Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-22
XLVIITH CONGRESS.
A Petition in Behalf of the Indians
Presented in the Senate Causes
a Rather Animated
Diseussien-Apportionment Bill Passed
-POstOffiee Appropriation Bill
Considered in the House.

| WASHINGTON, February 81. = Sendte.-
! Senator DAVIS, IN presenting petition III
| behalf Of the Indians, said that one hundred
| thousand persops had signed similar petit
1 tions now before Congress, and urged that &C
universal demand of wealthy, intelligent
citizens should accomplish it's purpose, and
the nation sheud keep Its plighted faith and
| treat the Indians justly.
Senator Plumb denied that the position
| and wealth of the petitioners should make
| them better judges OF what was a wise and
| Just treatment Of the Indians than We're the
| people Sho lived among them. He pictured
| the lenieDcy with which crine-stained In
dams had been treated. In matters of prop
| erty they were treated With greater consid-
Grafton Than white men. He wanted TO have
| done with sentimentality and let the govern
meats relation to the Indians be put upon a
rational, practical BASIS, and it would be bet
ter understood. As to the remedy of giving
them lands in severalty, as suggested by the
petitions, was there single Case on record
in which the government had been able to
keep the Indians on a reservation?
Senator Dawes spoke of the indignities
heaped on the Indians, who, alter having
been deprived of their domain by the covet-
GUS land-seekers, have been driven in des-
pair and self-defeuse to steal.
Senator Plum, in referring TO the petitions,
said that those whom the senator represented
had columns of patty for the IDdian, but
only passing word for those who had SUI
fer-d at his hands.
Senator Dawes responded that the first
outrsges were committed by the people OF
the uuitzd States upon the Indians.
Senator Teller said the petitions we're full
of patriotism, fervor and ignorance and de-
void Of common sense, which ought to gov
ern legislation. The people of the frontier
cannot consistently be charged with wan
tonly violating the treaties. Their own
elf-protection and personal interests dictated
their fair treatment of the Indians. The
well-being and education of the tribes was
therefore of greater moment TO the people Of
the border States than they could possibly
be TO the people OF Massachusetts,. He de-
manded for Western settlers the same meas
ure OF protection asked for the red men, and
contrasted the indisniues heaped on them
BY Indian outlaws with the care and consid-
.ration lavished by the government upon
their barbarous red neighbors.
The petition was referred and the debate
ended
1t vas agreed to adjourn Today until
Thursday.
The Senate then took up the apportion-
ment bill. After a few remarks and criti-
cisms upon the measure it was passed by
rira rtce vote.
The Finance Committee reported The Alli-
son bill TO fix the red- ption reserve fund In
the treasury at $500, 100000, with amend
ments which are to be printed and recon-
Initted.
Senator Sherman offered an amendment
providing that the reserve fund shall consist
only Of gold coin and bullion; also an
amendment to stop the coinage OF silver dol
lars when the amount in the treasury reaches
$50, 90, 900, exclusive OF those held for the
redemption oil silver certificates.
Senator Beck offered amendment to
make the reserve fund 800, 100000.
Senator Ferry offered an amendment to
describe the reserve simply as coin, without
prefixing either gold or silver.
Bill introduced:
BY Senator Plumb: Amending the act OF
1874 to encourage the growth of timber ON
the Western prairies.
BY Senator Mcmillan: To set apart a
portion of Montana Territory as a perma-
nent reservation for the Pigeon Blood, Black
Feet GrosVentre and As-iDiboine Indians,
and for tine payment to each tribe of $50, 900
annuity per year for ten years.
BY S-nator Van Wyck: To repeal the act
Of March 3, 1879, amendatory OF section 2043
Of the Revised Statutes in relation to deposits
for surveys OF public lands.
The resolution declaring that the law
granting arrears of pensions ought to be Ie-
pealed, and The amendment thereto, again ,
came up as unfnished business. After sew
eral amendments had been offered and re-
-cted, the whole subject was tabled-yeas,
rs, NAYS %.
On motion of Senator Logan the Grant re-
irement bill was taken up and laid over as |
unfinished business for Thursday.
After an executive session the Senate adj |
burned till Tnursday.