The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-22
WASHINGTON.

! WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1874.
Are the Indians Citizens OF the Uniied
States!
Representative Shanks. OF Indiana viii, on Mon
day. introduce resolution instructing the Com
mtree on Indian Affairs TO investigate and report
to the House the status OF the Indians of the United
States as to citizenship under the constitution
with such suggestions as may proper and
Just touching their titles to property and other
rights and privileges. Several days ago Mr.
shanks, who has been making the Indian question
peculiarly his study, announced the doctrine that
under the constitution as IL has been amended the
Indians are undoubtedly citizens OF the United
States. he proposes now to bring the whole ques-
ton before Congress and have the matter deter
mined II the Indians are citizens then Will arise
the perpiexing question whether they can properly
be debarred from all the rights and privileges OF
citizenship which necessarily involves that
oil the ballot. The addition OF this new class
OF citizens would very largely increase the emu
merated population OF several OF the Territories
and cause their speedy admission rs States. or
course there will be fierce opposition to the
acknowledgment Of Indians citizens on the part
OF the members and delegates from the States and
Territories which have Indian reservations or
wandering tribes within their limits, as they be-
lieve that 1t would be worse than farce to make
them voters, Then, too, aside from the preudices
OF the whites who are directly In contact with
them, comes up the question hat Is TO become Of
| the treaties which, from time to tIme have been
made with the Indians, recognizing them as sep
arate nstionaiities, obtaining from them cessions
OF lands and setting aside for their exclusive use
and occupation certain reservations Will not all
| these treaties be declared OF no legal binding
force, and thus the Indians be deprived OF all pro-
lection in their rights to the SOIL other than that
| which they may be able to obtain, like white set
tiers by pre-empti0nS There are many legal
points involved in the discussion OF the status OF
the Indians. that, whenever the debate occurs, 1t
viii necessarily take wide range and be partici-
pated in by all the leading lawyers who are mem
| bers of the House.
God In the Federal Constitution.
| The House Committee on the Judiciary, to whom
was referred the petition of Z. G. Goulet and
others, asking Congress Tor "an acknowledgment
OF Almighty God and the Christian religion" in the
| constitution Of the United States, having con-
| sidered the matter referred to them. have re-
| ported:-That, upon examination even of the
meagre debates by the Fathers OF the Republic in
| the Convention which framed the constitution,
they find that the SUBJECT of this memorial was
most fully and carefully considered and then, in
that Convention, decided. after grave elaboration,
| to which the subject was entitled, that. as this
country, the foundation Of whose government they
|
oppressed OF all nations Of the earth, whether
Christian or pagan, and in full realization Of
the dangers which the union between Church
and state had imposed upon so many
nations of the Old World, agreed, with
great unanimity, that it was inexpedient
| to put anything into the constitution or form Of
government which might be construed to be o ref
erence to any religious creed or doctrine. And
they further find that this decision was accepted
by our Christian fathers with such great unanimity
that in the amendments which were afterwards
proposed, in order to make the constitution more
acceptable to the nation, none had ever been pro-
posed to the States by which this wise determine
ton OF the fathers has been attempted to be
changed. Wherefore, your committee report that
it is inexpedient to egisate upon the subject OF
the above memorial, and ask that they be dis
charged from the further consideration thereof,
and that this report together with the petition,
be laid upon the table
The Proceeds from the Sale Of Captured
Cotton.
In response to q resolution OF inquiry the Score
tary of the Treasury to-day transmitted TO the
House of Representatives statement in regard to
the captured and abandoned property fund, con-
tanning the following Information -
The total amount Of money covered into the
Treasury as the proceeds Of the sales Of captured
tirely OF cotton. was $50, 9l0656. or this amount
there had been paid to claimants under awards OF
the Court OF Claims, So 300, 4t3 under judgments
OF the United States Circuit Court for New York,
$2T O29, and under awards by the Secretary OF the
Treasury under the act of May 1s, 1872, S97, 734.
The fund has also been diminished by sos 0G0, ex-
penses OF collection, leaving balance In the
Treasury OF $14,41O,479 There remain unpaid
judgments Of the Court OF Claims amounting to
1854 OIL.
Internal Revenue Seizures in California.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has inlor.
nation OF the seizure at San Francisco, by Super.
visor Foulke, OF the Bay View Distlery and its ap
purtenances, with the spirits on hand at the Bay
View Refinery and the wholesale liquor store OF
Louis Fanconi, for violation of the internal rev
euue laws.
Revenue Appointments In Iowa.
f. A. Bradley has been appointed Gauger for the
Second district Of Iowa.
Fnz John POrtcr's Secret Court.
General FitZ John Porter has telegraphed the
following to Senator Cameron In relation to Mr.
Chandeliers resolution in the Senate yesterday -
a offer no objection to Senator Chambers mo.
ton to remove the oath Of secrecy from the mem
bers OF my Court. 1t will give some Of them a
chance to change their opinions, which can't be
defended, and to join in my appeals
|
TIE SANRORV CONTR ACTS