JAN. 23, 1833.]

Public Lands.

[SENATE.

a territory, out of which two of the new States, and mag- our valuable fellow-citizens who have fallen victims to nanimous Virginia that out of which three or four of the their cruelty. new States, have been composed.

But we are required to furnish evidence "that the price of the public lands is too high, and ought to be reduced."

Sir, much importance has been attached by certain gentlemen to the pecuniary advantages which the new States will derive from the passage of the bill as originally re- Sir, is it not notorious that our citizens are leaving our ported. To my mind, this is altogether illusive and decep- territory daily, and going to a neighboring province, tive; for the little benefit the new States would receive where they obtain better bargains, and where there are from this distribution would be a very poor compensation greater inducements to emigration? And is it not also a and a contemptible consideration for the continual drain fact equally well known, that your table is now groaning and eternal draw which will be made upon them for such with memorials and petitions from citizens of the new large sums of their circulating medium, to which there States, and from the General Assemblies of the new will be no end if our sister States become interested. States, asking the reduction and the graduation of the One of the greatest evils the new States have complained price of the public lands? And is this no evidence? But this is not all. In 1828, under a call made by the of, has been this means of robbing them of all their circulating medium, through the land offices, into which it is honorable Senator from Missouri, [Mr. BENTON,] upon the paid, and transferred from thence into the public treasury proper department, your public officers were required here; but, sir, pass this bill, and my constituents will be to furnish a statement showing the quantity, quality, and fortunate if they are not sued by those who will then average value of the unsold and unsaleable public lands, claim an interest in our soil in actions of ejectment, tres- the length of time they have been in market under our own pass, &c., for various offences, even for cutting down a laws, or subject to be given away by foreign sovereigns. timber tree, or bee tree, which they do not hesitate to do, This duty has been performed under official responsibility, whilst this domain belongs to our Government, with im- in a response which contains much important and interpunity. esting information. Sir, we have heard the result from My constituents have presented no application here for the Senator from Mississippi, [Mr. POINDEXTER,] as reany portion of the public revenue for the purposes con- gards that State; it shall be my province to recite some of templated by the bill. Sir, they wish the waste and un- the most important results connected with the State of Alaappropriated lands settled; they wish to count soldiers, bama only. And, Mr. President, I will venture the opincitizens, and freeholders, in the place of barren and steril ion that you, sir, will not be a little surprised at a portion acres of public land; they think it is better for a commu- of this information. Would you believe it, sir, that a pornity to boast of a free, a happy, and brave people, than to tion of this public domain, which gentlemen estimtae so boast of millions of acres of land, or millions of dollars high, has been offered for one hundred years by foreign in the treasury, for which there is no demand, and which, sovereigns to their subjects as a gratuity, annexing no in all probability, will be appropriated to illegitimate and other condition except that they should inhabit and cultiunconstitutional purposes. Sir, those whom I have the vate it; and after having been picked and culled for this honor to represent believe the prosperity of a nation to length of time, under these favorable conditions, it has exist in the happiness of its citizens; and its strength, in been in market under our own laws at the minimum price a great measure, in the firm attachment of the people to of one dollar and twenty-five cents for twenty years longthe Government under which they live; and we believe er? I allude to the lands in the St. Stephen's land disthe proposition we support is best calculated to promote trict. And yet "this is no evidence that the price is too these beneficent ends. high." Again, sir: from this document it appears that

Again, sir: I am averse to a measure which is designed out of the entire aggregate amount of thirteen millions of to place my constituents in a partnership transaction, acres, (1 do not notice fractions,) only six hundred thouwhich will require them to furnish all the capital stock, sand are deemed of the first quality. And the average and receive only five shares; while another partner, Penn- value of this has been estimated at forty cents per acre; sylvania, for instance, will receive twenty-eight shares, the remainder of the thirteen millions of acres, including and New York forty shares, out of the proceeds of this every acre from all the other land districts, (four out of transaction. Sir, there are too great odds and advantages five,) have been put down as of the 2d and 3d quality, against us in this concern. and the average value at five cents per acre; and some of this has been in market for twenty-two years. And yet, sir, we are told "these refuse lands ought not to be reduced in price."

Sir, if these facts fail to inspire faith, I fear gentlemen would not believe though an angel were to descend from heaven and record its truth.

