The weekly Arizona miner., 1878-07-05
SPEECH OF HON. HIRAM $. STEVENS, OF
 ARIZONA,
N THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MON
 DAY, JUNE r, 1878,

On the b II. R. No S5l6) making appropriation
 the payment of certain vouchers file in the h.
 er!or Department for supplies delivered for the use
 H1 ruv"oTr of the different Indian Agencies in the
 Territory of Arizona in the 1874 and prior years Ar- STENENs, of Arizona. Mir. Chairman. this indebtedness on the part of the Govern mcut was created by its authorized agents In the discharge of their official duties. They invited the people of Arizona to sell to the Government thcse supplies, and in many in stances they were furnished at very low -ates. The people, in obedience tO the pro- ppsals of these officers to furnish supplies, m good faith and generally in accordance with a written contract delivered them to he officers, receiving therefor these vouchers on which It was understood, as Is always the case, they were to receive the money imme- dlately, as such transactions with the Gov ernment are always on a casn basis. These vouchers were issued by the Indian Agents n charge at the various reservations, who received the property and had full knowl- edge of all the details of each transaction. They have ueen examined, audited, and ap- proved by the Commissioner of Indian Af- fairs. They have received the sanction pt the Interior Department, passed by the Board of Indian Commissioners, and were reported to this House by the Secretary of the Treasury on June 30, 1876, (Ex doc i5l, first session of the filth COngress) re- commenting an appropriation for their pay ment.
 It would seem that the mere mention of the history of these vouchers would induce the'r immediate paymenl, but such is not the case. They stand as adjudicated ac- counts against the Government for property used for its benefit and bought at its in stance. That the supplies were furnished to the Government and received by its author Ized agents on a requisition issued by them for the supplies, by due authority from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. is rot de- lied by any one. That these vouchers were issued regularly and with all the formaities required, and precisely as all vouchers are issued by the Government, is not disputed. It Is also acknowledged in respect to these vouchers thet the Government of the United States has had and enjoyed for its own uses nd purposes in the adm nistration of the pub ic service the property of its citizens, and up to this date has refused to pay the same. These vouchers have been due for more than tour years; that too in a remote Territory where interest Is high and money scarce. The interest alone oR these YOuch- CTS if paid how would amount to over 50 per cent. of the full amount, which of itself mounts tO so much as to throw many who to'd these vouchers into bankruptcy and ruin.
 have heard many members on this floor preach. Tn strong language, too, or the great necessity of being usr toward the Indian, fulfilling all the obligations promptly, just " and kindly, and by so doing you do nothing but your duty toward them, and gain their good will and lasting peace; all of which I concur in. But, MT. Chairman, would in not be well to extend this very generous feeling of duty, justice and friend -hip & little further: l will not claim that rhc American citizen who has gone forth into the wilderness ant. by his labor, trials, and energies, has accumulated a trife for the support of his family, of a wife and little ones, and perhaps small surplus which he is induced to sell to this Govern ment with promise ana hope of receiv- ing a fair compensation for, which will ena- bie him to supply the necessaries of his family of little ones, is entitled to as much consideration at your hands as the noble red man of the forest, who struggles so hard % maintain himself and little ones by lounging on reservation in idleness or going out at will on plea, ure excursion ,nd taking a few horses, cattle, and proba- ply scalps, al the same time eating beef, four, beans, coff-e, sugar. and many of the .uxurics furnished him by this Govern mcnt from the hard earnings of the poor .itizens whom you refuse to pay for fur
 i>hing these supplies; but do claim that the man or men who furnish supplies to this Government through its agents duly a,l ,r5trr7rtal l,- tbo Department. the supplies received by the agents of the Government, duly receipted for by the proper officers. vouchers issued in the regular form, approved by rhe Com missioner of Indian Affairs, approved by the board of Indian Commissioners, an- proved by the Secretary of the Interior tnd reported to this House by the Secre- tary of the Treasury Executive Document ljl, first session of the Forty-fourth Con- 5res,l for an appropriation, are entitled to some little consideration at your hands.
 One searches in vain for the consistency that should characterize a great govern rnent in these two acts, The first com mands our admiration, the second cOmpels our contempt The Government should be just as well as generous.
 These are ID doubtful claims, they are not claims for depredations, but they are claims for property given up to the Govern ment in pursuance of a contract with the Goyetan.ent, and should not be postponed in tbis mamher They were deferred last ,cs,ion by the Committee Gr Appropria- lions, and efforts are being made to put th7m oyer this session. 1 claim this as rank injustice, that it is dishonoring the credit of the Government, repudiating its ,bligations, and in fact co1hscating the property of the people. To refuse the pavmrut of these vouchers, made regularly in due form and in the ordinary way as they rave been. and, like all ordinary accounts against the Government, being in ns wise different and being audited is repudiation f tine iu: obligations of the Government and an arbitrary coLfEcation of the proper tv of the people. There Is no otaer and proper way of characterlzing the conduct ot the Gorornmcnt The Government has in cfT.ct induced the people to give it their property: it has used 1t for It's purposes and refused payment.