Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On motion. of Mr.. sE4AES, the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tho House convened at IL NJ Prayer by Rev. Mr..
Duncan.
Mr. STAPLES re-introduced his resolution requesting
the Preeden to communicate to the House the report
of General Eshols of tho battle Of Droop Mountain.
Adopted
NJ. GOODE OF Va, introduced resolution instruct.
ipg the Committee on the Jud cary to qle into the
expectancy Of amending the act regulating impress
ments so as TO release from improvement sum ieDcy
of provisions supply the wants of the noE-producng
cl.ss.
Mr. GOODE raid notice had been served tbrous bout
the country on producers, notifying them 10 hold sl
their turpus of provisions subject TO the order Of agents
of the QaartermastsTs aad Comnissary Department s.
What are refugees, the noO-protuoing class AID tie
wives and children OF in the field 70 dor BE knew
m II in his district where there was large amount Ct
toll corn impressed, yet the agent knew there were
twenty or thirty families dependant on IT, The snail
county OF Carroll in his district, which has Mt solitary
conscript in H. tut three substitutes and 300 slaves,
had bsen flooded with tese written notices from i'm
pressing agents. lie gran ed that the army, our hole
sod defence should be fed, but was not necessary 10
sarye the people lie had been Tod there we're oceans
of corn in Georgia Why cannot transportation be ar
ranged and the CommissAry Department send ssgents
there 10 Eeti,! Il there no remedy for these evil
&c the best remedy for the army aud the peo
pc that there should b0 change in the present head Of
The Oommissa.y Department.
Ths resllutiol was adopted.
Hr. MILLER, OF Vs., introduced resolution in.
structing the Committee on the Medical Department. TO
inquire WHY wounded officers charged two dollars
per day in tn city, contrary to the act Of Congress
Adopted.
Mr.. BOUDINOT, from the Territory Of Cherokee,
submitted bill TO appropriate 500 900 for the and
peuef OF the Cherokee Nation, and providing for the
refundng Cf the money tho ratification Of pesse be-
tod and he
Mr.. BOUDIN0T said:
In the 46sn article of the treaty referred to- the Con-
federate States promises to collect and pay over the
inter,s due the Cherokee Nation on stocks Of the
Southern States when due; that liz on the LIST day OF
July OF each year. II is ascertained, however, that
SUCH stock is in unregistered coupon bonds at Wash
ngton city, and that IN consequence no collections can
be made upon them during the continuance of the war;
The bill is intended to meet as far as possible the obi
cations Of this Government and enable the Cherokees
thou ands OF their destitute renBees from SUI
feripg and starvation.
Through the amisble and generous creduity OF Gen
erals commanding in the Indian county the loyal Che
rokees we're made the Gins OF the perhdous conduct
of thief sn assassin and traitor, who had for thirty
five wears imposed upon the old government, and who
found it no hard matter 10 deceive tie young Coufede
rGcy refer 10 John Ross, who was suffered TO ao-
scond with the archives and treasury of the nation and
secure the protection Of Federal bsyonsts Those who
remained true to their treaty obligations were compelled
money.
Although many of the promises of the Government
have been broken the Indians understand md appre
ciate the manifold and unanticpated embarrassments
which have prevented their fuiflmentl
Indeed sir these Indians have made great progress
towards perfect civilization. This assertion may asJound
some people, whose ideas on this subject ira drawn
from primitive School or cigr-shop statuary.
But il IS, nevertheless, true
They have emerged from chat stage OF aboriginal
smp icy which inclined them to regard the President
their ereat father" and believe the trutbfUGes
and sincerity of bng tha told them and have
attained that high = of enlightenment and eIp.ri-
ence which teaches to put "tIust in princes"
and to decredit at least half OF what they hear.
So Il at when the Confederate States promised by
treaty to protect them from invasion, they supplied the
clause undersood- possible! and 1t is worthy Of re-
mark that they do not reproach the Government for
want of faith but complain that manly Effort has
been made to protect them and that their OSn hands
have been tied by incompetent and slothiu officials
that they could not protect themselves.
When this Government promised TO furnish Indian
troops with clothing aud money for their sefVces such
as was given other soldiers they, the Indians found it
necessary 10 offer this charitable provsoif not taken
in trdnsitu by officers who imagine clothing unusual
EXPENSIVE and unnecessary luxury for Indians.
And when the Confederate S q Is prom sed 10 collect
the interest on the money the OheIokees bad invested
In stocks Of Southern States the Indians generous
enough to make allowance for unforeseen obstacles
which might prevent such collection
But for the pressing e1gency of the case the Chero
KEGS would not have applied to the Government on this
subject during the war
1bere ia nov nearly three years iateres. due and IN
coec ed yet no explanation by the Government OF its
failure to collec; has been made and no complaint Of
soch omission has been heard from the Indians.
Taey are now in condition, however, that impera-
lively demands the attention Of the Government the
matter From boyhood to old age among them nearly
tn he IL In ha lafpa
II not greater proportion thin can be shown In any
Safe or county in the country.
They have ever displayed and still chow fidelity and
undaunted attachment to the Of Southern Inde
pendence, which, considering the great AID repeated
wrongs they have endured IRON the representatives OF
| this Government is incompatible.
Their prc perry has been plundered and des royed
and their families driven from their homes hundreds
have been plunged from opulence to absct poverty and
thousands this hour, homeless, houseless helpless
and may almost sAyfriendleesfor in that section Of
tie country where they mostly cobgregited menaced
as with invasion few have any substantial sympathy
| to spare.
These Indians ask no mere than is their rgh. They
ssotn 10 be suppcanis for the bounty Of any govern
ment and would repldiate as their representative
houd bend the kues for them, that thrift mght
follow fawniDg"
It has beel smoothly written part Of the history
of this great war that the Indians had proved worth
less scs" uust he author OF those unjust and ul-
generous words will make Iqlry into the conduct Of
tlose allies and do them justice. t
Ask Arkiansians and Teens If they have proved
worthless allies Ask the shades Of the immortal NJ
Ga loon and the glorious McIotOeb both OF whom have
10 on record testimonials in this matter the Iadian
allies Rave proved OorthIesS Ask Gems Pike, Cooper
Hindman and Holmes II these allies have been worthless
The Cherokee troops. though regularly organized,
served the first twelve months without receiving one dol
lar OF pay. during this time they had won wide re :
uarion Tor courage and efficiency in two pitched bat