The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-03-22
NO MORE INDIAN TREATIES.

policy toward the various Indian
tribes of this country which ought to
have been long ago adopted. 1t re-
to enter into no more treaties
with the tribes, recognizing them in
their individual capacities. At an
early period in the history of this
country the policy was ~inaugurated
by which this system of treaties was
recognized as equally binding upon
the country as a treaty with a foreign
power. The question has arisen with
in the last few years whether the Sem
ate is authorized to enter into any
treaty which will bind the action of
the House of Representatives in max
ing appropriations to meet the expen-
ses incurred or contracted for by the
terms Of the treaty. The treaty-mak-
ing power is~res.ed in the S~enate-the
power to introduce and pass bills max
ing appropriations of money, belongs
exclusively t the House. Whether the
Senate can enter into any treaty con-
tract with any power calling for the
payment of money which the Houseis
bound to fulfill by making the requis-
lite appropriation, is a question which
is debatable. 1t conspicuously
in the Alaska case. The Senate and
the Executive purchased the territory,
but the purchase money had to be
provided for by bill introduced in the
House of Representatives. Suppose
the House refuse to pass the appropri-
alton ~bill-what becomes of the treaty?
This question on a smaller and more
domestic scale has repeatedly arisen
during the discussions on the appro-
priations for the various Indian tribes.
Government agents, with an eye to the
percentages and donations, have been
very liberal generally in their prom
ises and contracts with the Indians.
So long as the authority of the Depart
ment was unquestioned the House
from year to year, with more or less
grumbling, made the necessary ap-
preparations to carry ont the treaties.
The Indian Department and It's agents
had the advantage, and they used it to
carry out some of the most stupendous
schemes of robbery ever perfected on
this continent. The Indian apprOpri-
atoms have heretofore constituted n
of the most important items in the list
of public expenditures. The country
has growled, and the House of Repre-
s~entatives has growled over the mani
fest extravaganza and rascality of
these Indian appropriations for subsi-
dies and donations of which not twen-
ty-five per cen ever reached the In
dams for whom the money was osten-
sibly appropriated. So long as the
right of the Senate was recognized to
enter into these pretended treaties the
House felt bound to carry the terms OF
the treaties out by passing the India,!
appropriation bills. This has now
come to an end. The Senate is to en-
ter into no more treaties with wander
ing savages by which these tribes are
to be recognized as independent and
sovereign powers. Hereafter they
take their place as subordinate and
dependant bodies.
The first effect of the adoption of
this rule has been to diminish the
annual appropriation for many OF
the tribes. The appropriation for Ne
vada has never been very large COM
pared with that of most of the Western
States, although as Senator Stewart
stated in his place, the Pi-Cte of Ne
vada is as brave all Indian as any on
the continent. The money has mostly
gone, not to the Indians on the Plains
who are really capable Of doing the
most mischief, but to the tribes along
the border of the Mississippi Valley.
Mr.. Nye showed the other day in the
Senate that the appropriation asked
for the Indians of Minnesota is more
than four times larger than that asked
for Nevada, although the Nevada In
dams exceed those of Minnesota i'll
numbers. Nye estimated the Indians
of Nevada at 10000, which with their
Sl5, 900 appropriation would give each
Individual one dollar and a half. The
Chippewa Indians are provided with
500 900, annually.
1t is evident if the appropriation for
Nevada is sufficiently large, that of
most ofthe Western States is too large.
We have heard of n o grumbling about
the amount for this State. 1t is large
enough. AS small as it is, very little
of it ever reaches the Indians. If the
lnntira amount went into their pOckatS,