H. OF R.] Emigration of Indians. State. He knew the impressions which many gentlemen The question was then put on the amendment of Mr. Mr. WOODS, of Ohio, now moved to amend the amendment of Mr. McDUFFIE, by striking out the words "and for aiding the said Cherokees, and such other Indians as may be so disposed, to emigrate to places West of the Mississippi.” This amendment, he thought, would meet the views of both committees, and would, also, remove the difficulty of the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. BATES.] The It had been agitated for subject was not a new one. years, and had been particularly discussed at the last session, at which session a bill had been introduced similar to that now reported from the Indian Committee, but had never been called up. If a general course of policy was thus to be introduced and sanctioned by an item in the appropriation bill, that bill might be made an instrument of changing the whole course of the Government. He did not wish to interfere with the obligation of treaties, but he knew of no treaty with the Cherokees which provided for their emigration. He was willing to do all that was necessary to fulfil the compact with the Government of Georgia, but he was not willing to say that it was the settled policy of the Government that those Indians were to be removed. The gentleman from Kentucky had been right, the other day, in saying that there ought to be no treaty with any Indian tribes, unless there had been a previous appropriation; but a different practice had prevailed; and if called upon to make out a list of the sins of this Administration, he would set down, as a prominent item, the sanction which it had given to this system. He was for tying up the hands of the Executive until the House had an opportunity to know what plan was to be pur sued. He was against removing the Indians West of the Mississippi, and as far as principle was concerned, he would as soon vote to place them Northwest of the Ohio. The subject was one of deep interest to Gentlemen would recollect that his the country. amendment did not touch the sum appropriated, but If it preonly a particular application of that sum. vailed, the appropriation would be left for removing He did not wish to sancthe Indians from Georgia. tion the policy of the Administration in this matter, which he considered as one of their errors. Treaties He would not go fa were made by men invested with almost unlimited discretion, and over whose acts, when once done, this House had little or no control. ther into the subject, except to state, that, no longer ago than last year, the Government had received a positive refusal from the Chickasaws to emigrate. Since then, an agent has been sent to make his bow, and they Mr. McDUFFIE said, that the Committee of Ways they had consented so far as to examine the lands. and Means had not only felt no disposition to give a preference to this provision for the removal of the The proposition had not originated Creeks and Cherokees, but had felt a disposition directly the reverse. Ile had, in consequence, been inwith them, but came strongly recommended from the War Department. structed to ask that the Committee of Ways and Means might be discharged from the consideration of the sub. Indian Affairs. This last committee had reported upon ject, and that it might be referred to the Committee on He could not agree it, and recommended the appropriation in the very language now inserted in the bill. with gentlemen who thought this an improper time to discuss the general policy of removing the remnants of the Indian tribes to the West of the Mississippi. He It had heretofore been the thought that policy was now fairly before Congress : that if gentlemen meant to discuss it at all, now was the proper time to do so. custom to embrace these appropriations for the Indian service in the Military Appropriation Bill. The Committee of Ways and Means had thought it more proper to present them in a separate bill. They were all subjects for fair discussion. On the general subject of the policy of aiding the emigration of our Indians to the West he had no hesi tation in saying, that he regarded it as the settled poliThe Executive, under the last, cy of this Government. as well as the present Administration, had clearly expressed an opinion in its favor. It was true, Congress had not yet officially expressed such a sentiment. But he believed it to be. the settled opinion of a large majority of the House, that the Indians within the limits of our settled States must either be induced to emigrate, or must infallibly sink into a state of indiscribable and irretrievable wretchedness. He considered the idea of civilizing and educating them as wholly delusive. The experiment had been tried, and the result had proved, that, while surrounded by the whites, the Indians acquired all the vices of a civilized People, and none of their virtues. He thought the Government ought to make use of all proper and legitimate means to remove them, and he trusted it would be left in the power of the Executive to try the effect of money in inducing them to emigrate. Mr. FLOYD, of Va. now observed, that this subject had given rise to more discussion than he had anticipa ted; and as there was another subject to which he felt anxious to call the attention of the committee, with a view, that members