The New York herald., 1868-03-21


the Senators who had wept profusely over the
shipbuilding interests OF Maine would dry their
tears.
Mr.. MORRILL,, lrepl OF Maine supposed the point
upon which the Senator had differed from the Sena-
Iop from sh,s Me ,hen ws ms assertion inat Mch,gan pd
that carry commerce around the world, about which
Michigan a didn't know anything, and never would.
not those fatboats gaughter)-raltboats, navigated
with contrabands QaughterJ
THE NAVAJO INDIANS.
mr. M henaersoas pa PHI was then taken up, author
the Navajo Indians now on the Bosque Rotondo, and
approprlating $3.50, 900 for their removal.
ton OF $4,000 contemplated by the bill. He said
the Navajo tribe were the most highly civilized of all
the Nortn american Indians and that when they
were captured they were engaged In the manufac-
ture OF blankets, &C., Of superior quality. They
are now nea as prisoners and should not be consti
they are. He ridiculed the idea Of holding solemn
secret session to make treaty with captives There
were seven thousand of them, and he asked how far
900 would go towards removing and subssting
themi Millions would eventually be called for to
feed them after this needless change. He said that
General Carlton and our army had In a moment OF
valor captured and brought in the women and chill
dren OF the Navajo tribe, leaving the warriors on
Mr.. HENDERSON said they had been turned over to
the Interior Department, and were not now held as
words "hed and against their will" be stricken out.
In answer to Mr.. Howard he said he did not know
why ney were M not allowed perfect freedom by the
Indian Commission with General Sherman and
others, and said the Commission had saved the
government fifteen or eighteen millions He had
been firmly opposed, but was now convert, to the
doctrine OF making treaties with Indians and be-
Ieved tney saved @ the country wars and enormous
expenditures The Navaoes were now located In an
UNANIMOUSLY UNFIT place, and If they were retained
there ne was instructed by the committee OF which
ne was chairman, to ask for an appropriation Of
five hundred thousand dollars for their support.
They had heretofore cost seven hundred and fifty
thousand dollars annually, but now they could be
removed TO their old homes, or elsewhere where
they could support themselves. Besides this consld-
Grafton, the Bosque Rotondo, where they are now
kept, Is a private land grant, and the government
would doubtless have to pay about half million
Of dollars to retain it for their occupation. He re-
marked that he intended to call up his bill for
the government and care OF the Indians when the
Senator from California (fr. Conness) and others
would have full opportunity for the discussion Of the
After further discussion between Messrs. Conness
and Henderson, Mr.. RAMSEY, rep.) Of Minn., sup
people, and should be restored either to New Mexico
or some portion OF the Indian Territory where they
could find subsistence. He did not consider Sl5oOoo
too much.
Mr.. WILLIAMS said the argument had been made
every year recently that these were warke people,
and 1t would be unsafe to allow them to 60 back TO
New Mexico and thus entail additional expense In
putting down another war. He predicted that such
own country. He did not agree with the advocate
Of the bill In his opinion Of the reliability OF these
Indians They were treacherous race, and could
only be Kept quiet by the exhibition of power The
policy OF the government should be to keep them
reservations.
MT. COLE Vep.D Ol Cal, nOned the Dill would pass.