But we are called upon "to say whether we want the public lands given away, in order to promote our population?" Sir, this is not our proposition: but I will say that I would, with great cheerfulness, support a proposition that would give every citizen who is destitute one-quarter section of land, on the condition that he would cultivate and improve it; and I have no hesitation in declaring this But, Mr. President, one word in reply to some of the policy is founded in prudence and wisdom. Other Go-arguments of the honorable Senator from Ohio, [Mr. Ew. vernments have pursued it to great advantage. No other ING,] who "deprecates the passage of this amendment, Government except this has ever made the public do- as being calculated to produce ruin and incalculable mismain a source of revenue; and surely we have as much chief in its immediate effect, in producing a depreciation inducement to be liberal to our pioneers and hardy sons of all the real estate in the country." Sir, I recollect in 1819-20, when the bill, having for of the forest as any other Government on earth. If we had pursued a policy like this, it would have given a its object the reduction of the price from two dollars to more dense population on the frontier, by which facilities one dollar and twenty-five cents, was pending before Conwould have been afforded in the transportation of troops gress, a certain combination of individuals in the country and the munitions of war, support of the troops, &c., and in which I live, consisting of moneyed capitalists, usurers, would have saved much of the treasure which this Govern- some who then held appointments in the land office, land ment incurred, during the late war, in its prosecution. It speculators, and the Shylocks of the country, who had would have saved also much of that million of dollars re-engrossed large quantities of the best land, and driven the cently paid for subduing the hostile Indians on our north- honest farmers in many instances from the places they western frontier, by the strength in the increased popula- had selected as homes, and which they had rendered valtion which would have been attached to that point; and uable by their own labor--these, and these alone, were what is more, it would have saved some of the lives of the men who then denounced the passage of the bill to

SENATE.]

Public Lands.

[JAN. 23, 24, 1833.

which I have referred; they denounced it as being calcu- its quality and value, and also corresponding with their lated to depreciate the value of all the real estate, and ability to pay. Now, I am of opinion it is both the intereven went so far as to say "it would be a palpable fraud est and duty of the Government to sell its inferior lands to upon those who had purchased under the two dollar sys- its citizens of this description upon the terms proposed, tem." Nevertheless, Congress in their wisdom passed and thereby give them a permanent interest in the counthe bill, and it received the universal approbation of all try; as much as it was the interest of the flour merchant to the honest and farming class of the community. So it was reduce the price of his inferior flour in order to get it off with the forty acre law; this was repudiated by some of his hands. the same class of men, but no act connected with the land But, Mr. President, what has been the example of other system has given more general satisfaction. And so it will States who have sold their public domain? Have they adoptbe if we can succeed in maturing and obtaining this mea-ed the means calculated to screw from their citizens the sure; it will be hailed by all the real yeomanry of the coun- last possible cent for them, or have they not pursued a try as promotive of their best interest and that of the com- more just and liberal policy? Kentucky, sir, so much cemunity. I speak particularly with reference to the section lebrated for the fertility of her soil, (and justly, too,) sold of country from which I come. her public lands to her citizens at forty cents per acre, But, sir, if it would not be deemed arrogant, I would and I am now told even lower than this. Tennessee submit it to the honorable Senator from Kentucky, [Mr. began at twenty-five cents, and graduated first to twelve CLAY,] and the honorable Senator from Ohio, [Mr. Ew- and a half, and then down to one cent. And strange, Mr. ING,] whether, in opposition to our amendment, they do President, to tell, sir, even the State of Maine, whose citinot strike a fatal blow at the most important interest of zens enjoy all the rich blessings which flow from the protheir constituents? Sir, it is admitted on all sides that this tecting principle, has sold her public domain to her own citiamendment is calculated to encourage emigration to the zens as low as three cents per acre, notwithstanding her new States; that it must throw a great influx of popula-representatives think the pine barrens, marshes, swamps, tion in the Mississippi valley; in fact, one of the grand ob- &c. which have been picked and culled for twenty-two, jections urged against it is, that it will invite a population and some for one hundred and twenty-two years, are from the North and from the East, and transfer that popu- worth one dollar and twenty-five cents. We doubtless lation to the West and Southwest. Well, sir; is it not ob- ought to acknowledge some obligations to gentlemen for vious that, in the same ratio in which you increase the po- entertaining so exalted an opinion of the value of our lands, pulation in this quarter, you open here new and additional and the ability of our citizens to pay for them. markets for the surplus produce in which these States. Mr. President, we are purely an agricultural people, abound? Surely, sir, these honorable gentlemen are fully doomed to suffer under the influence of that system imas unfortunate in not being able to discover their own in-posed upon us by (I will not say "a mercenary majoriterest, as they have heretofore imagined we were destitute ty," because gentlemen take exceptions to that term, but of the forecast sufficient to discover the blessings we I will say by) an unkind, an ungenerous, and a tyrannical were to derive from their favorite and most sacred mea-majority: which system transfers the burdens of the Gosure-the tariff. Mr. President, it will not be denied that vernment to us, and all its favors and blessings to our opmuch of the surplus productions from the grain-growing ponents, and demands of us to pay them a bounty, a proStates find a ready market among my constituents; their tection, for every thing we either drink, eat, wear, or horses, mules, pork, bacon, salt, flour, whiskey, and cot- use in our agricultural pursuits. We appeal to their juston bagging, upon which we are compelled to pay a tax tice, liberality, and magnanimity, now that we present a amounting to protection and bounty. But, sir, to the citi-fair subject for legislation, when they have an opportuzens in the Mississippi valley, where they have water nity of mitigating and alleviating our burdens somewhat, transportation down stream all the way, the constituents to do unto us as they would that others should do unto of these honorable Senators are indebted not only for a them." market for such articles as I have enumerated, but for every thing that is eatable, even potatoes, chickens, turkeys, &c.; and yet they deprecate a measure calculated to increase the population in this quarter. Surely, sir, this must be a short-sighted policy.