who now seem to differ might, if possible, come to an understanding with each other that might shorten future debate, he moved that the committee now rise. The motion prevailed, and the committee rose and reported. TUESDAY, FEB. 19, 1828. EMIGRATION OF INDIANS. The House again went into Committee of the Whole on the bill making appropriations for the Indian Department, and the question immediately before the Committee being on the motion of Mr. Woods, of Ohio, to amend Mr. MCDUFFIE's amendment, by striking out from it these words: "And for aiding the said Cherokees, and such other Indians as may be so disposed, to emigrate to places West of the Mississippi”— The CHAIR suggested to the gentleman from Alabama, that the amendment had no application to the Creeks, but affected the Cherokees only. Mr. OWEN replied, that he had supposed it referred to both the tribes; but, even so far as it applied to the Cherokees, its discussion ought not to include the whole ques. tion of the policy of this Government, in its proposed treat ment of the Indian tribes. [H. OF R. been pursued by the United States, or whether a more lib. cral and humane policy shall be adopted in relation to this People. Before I enter upon the discussion of the important question submitted by this amendment, I feel it to be my Mr. OWEN, of Alabama, said he did not rise to dis- duty, as a member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, to cuss the principles on which this item of the bill depend- take some notice of the complaints and insinuations of the ed. They had been long before Congress, and were well gentleman from Mississippi, [Mr. HAILE] against that comunderstood: but, in opposition to the ground taken by mittee. The gentleman has thought proper to charge the the honorable gentleman at the head of the Committee of Committee on Indian Affairs, with having done him great Ways and Means, who had said, that, upon this item of injustice, in the manner in which they have disposed of a the appropriation bill, the whole policy of the Govern- resolution referred to the committee by that gentleman. ment, as to the removal of the Indians, came fairly up for I deem it to be only necessary, in order most triumphantdiscussion, he could not subscribe to any such doctrine.ly to refute the charge of injustice, so liberally bestowed The policy of this Government, in relation to the Chero- upon the committee by that gentleman, to make a brief kees, had long been settled, and was known to all. It statement of the facts relative to the gentleman's resoluhad been before the American People for twenty-five tion, and the proceedings had upon it. It will be recolyears, and had of late given rise to controversies, with lected by the committee, that, at a very early period of which every gentleman was acquainted. It had nothing the session, the gentleman from Mississippi introduced a to do with any general plan for the removal of the In-resolution, requiring the Committee on Indian Affairs to dians West of the Mississippi. It rested exclusively on the inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation, compact of 1802, between the General Government and to enable the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians to migrate the State of Georgia. The next immediate reference of to a country West of the Mississippi. Upon the introduc the article was to the removal of the Creeks. This was tion of this resolution, the gentleman from Florida, [Mr. no new subject, and required the discussion of no theory WHITE] and the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. HATNES] whatever. each proposed amendments to the resolution; which were adopted. I then offered further to amend the resolution, by inserting the name of the Miami and Pattawatamie Indians; the gentleman from Mississippi objected to the amendment, and earnestly requested that his resolution should not be embarrassed, but that it should be considered upon its own merits. The gentleman then, as now, seemed to consider the claims of Mississippi as paramount to those of every other State. In accordance, however, Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, rose, and said, he had not ex- with his wishes, I withdrew the proposed amendment, pected that the question now before the Committee of the knowing that the same question would be presented to Whole, for our consideration, would have been discussed the consideration of the committee, by a general resoluon the general appropriation bill. I did believe, sir, that tion; and the resolution of the gentleman went to the this question would have been submitted more properly Committee on Indian Affairs, and that committee, as one to the consideration of the House, on the bill reported of its first acts, considered the resolution, and reported a on this subject by the Committee on Indian Affairs, which bill in favor of his proposition, which was the first bill that bill is accompanied by a special report from that Commit- was reported from that committee. This, sir, was long betee. But, sir, the House has determined otherwise. The fore the estimates were sent from the War Department, Committee of Ways and Means has reported, as one item which were incorporated in the Appropriation Bill? in the appropriation bill, the sum of fifteen thousand dol. What ground, then, let me ask, has the gentleman, of