He described their condition as unfortunate and
suffering In the country Of the Comanches, who
sought to extermnate them
Mr.. NYE (rep.) OF Nevada said anybody who would
read the history or the difficulties between these
Indians and the New Mexcans would conclude that
General Carlton should rather have removed the
New Mexicans. 1t was impossible to keep them on
permanent reservations in the face OF the al
vancng tide OF the superior race. lie de-
scribcd the msfortunes Of the Indians Of his own
State, whose citizens he knew would not approve of
what he said They wanted to Kill Indians TOO, all Of
them. IL the nation put on sackcloh and ashes for
any sin it would be for its sins against the original
owners of this SOIL recognized as such by the govern
ment itself. He thought the crownng glory OF the
General who was the hero Of hundred battles was
the sheathing OF his sword and preventing the exter
mnation OF the Indians. He would rather trust the
judgment OF this wise and humane Commission than
that OF any army, or even Of Congress- Money thus
expended would not impOverish nation, but enrich
it. He hoped the bill would pass
Mr. BUCKALEw said not less than ten million dol
lars had been expended on this experiment, with
seven or eight thousand Navajo Indians, the part
army. He reced the occurrences OF recent years in
connection with them, and said 1t seemed that no
progress had been made after this immense outlay,
but they were to appropriate more money. lie be-
| eved somebody was making money out Of 1t. This
| commission needed no encomiums from him, and the
best thing they could do would be to rely upon them
| for the disbursement OF this money.
Mr.. FEssENDEN had reliable information that to
keep the Indians on the present reservation would
| suit in a large saving OF the annual expenditures.
! lie was not willing to hear General Carlton con-
| demned when Senators confessed they knew nothing
Of the circumstances. That ofcer had been strongly
| recommended by General Grant for present major
| generalship General Grant had sent out an officer
TO inquire into the allegations against General Carl
ton, who had found that he doing his duty man.
fully. 1t was unjust to condemn the General without
proof.
Mr.. HOWARD asked If the Senator believed that the
General removed the Indians In the line OF his duty.
Mr.. FEssENDEN said that the War Department had
made no complaint about the act. lie had seen the
General commanding and took the responsibility OF
removing them. lie was not court martiaed, but
sustained by the war Department. lie (Mr. Fcssen
den) desired investigation into the matter and in
tended to have 1t at the earliest opportunity. Mr..
Foster, late Senator, who had been there had en-
tirey exoneraied The General from these charges.
Mr.. DooLITrLE, rcp.) OF Wis, who had been
member of the Commission with Senator Foster,
detailed the circumstances OF the war at Fort Def
ance.
Mr.. HOWARD, after taking the ground that the
Navajoes had been unustly dealt with, moved TO
strike out the discretionary powers given the Com
mission To send the Indians To such place In its
opinion was best calculated for their prosperity He
thought they should be sent whence they came,
where their fathers were buried, and that suitable
guard should be sent with them to protect them from
insult or aggression by the New Mexcans. They
should not be sent TO or kept In a sterile country
where they could not support themselves IN the pas
toral pursuits they had once followed.
Mr.. FEssENDEN asked where the Senator had OBJ
tanned his information as to the sterility OF their
present location or their pastoral habtsf
Mr. HOWARD referred the senator 10 the published
Mr. CoNNEss read from the Globe some testimony
on the subject by military officers, giving favorable
view Of the Bosque Rotondo.
Mr.. FEssESpEN asked II that was intended to show
the sterility Of the regionf
Mr.. CONFESS referred the question to Mr.. IIender
son.
Mr.. HENDERSON said Kit Carson had informed him
that such statements were false.
Mr.. HOWARD again urged the proprety OF an
amendment, and Messrs Fowler and Frelinghuysen
also advocated II.
Mr.. CoRBErT, rep.) OF Oregon, argued that they
would be less expense to the country on rcserva
tion
After further discussion Mr.. DooLITTLE warned
them that whether the Indians were sent TO reserva
ton or TO their homes the Senate must not deceive
itself by supposng there would not be considerable
expense.
Mr.. Howard's amendment was lost, only seven
voting In its favor.
Mr. RAMSEY moved to add an amendment appro
priating $40 900 To the Sioux Indians OF Devils Lake.
explaining their destitute condition, and that the ap
preparation was In accordance with the treaty OF
May 1867, with those Indians, which had never been
carried out and 1t was recommended by the Interior
Department.
Mr. HENDERSON suggested that the amendment be
deferred until the Appropriation bill shall be intro
duced, which Will probably be tomorrow.
Mr.. RAMSEY withdrew the amendment and the bill
uaI