the Indians have been sadly cheated, but by
whom. and when and where nobody knows. The
Indians complain, but can PROVE nothing hegm
against any one, although facts Ike the following
! are of frequent occurrence In 1852 Congress ao-
propliated $3.50 coo to pay the Sioux Indians Tor
! their lands in Minnesota Mr.. Lee OF MISSISSIPPI
\ then poor man, was Commissioner OF lnulan Al
fairs Gov. Ramsay of Minnesota Territory was
ex.offcio Superintendent. Hon. III. N. Rice, late
NJ. C.. from that Territory, made the agreement with
the Indians. Hugh Tyler, claim agent, received
| five per cent, So<,OVu ioi uinbulohE 'H'S
sum the Indians received only S25OCOO, tho re-
mander went for claims" The Indians COM
nl,ined and came Oh to Washington ior redress. An
| Investigation WAS commenced but as nothing liega
| WAS discovered, II was dropped.
| One of the last acts of Commissioner Greenwood
was To force through the claim OF Hon. h. M Rlce
of Minnesota for S24, 600. The facts IN the case
| are these: Twelve years ago Congress made an
| order 10 remove the Winnebago Indians. Rice took
the contract ut $50 per head The number was stated
ia be- 200. When the job was completed, Fletcher,
the accent who appears 10 have been al honest man,
refused to sign the roll claiming that frauds had
| becn rCmmitted-that the Indians lad been epnmer-
ated two OF three times over. Fletcherwas dismissed
! and more pilble man was substituted IN his place.
Rice then raised his clam from S2i 900 TO So, 900
ON account of Fletcher's refusing to sign the roll,
ana his having 10 subsst them in the mean time.
! Congress allowed the claim, and It was paid ten
| wears ago. Immediately after this was paid he
came in with on additional claim OF S24,UOO for
extra subsistence This Las been before the Dapart-
ment for ten years. Manuypenny refused 1t, Secfe
tary Thompson refused it. ltwas then examined in
/ 1855 in Congress, by the Committee OIL Indian Al
fairs, and refused. As soon rs Secretary Thompson
resigned two or three months ago. the Chief Clerk,
! Mix, made strong report in favor OF the clsim;
and the acting Secretary Kelley directed that the
claim was Just it must take the usual conre throlgh
the Auditors Office and be paid Instead at this,
however, the claim was not audited or examined
| but Mr.. Commissioner Greenwood ordered Mr. Cul-
len the Northern Superintendent, to pay IT out OF
the Spring unnuities of the Winnebagocs. Here ~
an open robbery in violation Of law and against The
! regulations Of the Department.
| The moral effect of these transactions on the
Indians is dshenrtoning in the extreme, and II Is
to be hoped they have come to an end.
Young politicians who have seen these old siagors
grow rapidly rich by such dishonorable means, may
hone to ill their places, and attain 10 Ike results
But the Democratic party is dead, ard with u dies
all this corrupt practice The moral sense OF the
country is against il. The Republican, party u
against il. The president OF the United States u
againstit. Mr. Secretary Snhth is aeainst II, aud
| Mr. Commissioner Dole is against IT, And when
the Chief Clerk. Mix IL removed, there will be no
connecting link between to purse OF the uation aud
these unjust claimants.
IL is little else than farce 10 call our agreements
with the Indians treaties. They do Rot understand
them az we do. They have no power to enforce
them no minister or consul to present Their views
or defend their rights. The complications in which
our long headed traders involve them are entirely
beyond their comprehension. They keep no record
and understand no law but that Of honesty. Conld
they be met with the spirit at sincerity which
they naturally possess, 1t would be an easy matter
To lead them into habits Of civilization. That They
can be civilized is evident from the condition oi
some of the tribes in Kansas. The shawnees are
I
lations divided up the land Of the Reserye, peg
| capita and become citizens and voters Much OF
their progrsss il 20 be attributed TO the kindly intu-
euce of tle Quakers who have had school among
them for fifty years--long before they migrated ~
Kansas. ,
81 The Wyandots have also divided up their land
and become citizens. ,
The Oitawas, living about twenty miles south OF
| Lawrence are model tribe. They have printed
language; can read; and nearly all are Temperance
men Church members, aud farmers. The Bapu-ts
have taught them from the beginning They have
petitoned repeatedly for the priglegfsof dividing
their lard and becoming citizens. But owing TO
their decided Free State tendencies the Department
I'D 10 this time has refused to listen to them.
Other tribes which have been removed from tho
east and partially adopted the habits of civilization
will Immediately settle down and 20 to work, under
the favorable influences of this Administration.
Mr.. Dole is a ght-minded man, and Will do all
in his power to appoint Superintendent and Agents
who VIII work for the good OF the Indians and not
as in times past, for themselves only. And am
told Mr.. Smith refuses all applicants on the ola pea
| of paving for political services. The Department
intends to look TO the welfare Of the Indians in &C.
ccting its agents. and make faithful effort for
their civilization, education, and elevation. The
power of the Government is to be used tor their
good, for the first time since the days Of John
Quincy Adams.
THE DOUGLAS-FESSENDEN DEBATE.
| CONNECTICUT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GOSSIP.
Correspondence Of The ~ Y. Tribune,
WASHINGTON, March 16, 1861.
The remarkable debate upon the Douglas res
olutiops In the Senate convinces everybody that,
from the start, Mr. Douglas has meditated q
ds.ermiped war npon the President and his pol