comlars, for the purpose of aiding in the removal of the Cher-plaint against the Committee on Indian Affairs? But the okees, and such other Indians as may be disposed to emi- bill lays back amongst the orders of the day, and may negrate to a section of country West of the Mississippi, yer be taken up, says the gentleman. Supposing all this to with a view to their permanent location forever. This be true, does it furnish to the gentleman a just cause of appropriation, the amendment offered by the gentleman complaint against the Committee on Indian Affairs? Is from Ohio (Mr. WooDs] proposes to strike out. Hence, that committee accountable for the movements of this sir, as has been correctly remarked by the Hon. Chairman House? Can it control the business of the House, so as of the Committee of Ways and Means, [Mr. McDUFFIE] to take up a bill out of its regular order? I presume the the subject is fairly before the committee at this time; gentleman himself would not contend for such absurdities. and I admit that it can be of very little importance to the Then, sir, I dismiss the complaints of the gentleman, with committee at what time the question is met, discussed, this advice to him, that, before he charges a committee of and finally decided. The Chair has remarked, that the this House again with a dereliction from duty, he will take question on the amendment does not involve or embrace care at least to have some evidence that the committee the appropriation to comply with the contract on the part has acted incorrectly. of the U. States, with the Creek Indians, under the late treaty with that nation; and, upon this intimation, the gentleman from Alabama, [Mr. OwEN] declined making any remarks on the question before the Committee. For my own part, sir, I am not disposed to abandon the dis cussion of the question before us, because the Creek Indians are not included in terms, as I consider the amendment of the gentleman from Ohio as covering the whole ground, and as bringing up for discussion and consideration the past, the present, and the future policy of this Government, in relation to this unfortunate People. Sir, this amendment submits to us, as the Representatives of the People, the important consideration, whether we will continue the same destructive policy which has heretofore Sir, I consider the question now before the committee as one of momentous importance; it is of importance to the character of the United States, and of much greater importance to that most unfortunate and wretched People, that the future policy of the Government, in relation to them, should be marked with justice, humanity, and a magnanimity of purpose, that will atone, as far as possible, for the great injustice which we have done them. We cannot retrace our steps; we cannot affect the past; we cannot resuscitate or bring to life the thousands of this miserable People, who have wasted away and perished under the influence of our baneful policy. But, sir, we may, and I do most sincerely hope will, profit by the past experience of the nation, in the policy which has been pursu. ! ed, and in our future legislation on this subject, carefully avoid that course of policy which has produced such dire effects. Sir, I do not address the committee in my place, exclusively as the advocate of the Indians; but I wish to be understood as being the advocate of a just, humane, and magnanimous course towards them, on the part of this Government. No, sir, they have no representative on this floor; they must rely for justice on the philanthropy and humanity of the representatives of that People, who have reduced them to their present wretched situation, and, sir, I feel well satisfied that this committee will not turn a deaf ear to their complaints. (FEB. 19, 1828. ses, and take possession myself, under the pretext that he did not cultivate his land as it ought to be cultivated? I know that, in some instances, formerly, and many instances of latter years, you have pretended to hold treaties with them, and to acquire their lands by contract; but, sir, how has this been done? It has been done nine times out of ten, by bribing their chiefs, and not unfrequently with arms in your hands. What kind of a contract is this when concluded? It is such a one as ought not to be binding on the party thus imposed upon. You had better, yes, ten thousand times better, resort to the law of conquest; for, in that case, you could plead the custom of nations as an apology for your wrongs. Sir, in order to determine the questions correctly, which Your treaties have been not unfrequently held immedi arise on this amendment, it is important for us to decide, ately after the most bloody and destructive war to the whether the situation of the Indians is such as to require Indians had terminated in favor of your arms, and as a the interposition of the strong arm of the United States consideration for the injuries they had done you. With in their behalf, and whether the United States are under arms in your hands, you take their lands, and restore to any obligation of justice, humanity, morality, or religion, them peace; and they retreat further into the wilderto afford the relief necessary to prevent the total extinc-ness, and are at rest, until the eyes of your avarice have tion of this People. Sir, let me examine for a moment again counted the