The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-05-21
INDIAN APPROfRIATION bTLE.
speech Of Hon. John Hancock OF Texas,
In the House Of Representatives, FRI
day. Nay 1. 1874.

day, Nay 1. 1874.
The House being in Committee of ths
Whole on the state of the Union, and hav
ing under consideration the bill blouse res
olution No. 2343) making appropriation:
for the current and contingent expenses Of
the Indian department, and for fulfilling
treaty stipulations with various Indian
tribes, for the year ending june 80, 1915,
and for other purposes, Mr.. Hancock said
Ar. Chairman: viii not detain the
Committee Of the Whole by any attempted
analysis Of the provisions of the bill now
under consideration, believing that It has
been better done by my colleagues on the
Committee on Appropriations than could
do.h 1 were to attemptit, and think with
sufficient particularly TO enable all who
have paid attention to the remarks of those
gentlemen to understand the bill. But
desire to offer few suggestions upon the
past and present treatment of the Indians,
and what conceive to be the better policy
to be adopted in the future toward them by
the government.
NV colleague on the Committee lon APP
propriations from Missouri Mr. Parker, in
speaking in behalf of the Indians, in the
most forcible and eloquent manner alluded
to the fact that they are without political
status, that they have no political influence,
and not being citizens they are without rep
resentation on this floor to defend their
claims; and being without voice, are left
dependent upon the sense of justice and
humanity on the part of Congress.
While l am not unmindful of the neces-
sites and almost dependent condition of
many of these Indians, and am willing to
cooperate in executing any policy which
may seem best calculated to amelorate their
condition, not inconsistent with the supe-
Iior rights of the citizen who has a prior
claim on the government for his protection
aud security of person and property, l
would desire that character of legislation
which will look alike to the interest of
each, believing that no other can, In justice
to all parties, be inaugurated and carried
into execution by the government of the
United States. Among those citizens who
have this prior claim on the protection of
the government in their rights of person
and property l represent many who have
suffered great wrong at the hands of these
Indians, in whose behalf both the gentle
man from Missouri Mr.. Parkerl and the
gentleman from Iowa Mr.. Loughridgel
spoke most fervently and eloquently. The
character of legislation, then, which I de-
sire is that which will be not only just,
even generous to the Indians, but, just also
to the citizen, so that he shall have the
benefit of that protection which he is en-
titled to expect and has right to claim at
the hands of the government, and that the
Indian at the same time shall receive such.
consideration as he may be justly entitled
to at our hands.
In arriving at proper position to enable
us to act more nationally and form better
and more reliable judgment as to what that
policy should be, it may not be amiss, in
deed think it will be better, that we look
for moment at the true condition of the
Indian as at present situated. / will not
stop here to undertake to combat the posi-
ton of my colleagues with reference to who
have been oftener wrong, the white man or
the Indian, in the wars which have arisen
between them-who may have broken the
treaties in the one instance or the other.
Not that. do not feel that the hardy from
tiersman's cause is defensible; but think
it unimportant and immaterial for the proper
discharge of the duties that devolve upon
us. Nor can I agree with my colleagues
that so much may be said in praise of that
policy which has grown up under the
of the interior De-
partment with reference to the Indians.
believe 1 am warranted by the
facts applicable to the material and
social, if not the moral, condition of
the Indian in saying that his condition now
is much worse than it was twenty-five years
ago, when he was passed from the jurisdic-
tion of the War Department to the jurisdic-
tion of the Interior Department. But will
not ascribe his worse condition to the one
or to the other department. 1t is the result
of circumstances that surround his existence,
aud grows out of the fact that he Is cut off
from those resources that he heretofore
could resort to for his support.
The last twenty-five years, Mr.. Chairman,
have been the most eventful quarter of a
century that probably has marked the
course of time during the Christian era. In
it events OF more gigantic character In
their social and political results have oc-
CURED than In any other twenty-five years,
and especially on this continent. During
that time more than three-fourths of the re-
sources to which the red man could, apply
have been taken from him. He has been
deprived of more than three-fourths of the
territory that he then roamed over at will,
seeking from its forests and its rivers and
its lakes the game and the fish upon which
he subsisted. There is but little, left him,
only few buffalo, that are now restricted
almost exclusively to what few years since
was regarded as the great American desert.
The deer can no longer subsist him. The
elk is disappearing. The bear and ante
1ope and the other smaller game cannot be
relied upon for his subsistence single
month. But few buffalo, comparatively,
remain; and, estimating the Indians at two
hundred thousand-and believe, Mr..
Chairman, that is as many as can be found
within the limits of the United States toI
day-lf they were turned loose and left to
depend entirely upon these natural resour-
ces, doubt if enough could be brought to-
gether to subsist them for six months and
Keep them from actual starvation.
Finding the Indian, then, Ia this re-
stricted condition, both as to territory and
the natural resources that are to be found
in that territory upon which he can subsist,
are we not placed in this position toward
hIm, that one of two things becomes lnevi-
table9 We must either feed him, or, if we
fail to feed him, we drive him into despera-
tion, and war necessarily ensues and exter-
will follow There are two views
that will be taken of these questions, in
favor especially of the policy of peace to-
ward the Misunderstanding and peace. As
a question of economy I believe it viii be
found cheaper to feed the Indians; and ]
am quite confident it viii be found much
cheaper in conjunction with that policy, If
such restrictions are inaDgErated, to put the
Indian in a sts.S Of subordination, such
Of absolute control and subjuga-
ton to authority that he viii realize the
full advantages that may result from his
temporary support in preparing him, BY
making him acquainted with the arts Of
to become self-sustaining.
Apart from that there is another eonSid-
Grafton; and, without stopping to make
any particular comment OF remark upon that
sentimentality which is begotten perhaps Of
the enchantment which distance lends to
this subject, or yielding to the romance or
poetry Of fancied Indian character, / feel
and believe il Is q natural feeling thai comes
out Of the hearts Of all that the Indian has
some claims upon Us. We have always re-
coguized his possessory rights, and have
treatcd with him recognizing these as
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