Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-01
1IWiFR fNf W. TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY l. 1881
CONGRESSIONAL.
sENATE.

the Ponos Indian squsbble-Indisn
Land Bill In Severslty.
Y WASHINGTON, January 81.
Senator Baldwin, Of Michigan, took
biz seat to-day.
rhe credentials of Mr. Conger, Sena.
to.elect from Michigan, were presented.
Mr. Ingalls,, in presenting the remon-
stance against the sixty sergeons bill,
phrporting to be signed by the Kansas
ahiers, remarked that the paper ema-
nRted from the pension and claim agents
ofWashington City, and he was salts.
fid that it did not in any sense repre-
sent the convictions OF the soldiers OF
that State.
ANr. Mcpherson introduced the bill
aplropriating 100000 to be applied
under the direction OF the Secretary OF
the Navy, to immediate preparation and
equipment, and supply OF the vessels
of war to be used in the search for
TIE steamer Jeanette OF the arctic ex-
pbring expedition. Referred.
Mr.. Dawes addressed the Senate on
tho killing of Big Smoke, the Ponca
CHEF, by soldiers in the Office OF the
aesnt OF the Poncas, Indian territory.
Al his suggestion, the response OF the
Interior Department, under date OF
January 9Th, 1881, to the Senate resolu.
ten OF inquiry Of March llth, 1880, or
nine months before, was read. Com
menting upon the extraordinary delay
Ofthe response and intlmating that it
WIS intentional, Mr.. Dawes next de-
tailed the circumstances OF the killing.
The methods OF the Indian Department
were scathingly criticised as un. .Ameri.
cap and vindictive.
Mr.. Dawes concluded by presenting
a protest from Standing Bear and thirty
five others against the sale Of the old
reservation, requesting continuance
OF their amnesties, &c.
Mr.. Logan, replying to what he
thought might be construed as q rehec-
tion upon the Interior Department in
the remarks just made, eulogized the
course OF the head Of that Department
and its general management OF late
years as having been as honest, capable.
fair and just as that OF any other Depart
ment OF the Government.
Mr.. Dawes denied that single word
had ever fallen from his lips in dispar.
agement Of the general policy OF the In
dian department or its head. On the
contrary, except as to this particular
transaction, he had frequently CON-
mended the course OF that Department,
but the mystery for that rea-
son was only greater that no
effort had been made to remove the
stain put upon its record in this matter
with reference to one Of the most peace
able and honest bands OF men that ever
lived under flag.
Mr.. Plumb, replying to Mr.. Dawes,
said that the Indian agent, whom that
Sepator denounced as cowardly, was a
man who he knew to be personally
above reproach and who served for
yeafs in the army, and assuming that
the killing was not justifabe. He
thought the most that could be said
about it was that the agent had
undertaken plan for the ar
rest OF the Indian, resulting
in his murder, which was the result, was
unintentional.
Mr.. Kirkwood said he would ask to
submit some reply to Mr.. Dawes to.
the Indian land in several,y bill, the
question being on Morgan's amendment
to dispense with the requirement for
the assent of two.thirds OF tribe before
lands can be taken in severalty.
After the remarks by Logan in favor
OF and Saunders in opposition, the
was rejected-ayes 10, noes
40. i
Mr.. Plumb submitted and advocated
the amendment to allow allotments to
be taken by the individual members OF
a tribe, which does not consent to take
the lands and providing that in such
event, the relation shall be broke up.
After discussion Mr.. Plumb modified
the amendment at the suggestion OF
Mr.. Edmunds, 30 as to admit its latter
feature. The amendment then prevail
ed without objection.
On motion OF Mr.. .Hoar the amend.
ment prohibiting the punishment OF
Indians for polygsmy, who at the time
of the allotment was practiclng the
same, was amended 30 as to make it ap-
plicahle to Indians who are citizens OF
the States. The bill was laid over with
out action and ordered printed. Ad-
iourned