acres of land which they occupy, and and see who these Indians now are, and who they once added them to the countless acres which you had previwere. Great, very great, have been the vicissitudes in ously taken from them. Then a new treaty is held, and life, which they have been doomed to experience. We they are again dispossessed. But, as an excuse for your cannot shut our eyes against the facts, sir. We found conduct towards them, it is said that, in some instances, them the lawful occupiers of this vast extent of territory, they had inhumanly murdered some of the whites. This now circumscribed by the boundaries of the United is no doubt true; but cannot we find some little excuse States. We found them the lords of the soil; we found for them, although we are not prepared to justify them them a great and powerful nation, or rather a number of in the fact, that they have been generally defending their nations in the rude state. As individuals, it is true they homes-the country that contained the bones of their were emphatically the children of the forest; yet they fathers, and in which they found, at all times, an old aswere, in a degree, prosperous, and, to all appearances, sociate in every spring, in every running stream, and happy; they were possessed of constitutions, which put even in every silent tree that stood near the wigwam or at defiance the assaults of cold, hunger, thirst, and fa- travelling path. Who would not have disputed the octigue. The water from the fountains was their only cupancy of a country under such circumstances, with any drink, and the common diseases which are now sweeping daring intruder ? away this wretched People, as with the breath of a pes tilence, were then unknown to them; the causes which produce the effect now, had not reached them then; I allude, sir, in part, to the introduction of spirituous liquors amongst them, by their white neighbors, of which, most unfortunately for them, they are impassior.ately fond. We have seen Sir, it is true, that you have, by some of your treaties, stipulated to pay, and that you actually have paid to the different tribes of Indians, certain annuities, in conside ration of lands received from them; and, sir, however much gentlemen may differ from me in opinion, I am constrained to say, that, in my opinion, this is the most destructive policy which you have ever pursued towards them; your annuities are melting them away, like snow When they had to rely on their under a meridian Sun. own exertions for procuring a livelihood, they were a reasonably industrious People; they attended to their trapping at the proper season, and, most generally, éxpended the moneys arising from a sale of their skins, in necessaries; but, now, you have held out to them a lure to dissipation and idleness; relying on their annuity, their traps are neglected; they spend their time in idleness and the most abandoned dissipation, and their whole mind is steadfastly bent on getting spirituous liquors. I know there are exceptions to the character which I have There are al described, but they are lamentably rare. ways men found, where they are surrounded by the whites, base enough to prey upon their wretchedness→→→ the money, the annuity, is a sufficient inducement for such conduct. And yet, sir, there are many honorable men within my own knowledge, who are called Indian traders, who furnish them with the necessaries of life, and who would not condescend to such meanness. Sir, such were these People when we first knew them; what are they now? It does seem, that, from the time of the first settling of our forefathers at James Town, and at Plymouth, the lands of the Indians had been consider. ed as a lawful conquest. A war of extermination from that time, or as soon after as the whites supposed that they had acquired sufficient strength to maintain their conquests, was waged against the aboriginal inhabitants of the country; and it is but a very short time since, that we have stayed the sword of desolation. their most powerful nations dwindled down to poor wandering tribes, and their greatest kings reduced to beggarly chiefs. We have seen them driven by the whites, from river to river, from State to State, from hill to hill, from mountain to mountain, and from forest to forest; the tide of white emigration still flowing West, and still pressing close upon them; and if we continue the present policy, the time cannot be very far distant, when the last sound of the Indian must die on the Pacific. I am aware, sir, that it is contended by writers of celebrity, that a country, inhabited as this was, belongs to the na- Sir, a part of your policy at present is, to send mis. tion that happens to discover it, and that it is a lawful sionaries amongst them. I have no doubt but that they subject for conquest. But, sir, I cannot subscribe to this have been of essential service in promoting the present, doctrine, to such an extent. It is founded on a princi- the future, and eternal welfare of many of these wretchple, maintained by arbitrary governments alone, that ed beings; but I have heard some of the most enlightpower gives right. Sir, if my neighbor, being the own- ened of them say, that the benefits they are enabled to er of a farm, is not as good a husbandman as I am, it he render, can only be partial, so long as the present policy lets his farm grow up with