The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-21
Mr. SHERMAN went into executive session. and, when
the doors were reopened, adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

A bill introduced by Mr. Lawrence TO limit the
power Of courts TO punish for contempt; also 10 en-
large the privileges OF the writ OF habcas corpus
Mr.. SINGLETON. ldem) Of Miss from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported back the Senate amend
ments TO the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation
bill and moved that they DO non-concurred in.
Agreed TO-
Mr.. YorxG. tdcm.) OF Tenn, offered n resolution
citing the unsettled condition OF the Mexican Republic
aud the many outrages committed the persons and
property OF American citizens living In the ncighbor
hood Of the Rio Grande and requesting tho President
of the United States to order such military force to
rendezvous at some suitable point the Rio Grande
will be able enforce existing neutrality laws to
prevent hostiites the border and preserve tho
peaceful relations between the two Countries and also
requesting the President to direct the General OF the
Army to proceed in person the Of the threat
ened outbreak, and 10 take such measures may be
necessary maintain peace and protect the honor and
dignity OF this government Referred TO the Commit
Foreign Affairs s
Mr. CATE (dcln.) OF Wis., offered resolution, rectng
charges made In a newspaper report, affecting the
official conduct Of b. H. Bristow, Secretary OF the
Treasury regard to tho remission OF forfeiture In
the case OF the bark Mary Merritt, seized IN Mil
waukce in June, 1859, for violation OF the customs
laws
Mr.. HALE. (rcn) OF Ne suggested that the charge
should be made more definite and specific he Knew
that Mr. BrIslow desired and coured investigation on
every subject with which his name was connected,
and he ,Mr Hale believed that such investigation
would bring him out brighter
Mr. KAssoy rep) OF Iowa, desired Mr. Cate to insert
in his resolution provision that the investigation
should be conducted with open doors but Mr. Cate
declined TO so modify IT,
The resolution was then adopted
THE INDIAN POLICY.
The House then took up the bill to transfer the Indian
Bureau to the War Department
Mr. CoNuER. trep) Of Mich, opposed the bill IN the
name OF the churches OF the country OF all religious
dcnomnationc which would look with amazement ut
this effort 10 substitute the sword for the Bible.
Mr. Mills tdem) OF Texas advocated the bill In the
Algeria had governed exclusively by the military
until 1871. and that France had only abandoned the
exercise OF military control after had demonstrated
by that her laws had TO be respected by her
quered Subjects and that still in the interior the wild
nomadc tribes were under control OF the sword OF
France.
Mr. DosBIxs, rep) of n. j., opposed the bill as
representative OF the Society Of Friends, by whom
ana whom he cuogzed tor their Christian vr-
tues displayed toward the Indians He presented
Mr. cairrrNprx, nnd.j Of N T., inferred from tho
tone of the gentleman from Texas Mr Mlls and from
the examples he cited that he was IN favor Of giving
the Indians hell. ~ tLaughter.) The gentleman might
be right but he tMr Cnittenden) thought that the
country was not quite prepared TO adopt that policy
BY continuing the present system neither prayers
shot were 10 DC excluded He was confident that the
proposed transfer was premature and he hoped that Il
would be deferred He not prepared to that II
that II was very unwisc ut present.
Mr. MAcrSSis, (dcm.l OF Mon, advocated the bill
the troops surprised and killed the Indians and tho
other where the Indians surprised and killed the
troops. II army officer failed in an expedition he
r!dculcd and snecrcd and il he succeeded he
was vilined ms barbarian and murderer. Why, then
should army officers want war in which they gained
no credit and no goryY or why should settlers want
war in which they might have their cabins burned
down and thoir wives and children slaughtercdy The
only people who wanted war were these corrupt threw
no Iudl
Mr COOK, dem OF Ca, advocated the BILL and
gave instances of the extravaganza OF the
Mr. HOLMAN, (dcm) OF Ind, suggested an amend
authorizing the President TO detail army officers
TO perform the duties OF Indian inspectors commits
sioners, supcrinendcnts, agents and special agents,
and argued that while this would be an economical
reform would help to break up The system OF Indian
frauds.
