New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-01
WASHINGTON.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS BEFORE THE SENATE
FOREIGN COMMITTEE-PRoPOsED M0DIfICA-
TON OF THE RON-CLAD oATH-fXPECIED
PASSAGE OF THE INDIAN TERRITORY BILL
THE INDIAN FRAUDS

| lBI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBCNE
WASHINGTON, Tuesday Jan. 81, 1871.
| The Senate Committee Foreign Relations WAS oeca-
pied to-day. in the consideration OF the Soposition re-
Gently mado that the United States Government shoud
assume the Alabama ciane and settle with fe claim
ants 1t now appears likely that tho Committee win do
vote considerable time TO this subject as the debate VIII
probably the whole question OF damages done by
Rebel cruisers fitted In British ports, and the various
schemes propoeed for their settlement The Committee
Is unwilling to take any action with regard to damages
done by any OF the pirates which would by impca
ton, weaken claims for damages done by others The
Committee viii not probably report on the matter this
| session.
The Committee on Reconstruction agreed. tine morn
Ing toreport for passage the Senate bin providing that all
poTeons not disqualified by the Fourteenth Amendment
from holding Office may take the modified oath, instead
OF the roncad testoath. and tho report made by
Gen Butler. Pending debate 1t the House adjourned
Mr. Porter Of Virginia. Chairman OF the Committee to
whom the subject had been referred. opposed the bill In
Committee. the ground that tits dangerous TO go any
further in the direction OF removing pro-
visions be made at the time by Ian for the proec
ton Of loyal citizens white and black at the South Un
til this done. Mr. Porter thinks that lesation roy
ing disabilities encourages acs OF prescription and vio
lence the part the late Rebe Mr. Porter, from the
same subcommittee nade minority report In the form
Of the following rough draft OF bill. which he thinks
will give the needed protection In the Courts TO loyal peo
pie in the South:
Whereas, The following named states-to wit Alabama,
Arkansas DeiaW re, Florida, Georgia kentucky Louis
iana Maryland Mississippi North Carolina south Caro-
sons within their respective jurisdictions tho equal pro
the CONSTITUTION Of the United states and De laws made
In pursuance thereof IN relation b within their
nesPectTe oil Their color or
BE II enacted de-, That in all eases, cvfl and criminal,
which pending in court OF any ofthe above
named States either party in civil case and,
inal the defendant accused party or tho Injured
nearest relatives Of the deceased living within tho juis
dcton OF said state Court nearest thereto, none
nal case removed 10 the g. & Circuit Court for the Dis
in which said State Court Us held upon making and
tico cannot be obtaped IN said state Court IN cQss
9ue1ce Of the color Of or prejudice against tho sant or
the u S. Courts by either party upon similar aisvit
further provision of the bill prohibs under severe
penalties, the exclusion Of citizens from being sam
moned put upon the lists to be drawn as jurors, on
serving such in any Federal State Territorial
Court on account Of their color The consideration OF
this bill postponed by the Committee until Tuesday
next. Mr. Upson OF Ohio. Republican, and Mr.. Morgan
Of Ohio, Democrat, the other members Of Mr. Purters
subcommittee, disagreed TO the report. Dir. Epson
takes tho ground that the legislation proposed would
revoluonize the entire system Of Jurisprudence both
State and National and that Congress has no copstitu
tiOla right TO pass such measure, which would take
away all authority from the State Courts looyng them
with Jurisdiction any case, civil or criminal,
except by consent OF the parties TO the suit Although
the evils complained OF exist to considerable extent IN
some OF the States named Mr.. Upson does not think
they grave enough TO justify Congress In destroying
the State Courts, if the Constitution would permit
such legislation As 70 the exclusion OF negroes from
juries Mr. UpsOn thinks It IL not in the power OF Con
gress to find remedy for the that some dsere-
ton must left 10 the officers charged with the selec
ton Of names from which jury to he drawn, In
order that men CT intelligence and character
may be selected. No has right TO he
drawn juryman, and the failure to put
a coiored a jury In any instance could not DO
taken Ia; he occasioned by prejudice and punished as
crime by United states statute. Mr.. Upson thinks tho
Improvement in public sentiment at the South and the
political power given by the ballot to the blacks, must
relied upon to correct the prevalent disposition among
the still disoyal whites 10 deprive them OF their civil
rights and that acts OF Congress will not the din
Guilty Mr. Porter has the opinion Of several OF the best
lawyers in the House in favor Of the constitutionaty
OF his bill which lie claims finds authority in the Pour
tenth Amendment 1t is not believed, however, that
the bill viii be agreedto bys majority Of the Recon-
struction Committee.
his now believed here by members OF the Senate In
dian Committee and Others that bill will be passed be
fore the close Of session organizing Territorial gov
eminent for the Indian Territory, the Presidents Mes
saee on the subject sent the House yesterday being
in fun accord with the proposition Of the Committee
The bin now before the Senate Committee is so framed
Indians and unlike other bills which have been intro
duced in the Senate and House. except the ono re-
ported from the Indian Committee OF the House. It
gives 10 white people no rights IN the Territory
II Is OIL this point that debate in Congress Will doubtless
turn The Indian annblators, and some men interested
in railroads projected across the Territory desire to have
the land thrown open for white settlement The number
Of Indians now in the Territory is about 500 about
1000 of whom are OF the most civilized class, Viii 5000
or 10 600 now living in the western part OF M Territory
are Plains Indians" removed there within the past
four YEAR, in accordance with the rcaties Of 1856
AT first the civilized Indians were unwilling 10
give up any Of their lands for any purpose,
But having been convinced that unless they eede to the
United States some OF their unoccuped lands for sctte-
ment by other Indians il would he impossible long to
keen white people out they finally agreed 70 the propose
zion Many OF the Indians on the plains are beginning
10 see that they cannot much longer expect 10 live By
hunting owing TO the growing scarcity Of game, aud ii Il
hoped that through the influence OF the Peace Commits
oners and Others they will be induced 10 remove to the
Indian Territory learn the ant Of agriculture The
Creeks Cherokee Chca-aws and other civilized tribes,
are also rapidly absorbing many OF the e1naier tribes
Of Kansas, the Delawares, Shawneess, baes
and Foxes other tribes have either been already,
or will be- absorbed into the Cherokee Nation The
Pottwaiomies KickapOos and Kaws are tho only tribes
with which arrangements have not been made. Any
proposon to remove the Sioux TO the Indian Territory
j. not at present considered fesbie by those well in
formed in Indian affairs The Sioux Northern tribes,
and live in barren country, in which there 10 seldom
rain and when the crops, il any sre raised they
are usually destroyed by grasshopp'rs Tie
sioux cannot possibly live there by agricul-
culture; bat IL is feared that, even II they
could be induced u remove dbcy would not nj
present assent any condition. the climate woud not
agree with them TIE cost of feeding the Sioux is about
e20o COO and this supposed by somo be an cxrava-
CANT anlcnt, but when It II remembered that these
indians are well fed they wilt remain coDentecly OIL