weeds, briars, and thorns, or of the Government is continued in other respects. You even refuses to cut off the timber, shall I, because I have might as well attempt to moralize, civilize, or christianthe power, drive him from the possession of his premi-ize a maniac, as an Indian who has no inducement to re FEB. 19, 1828.1 Emigration of Indians. [H. OF R. form, and who has it in his power to be daily intoxi-produce the effect with greater certainty, than by affordcated. ing them an opportunity of exploring the country, by deputations of their chiefs, warriors, and head men, on whose judgment they can rely, and in whose statements they will place implicit confidence. I have heard it said on this floor, that we have no lands on which to locate the Indians, were we so disposed; that all the lands will be wanted for the whites. Sir, if we have not now surplus lands within the limits of the United States to exchange for the lands on which the Indians now reside, when, let me ask, shall we have them? Will it be after the tide of emigration has rolled Westwardly to the Pacific Ocean? Sir, in my humble opinion, now is the accepted time to commence this great and glorious work. Let us do it, while we have it in our pow er; and, although we should not succeed to the utmost of our wishes, yet we shall have the gratification of having done all in our power to accomplish it. I have attempted to tell you who these people formerly were; I have endeavored to show who, and what, they now are. Will any gentleman, who is conversant with this subject, say, that the shades of the picture are too highly colored I think not. Then, sir, these people do stand in great need of the interposition of the strong arm of this Government to relieve them; and this Government is bound, by every tie of humanity, justice, morality, and religion, to do all in her power, to save the wreck of this People. Will gentlemen say, that nothing shall be done in this glorious work? Will gentlemen say, that, after being the cause of reducing these people to their present state of wretchedness and misery, we shall fold up our arms and see them perish-see their total extinction-without making one more effort to save them? I feel satisfied, sir, that we shall all agree to do something; but I fear we shall differ so widely, as to the Some gentlemen seem to think that the Indians cannot modus operandi, as to endanger the major proposition, by be qualified for self-government-that they have not suffithe details of the minor. Judging by the motion now cient intellect to perform the duties incident to the gopending before the committee, and the remarks that have vernment of a nation-that they are too wild and savage fallen from gentlemen, there are those in this committee in their nature to submit to the laws and regulations newho would be willing to leave the Indians on their pre-cessary to the security of civil society. Sir, I think very sent location, and continue, and even increase, the annui- differently from gentlemen on this part of the subject. ties. To such gentlemen I would say, that we have tried Whenever we have had an opportunity of seeing the exthis policy long enough, and if we persist in it, the most pansion of their minds, and the powers of their intellect, of the Indians must perish. They feel themselves to be we have been compelled to say that they are not inferior a poor, degraded, outcast, and subordinate race of be- in natural powers to the whites. Sir, you have establishings-they have nothing, where they are, to stimulate ed schools amongst them, for the purpose of educating them-they have no evidence that they will be permit- their youth, under the superintendence of benevolent ted to continue where they are-they see that the States missionary institutions, and, considering the great diffi wish to get rid of them; that they wish to extend their culties which they have had to encounter, they have furjurisdiction over their soil, and in some recent instances, nished most conclusive evidence of the susceptibility of over their persons. All the respectable missionaries, and the Indian mind to improvement, in every thing, moral, all the respectable Agents, who are amongst them, the civil, and religious. While upon this part of my subject last and the present Administration of the Government, permit me to refer the committee, as an evidence of the have pointed to the course which the Committee on In- qualifications of the more enlightened of the Indians for dian Affairs has thought proper to adopt, as the only pro- self-government, to the late Constitution formed by the bable remedy, left untried, for their preservation. I know Cherokees for the Government of that nation, within the of no better remedy, and I am frank to admit, that I am limits of Georgia. This Constitution will apprise gennot entirely certain that this remedy will have the desir- tlemen of two things; first, that the Indians, where they ed effect; but I feel disposed to try it, unless gentlemen have had an opportunity for improvement, have shown can satisfy me that they have a remedy which will prove themselves to be entirely susceptible of acquiring a suffi. a more powerful antidote in counteracting the poison cient quantum of knowledge to govern their own conwhich has been infused into the Indians by their general cerns; and, secondly, that it is absolutely