The New York herald., 1869-03-13
THE FoRTY-FIRsr CONGRESS-
First Session.


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First Session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, March r. 1859.
INDIAN TREATIES AND LEGISLATION.
After the reading Of the journal the Speaker an
nounced the first business In order to be the con
sideration Of the resolution offered by Mr.. BUTLER,
OF Massachusetts,, last Tuesday for the appointment
Of joint select committee on Indian AFFAIRS consist
ing Of three Senators and six Members, to which
shall pe referred all matters relating to treaties with
Indian tribes, payment OF annuities, &c. with power
to consider all questions arising under such treaties
and whether they may be abrogated, annulled or
modified &C, and to consider the expedlency OF de-
termnlng by law what shall be the legal status OF
persons Of Indian descent ana what course shall be
taken thas viii better tend to their civilization,
Christianization and ultimate citizenship. !,
Mr.. BUTLER, (rep.) OF Mass made nh explanatic-o u
the resolution in the course which he stas there
were 172 different acts TO be consulted py any one
inaian Afrais besides large number Of treaties that
had been made modified and altered, going back to
MT. ALLISON nep.) OF Iowa, opposed the resolu-
ton as proposing plan at variance with the prn
cpe legislation, which required all subjects 70 be
Considered IN the two Houses and in their respective
Committees separately.
Messrs. SCogIELD, lrep.) Of Pa, and JuDGD, (rep)
Of ILL.,, advocated the adoption OF the resolution as
Indian Affairs.
Mr.. BUTLER replied to the objection made by Mr..
Allison. and appealed to his course 10 the lass Con-
the rights and privileges Of the House and jealous Of
any encroachments on the part OF the Senate. SO
long, however as the Indians were treated as inde-
pendent nations and as the House had no jurisdic-
ton on one theory Of the law except to vote for
appropriations to carry out such treaties, 80 long
cUnnue s1s E seor
the House could get any jurisdiction OF the matter
law would have 70 be passed to put an end 70 suca
by the consent Of the Senate and by an adjustment
of the terms on which 1t should be made. It had
mat Ss the ss aDa s gy se
government had agreed to pay annuities TO
them, such treaties must be enforced. He
assented to that The Indians must be paid
that which they were promised; but where
treaties had been made simply that Indian tribes
should keep the peace; ne believed . tnat those tnose
should be treated as wards Of the natlo4. No
bargains should be made with them either by the
nation or 6y ndlyiduas rhe "a nation lions shonld govern
the SOIL whether citizens not, according to just
laws, but not according to treaties made IN wig
Therefore there should be joint committee on the
subject that 1t could be seen how far the Senate
was wiling TO put its treaty,making power under
recently make on the Plains ought not to be carried
out. The whole system should Be changed.
ton and IN the Course Of Sis remarks
the conduct OF the Senate in regard to Indian affairs
as corrupt. iniquitous system Of LEGISLATION.
Mr.. INGERsOLI, (rep.) OF ILL.,. called the attention
Of the Speaker to this language as being rather un
The srExESa ruled that the language was mad
Mr. JULIAN said he would withdraw 1t IN that shape
and would put It in this shape that such legislation
the House had demanded Of the senate decent legsa-
t0n the Senate had refused utterly to listen to the
proposition. II the gentleman from Massachusetts,
could convince the House that joint COMMITTEES, ~
proposed through its missionary influence In the
Senate would be the means OF reclaimfng that body
s s
upon whether honest men In the Senate and In the
House were to be got to do tnat duty.
After further discussion by Messrs. BUTLER and
to-Yeas sa, nays II.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH At BARDsTowN, KY.
unsns e s s1 on
quest made for the use Of the Presbyterian church
at Bardstown, Ky. Referred to the Committee on
). ADJouRMENr OF CONGRESS-.
Mr.. BINGHAM, trep.) Of Ohio, introduced concur
rent resolution for pa adjournment Of this session
Mr.. ScHoFrELD suggested the fixing Of some other
day than Monday, remarking that last year when
ths day was xed the consequence was that the Sab
Mr. BINGHAM accordingly modified his resolution,
so as to read, the last Friday In March two weeks
Mr.. sCHincx, trep) Of onio, suggested 1t was bet
ter not to pass that resolution at once but keep the
matter few days longer In the control OF the
Mr.. MGERsoLL moved to lay the concurrent reso-
luton on the table. NeRattved.
The concurrent resolution was then adopted, BY
ayes lis to nays ~
INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA.
Mr.. BANKS rep. Of Mass, introduced joint reso-
independence OF Cuba whenever, in his opinion, Q
republican form Of government shall have been In
fact established. Referred to the Committee on For
ANNEXATION OF ST. DOMINGO.
Also JOINT resolution, authorizing the President
pie % q ST. Domingo FOR the annexation Of that repub-
hc to the United States. Referred to the same CON-
AMENDMENT OF THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
Mr.. WARD, trep.) OF N. Y, offered preamble and
resolution insMucting the Judiciary Committee to
report bill on the subject Of the naturalization
laws 30 as to prevent frauds in naturalization and
to secure the surrender Of fraudulent naturalization
papers already issued.
solution on the Table table, Nessiived-yeas 70, nays So
The resolution was then adopted.
FELoNIEs AND MIsDENEAN0Rs.
Mr.. CHURCHILL trcp.) OF N. ", introduced bill
TO define feonies and misdemeanors and to regulate
peremptory challenges, being the bill reported by
him last session from the Judiciary Committee and
which was passed BY the House, but was not acted
Mr.. KxRR, tdem.) Of Ind.. moved to lay the bill on
the table and called for the yeas and nays, which
Mr.. CHuRcmnL thereupon withdrew the bill.
DOUNTIEs FOR DRAFTED MEN.
Mr.. RANDALL, tdenn.) OF Pa, introduced bill 20
extend bounties to drafted men. Referred to the
Committee on Military Anairs.
THE PUBLIC CREDIT BILL
Mr.. ScHKNcK introduced Q bill to strengthen the
public credit and relating to contracts for the pay
ments OF coin, being his bill OF last session OF that
title as 1t had passed the two houses on the report Of
the committee Of conference.
Mr.. ALLISON moved 20 amend by striking out the
second section OF the bil which legalizes gold con-
tracts.
Mr. BURR tdem.) Of IIll., moved to lay the bill on
the table. Negatived-yeas SO, nays So.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Allison's
amendment striking out the second section ana the
amendment was agreed t0--yeas SO, nays 81; 80 the
second section was struck ott.
The btu was then passed. The following are It's
provisions:--
enacted &C. That in order 70 remove doubt r. 70
The purpose OF the government 10 discharge All Just obga
ons 70 the public creditor and to settle eoncns
have been hereby provided and declared that
the faith Of the United States soemny pledged 10 the
ment In coin s equivalent Of all the interest bearing obi
Gstons OF the United satss except In csses where The law
sunorxing the issue OF any such obligations has
provided that the be paid In lawful money or other
currency than gold sver bat OF said
ne obligations already due shall be redeemed paid
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