Mr.. HuRLBrr, rep.l of H., advocated the bin and
said that the whole question was, In what manner the
wild Indian tribes be best and most justly
roed and governed. He believed that the only way
the Indians from exterminat WAS to break up
the tribal ganzstion and to govern them all other
Of force That was the only thing that the uneducatcd
recognized and respected Under that show OF force
all those advantages which might lead TO edu-
eating the Indians 70 higher point could In. IL
he believed that the bin would any way interfere
with sound genuine. Cnrstanizng civIizing agencies
he would not for it, But II did do anything Of
the kind He disclamed any desire the part Of the
officers Q, me army 70 nave Inc ol passed They all
jcct them TO abuse BY the public press II Congress
cast the burden them they would accept II rs they
would accept any other duty
Mr. argued that the passage Of the bill would
be reflection and rcproach on the Christian dcnomi-
nations Of America which had been invited by tho
government to undertake the work of Chrstianizing
and civizing the Indians. The common history OF the
world was that the missionary who wants to succeed in
his work among savage and barbarous people must DO
unaccompanied by the army and unaccompaned by
the canteen.
Mr.. BANNING, ldem) Of Ohio, opposed the amend.
ment offered by Mr.. Holman OF Indiana, as one that
would leave the matter IN worse condition than II
now Is. The transfer had been recommended by the
gentleman own tee-(Approprationsl-by the
Military Committee and by majority OF the Indian
Committee. He referred TO the TACT that in 1913 the
cost Of the Indians under the War Del artmcnt WAS
only 1874, 600 while last year IL was 50, ISIS, O00
Mr. HOLMAN advocated his amendment and said that
he now offered u as substitute for the whole bill
Mr. BANNING asserted that Mr. Holman's amendment,
which merely substituted army officers Tor civil agents,
would only save the amount Of pay OF the Indian en-
effect a saving OF over 100000 year. The best
mon OF the country, who had been heretofore
sScs"se ~" The noian o.
all wckedness corruption and DEATH 1t had been said
by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Coxl that this
was republican measure. He (Banning) did not care
whether u was q republican or democratic measure. Ii
was measure OF economy aud one that was demanded
by every Delegate the Territories who knew most
about IT, aud only opposed by gentlemen from the
East who had not suffered as those had suffered who
con.cnding here for the rights Of the ronersman
and the rights OF the Indians.
Mr. Homans substitute rejected.
Mr. LAWRENCE (rcpl Of ohio, opposed tho bin and
declared tuat during pcrou tnat luulan bureau
under the War Department the Indian service
total failure. So utter failure had II been that IN
1S49 the Indian Bureau had been transferred to the In
terror Department. Since then there had been In
dian wars. He was for the Quaker policy inaugurated
by President Grant, because 1t was policy OF peace
and because 1t had been successful
Mr. RAISgy, trcpl Of 5. G., opposed the bill, and
that the real OF Indian discomfort
that the dsrcgarded its treaty slpuations
with them.
Mr. HuSrox, tdem.) OF Va moved an amendment
lowing officers the retired list to be employed
Indian agents, and spoke in advocacy OF the amend
ment
Mr.. RANDALL, tdem-) Of Pa, favored the amendment
measure of economy, and advocated the bill itself
He had doubt that the discomfort OF the Indians
from the fact that they unjusty and dis
honestly dealt with by the present management He
defended the officers from any reflections made
them, and asserted that more intelligent upright
class OF men than army officers he had Dis
honesty In an army officer the exception, and It
would never do TO besmirch such with the intima-
ton that dishonesty had recently been discovered
among them. He believed that II this transfer
made there would be an annual saving Of millions Of
dollars
Mr.. Huntons amendment was adopted.