necessary that policy. The policy proposed by the committee, and of the General Government should do all in her power to which this bill is the first step, is to grant to the Indians, induce the Indians to remove to a territory beyond the and their children, forever, in fee simple, a district of limits of the States. As much as I wish to see the Indians country West of the Mississippi, and beyond the limits independent, prosperous, and happy, I do not wish to see of the States, near the Rocky Mountains, sufficiently them establish separate and independent Governments large to contain, advantageously, all the Indians in the within the boundaries and jurisdiction of the sovereign United States, where they will have assurances that they and independent States, as such a clashing of jurisdiction will never be again disturbed by the whites, and where could not but prove destructive of that feeling of kindthey may be stimulated to advance in civilized life, by ness which I wish to see manifested towards them by the forming a constitution and laws for their own government, whites. and by betaking themselves to industrious pursuits, to obtain a livlihood. It is true, sir, I am not prepared to say that we should use compulsory means to remove the Indians; they should be induced to remove of their own voluntary free will and accord. It it upon this principle that we propose to make the appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars, to enable such as are now willing to remove, to migrate, and such as are not willing, at this time, to send a deputation of their chiefs, warriors, and head men, in company with such commissioners as the President of the United States may appoint, to explore the country, and to satisfy themselves of its fitness for the purposes of their future residence. It is altogether important, that the Indians should be satisfied with the country to which we purpose to transfer them, with their consent; and I know of no way to It is not my purpose, sir, at this time, to go into the details of the course to be pursued by the Government, provided this appropriation should pass, and a favorable report should be returned to the next Congress by the commissioners and deputies. It will be time enough to arrange the details at the next session of Congress, when we shall have the additional light of the report before us. Sir, some gentlemen appear to dread the effects of this policy of concentrating the Indians in one section of the country, supposing that we shall thereby render them more formidable against us, provided they should become hostile to the whites. There may be something in this objection; but I do not apprehend that any serious inconvenience can ever result to the United States from such a concentration. They know that they have felt our power, and they would most carefully avoid giv ing us cause to exert our power, and direct our arms 1547 H. OF R.] Emigration of Indians. [FEB. 19, 1828. Sir, to those gentlemen who view this subject in a pecuniary point of view, I must say, that if we can induce the Indians to believe that the country which we propose for their final location, will answer their purpose, we shall be able to make the exchange for the lands on which the Indians now reside greatly to the pecuniary advantage of the United States. against them. Besides, I believe the charge of ingratitude cannot be made, with propriety, against the Indians, and I have every reason to believe that they will be grate. ful to us as their benefactors, should we relieve them. The recollection of past injuries will be buried and forgotten in feelings of gratitude for your philanthropy and Let us then, sir, pursue that course, relative to this kindness. Sir, as an evidence that this feeling of gratitude is not extinct in the Indian breast, I beg leave to relate an anecdote, the truth of which I have no reason to question, which will redound to our glory, and the preMr. WOODS, of Ohio, rose and said, that, having subdoubt: A short time before the late treaty held with the sent, future, and eternal happiness of the Indians. Miami, and Pattawatamie Indians, on the Mississinawa, in the State of Indiana, a Pattawatamie Chief, by the name mitted the motion now before the committee, he deemed of Legro, was at Fort Wayne, and being very much in- it proper to present, for their consideration, the reasons toxicated, he got into some difficulty with the other In- which had induced him to offer the amendment. I did dians, and was very much abused by them; in this situa- not bring this question before the committee, [said tion he was found in the street by a little girl, the daugh- Mr. W.] It was brought forward by the bonorable ter of a gentleman of that place, who had him taken to Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, sanctionher father's kitchen, where she continued to give him ed by the recommendation of the Committee on Indian nourishment for several days. Before he left, having re- Affairs. I did expect some notice, before this subject covered, he promised to get her a reservation of land at would have been taken up; and that, on the bill reportthe treaty then shortly to be holden. Accordingly heed by the Committee on Indian Affairs, and now among attended the treaty, and had half a section of land insert the orders of the day, this question, in all its