Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
Brooks Petitions Congress to De-
clare Him Governor Of
Arkansas.
Sherman Getting After the
Gambling Houses in
Washington.
The Radical Majority Triumph
and Break Down the Rules
of the House.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2-Mr. Cameron
presented the credentials Of VIM. A. Wal
lace, United States Senator elect from
Pennsylvania, for six years, from March 4,
1875. Read and placed on file.
Mr. Clayton preSented the memorial of
James Brooks, Of Arkansas, claiming that
at the election held on the 9TH Of Noyem-
Der, 1872 he was duly elected Governor of
the State, for four years, from the first
Monday in January, 1878; that he was in
all respects eligible, but that the Govern
ment Of the State has been usurped by
force and fraud, and is now held By an
armed force. BE asks that the lawful Gov
ernment Of the State be recognized, and
that such action be tllken by Congress as
viii protect constitutional government in
the State. Ordered printed and referred.
Mr.. Sherman submitted resolution in
structing the Judiciary Committee to in
quire and report whether there is now in
force any act Of legislation under which
the authorities Of the District Of Columbia
are empowered TO prosecute and suppress
notorious gambling establishments in the
District, and if there is not such legisla-
tiOn, TO report a bill 70 confer such powers.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman, in presenting the TesOlu-
ton, said he knew LOthing of the matter
himself, but from what he lad seen in the
newspapers, there existed such establish
ments in this city, which were a public
scandal, and in violation of the laws Of any
State.
Mr.. Bogy submitted a resolution calling
upon the Secretary of the Interior to fur
nish the Senate with full information as to
the services rendered by w. 2. Adair and
G. y. Vann, for which the sum Of $4,000
was paid them out of moneys belonging to
the Usage Indians. Agreed 10.
Mr. Ingalls, called up House bill to au-
thorize the Seneca Nation of New York
Indians 70 lease the lands within the Cat
taragus and Allegheny reservation and to
confirm existing leases.T
Mr.. McCreeTy, of Kentucky, said as this
bill made a radical change in the policy
for the government of the Indians, he
thought il worth while for the Senate to
pause before passing it. The Government
always constituted itself the guardian Of
the red men, and i. was bound in law as
well as humanity TO guard their rights care
fully. The title to the land in question is
not and never was in the Government Of
the United States. On this reservation
there were about 5000 Seneca Indians,
who had been in peaceable possession there
for ninety-nine years. This bill had been
introduced in utter disregard Of the wishes
Of those most deeply interested. These
Indians are educated, and certainly should
be heard upon measure Of such import
ance to them. He hoped the map Of the
United States wou show one spot, no /
matter how small, where good faith had
Z -. !
where, in Gods name, it should be main
taired forever.
Mr. Hamilton. of Texas, read the protest
Of Seneca Council against the passage Of
the bill, and said this legislation had been
asked for by no one except railroad COM
pany, which had squeezed a concession out
Of these poor Indians and now wanted the
government 70 ooHh-n it. Those Indians
were protected by solemn treaties. The
Legislature OF New York has enacted laws
about this reservation, but the Supreme
Court Of the United States held t has no
power TO do so. He entered his solemn
protest against the passage of the bill.
Mr.. ingalls, said lie had been impressed |
by the arguments Of the Senator from Ken |
tucky (Mr. McCreery) and the SenatorfrOm |
Texas (Mr. HamiltOn), but unfortunately |
the remarks Of both were based upon a
misapprehension Of the principle involved |
and the object sought 10 be accomplished. !
None of the objections urged against the |
bill were good. The Seneca nation Occu- |
pied this piece Of land about four hundred
miles long and one mile wide. Il was
crossed by three railrOads-the Erie, the
Atlantic and Great Western, and the RO-
chester and State line. The two former
roads insersected al the town Of SOlemanca, |
where the lease Of portions Of the land bad
been made by the Indians to white men as
well as the railroad companies, and the OBJ
iect Of this bill was simply to confirm such
leases.
Messrs. Fenton and BOg supported The
bill.
Mr.. Pratt moved an amendment provid-
ing that all leases now made or hereafter to
be made, pursuant TO this act, should be
subject for their validity to the approval OF
the Secretary Of the Interior.
After further debate, the motion Of Mr..
Pratt was rejected, as well as a motion Of
Mr.. McCreeTy to recommit the bill. The
amendments made by the Committee OF
Indian Affairs Were agreed to, and the bill
passed, yeas 26, nays u.
1t was announced that Mr.. Sergeant, who
had the floor for to-day to address the Sen
ate in regard to Louisiana afairs, had been
taken suddenly sick, and therefore could
not speak to-day.
After an executive session, the Senate
adjourned,