relations, ed for her, as a donation from the Indians, which the would have been fully considered. Such is not, howI have always thought, the ordinary appropriation bills commissioners on the part of the United States ordered ever, the course adopted by that committee. to be stricken out; no sooner did the old Chief learn from the interpreter that the reservation was stricken out, should not be embarrassed by any new measures. They than he rose indignantly in the Council House, and before should be confined to objects of appropriation required his nation required it to be inserted again, stating, that, by existing laws. This bill, without the amendment prounless it was done, he would never sign the treaty; that posed by the gentleman from Sonth Carolina, [Mr. Mcshe had been kind to him, and he would remember her. DUFFIE] is similar to the one making appropriations for The commissioners were induced, under the circumstan- the Indian Department, which has, for several years, been case, depart from the usual mode of proceeding, and now ces, to permit her name to be reinserted, and she actually regularly passed. I may ask, sir, why we should, in this received the reservation; Sir, a remark that fell from the gentleman from Mis- bring forward this proposition, disconnected from the souri, [Mr. BATES] on yesterday, relative to the removal most important parts of the original measure? I do not complain or find fault with gentlemen for the course of the Delaware Indians, made a strong impression on my mind. That gentleman complained that the Dela- they have taken. I am ready to meet the question, by Is it possi- my vote, as promptly, now, as at any other time. Indeed, wares are located in the vicinity of Missouri. ble, sir, that, in so few years, the remnant of the Six Na- I am glad, Mr.Chairman, that this measure is thus brought tions, who inhabited and owned the country on the Dela- forward, and that it stands before us in its proper form ware and Susquehannah rivers, and who were so power and nakedness, stripped of the pretence of disinterested ful once as to give laws to the whole aboriginal popula-humanity, which has been thrown around it. It is now tion in the middle section of the country, cannot now presented in its true character, as a measure not for the find a resting place this side of the Rocky Mountains? benefit of the Indians-not for their civilization and preThat remnant left the State of Indiana, a few years ago, servation-but for our interest, and only our interest. This for the West, but I did not know, until I heard the re-appropriation is asked, as the means to effect measures marks of the gentleman, in what part of that district of country they had stopped. I do hope they may shortly find a resting place, where they will not be again disturbed: they have for years been the warm friends of the United States, and we ought to protect them. for the removal of the Indians out of the limits of our What was the proposition recommended by our late Sir, is the committee prepared, let me ask, to support the amendment of the gentleman, or will the committee Executive Magistrate? It was for the establishment of a rather adopt the policy recommended by two Adminis- Territorial Government over the Indians, for their preser The bill reported at the first session of the last trations of the General Government, by the Missionaries, vation and civilization-for their benefit and not for by the Agents, and by the successive Committees on In- ours. dian Affairs? The appropriation to enable the Govern Congress, which I now have in my hand, provided for ment to comply with its contract with the Creek Indians, the location of the Indian tribes somewhere West of the is not attempted to be stricken out. Why, let me ask, Mississippi river, and North or West of the State of Misshall we make a distinction between the Creeks and the souri. It proposed to create all the paraphernalia of a We all know the diffi- Government, not of the Indians themselves, in which Cherokees and other Indians. ? culty which has existed, and which still exists, though in their laws and manners were to prevail, but in which our a less degree than formerly, in Georgia, relative to this laws were to be administered by our officers, and enforcmatter, and how desirable it is to the State and General ed by our soldiers. Is the measure now submitted to us Governments that it should be amicably and finally set by the amendment of the gentleman from South Carolitled. Sir, I know Georgia is much censured in conse-na, [Mr. McDUFFIE] the same which was thus recomquence of this difficulty; as to myself, I have had some mended by the Executive, and sanctioned by the Comoccasion to look into that question since I have been a mittee on Indian Affairs, by whom it was brought before member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, and, from all Congress, in the bill reported by them to this House ? that I can learn on the subject, Georgia has not com- No, sir. That bill, which I supposed would be brought But, if the amendment of forward, and acted on is now abandoned by its friends. plained without some cause. the gentleman does not prevail, that embarrassing subject The measure is stript of its prominent features. The can be finally settled to the satisfaction of all parties. gentlemen who recommended it as a scheme for the ben |