No one else now rising to address the Senate, Mr. FORSYTH asked for time to send for his colleague before the question was taken.

But it has been intimated that our system will apply with as much propricty to a flour seller as to the land sys--yeas 20, nays 21.

tem."

Mr. CALHOUN moved that the Senate now adjourn. but the yeas and nays were asked for by Mr. CLAY, when Mr. CALHOUN withdrew his motion.

Mr. CLAY said that if there was a general understanding that the question should be taken to-morrow, he would himself move to adjourn.

Mr. MANGUM moved that the Senate now adjourn. The yeas and nays being ordered on the call of Mr. CLAY, the question was put, and decided in the negative Mr. MOORE asked if it woull be in order o move a Well, let us try the case: Suppose one of the honora-call of the Senate. ble Senator's constituents owns a large quantity of flour, The CHAIR stated that he had never known an instance say some six or eight boat loads; he gets on board of one of a call of the Senate when there was a quorum present. a supercargo, and it is shipped to market; he immediately sells out all of the first quality at an advanced price; but having sold this, he finds he cannot sell the inferior at the same price; would the honorable Senator advise his constituents to hold this up for "future generations," because it will not command the price at which he has been fortunate in selling that of the first quality? I presume he would not. So, in this case; the Government is a large landholder; has sold out all of the first rate land to the most wealthy class of her citizens; these will not purchase inferior lands, because they do not wish to cultivate such, and because they know they are not worth the same price at which they have purchased lands of the first quality. But there are a large number of our fellow-citizens, who, though poor and indigent, are worthy and respectable; Mr. BENTON rose in opposition to the bill. He comthese have not been able to purchase the high priced lands, menced by asking for the reading of the following pas but are able and willing to purchase the inferior, pro-sages from the last annual message of the President of the vided you will put the land at a price corresponding with United States:

And the Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24.
PUBLIC LANDS.

The Senate again proceeded to the consideration of the bill to appropriate, for a limited time, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, &c. The question being on the motion of Mr. POINDEXTER to amend,

JAN 24, 1833.]

Public Lands.

[SENATE.

"Among the interests which merit the consideration of distributed chiefly among States which had not originally Congress after the payment of the public debt, one of the any claim to them, and which have enjoyed the undivided most important, in my view, is that of the public lands. emolument arising from the sale of their own lands, it canPrevious to the formation of our present constitution, it not be expected that the new States will remain longer was recommended by Congress that a portion of the waste contented with the present policy, after the payment of lands owned by the States should be ceded to the United the public debt. To avert the consequences which may States for the purposes of general harmony, and as a fund be apprehended from this cause, to put an end forever to to meet the expenses of the war. The recommendation all partial and interested legislation on this subject, and to was adopted; and, at different periods of time, the States afford to every American citizen of enterprise the opporof Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, North and South tunity of securing an independent freehold, it seems to Carolina, and Georgia, granted their vacant soil for the me, therefore, best to abandon the idea of raising a future uses for which they had been asked. As the lands may revenue out of the public lands." now be considered as relieved from this pledge, the ob- The reading being finished, Mr. B. proceeded to adject for which they were ceded having been accomplish- dress the Senate in support of the views presented by the ed, it is in the discretion of Congress to dispose of them President, and in opposition to the scheme of distribution in such way as best to conduce to the quiet, harmony, and contained in the committee's bill. He should commence general interest of the American people. In examining his speech, he said, by exposing and correcting an error this question, all local and sectional feelings should be dis- of most enormous magnitude, as he termed it, into which carded, and the whole United States regarded as one peo- the Senator from Maryland [Mr. CHAMBERS] and the Senple, interested alike in the prosperity of their common ator from Mississippi [Mr. POINDEXTER] had each fallen country. with respect to the President's plan for disposing of these "It cannot be doubted that the speedy settlement of lands. They had supposed that there was no difference these lands constitutes the true interest of the republic. between the plan of the President, and that of the comThe wealth and strength of a country its population,mittee, so far as the amount of future revenue was conand the best part of that population are the cultivators of cerned; that both plans proposed to strike the lands from the soil. Independent farmers are every where the basis the revenue system, and that it was immaterial, in that of society, and true friends of liberty.

"In addition to these considerations, questions have already arisen, and may be expected hereafter to grow out of the public lands, which involve the rights of the new States and the powers of the General Government; and, unless a liberal policy be now adopted, there is danger that these questions may speedily assume an importance not now generally anticipated. The influence of a great sectional interest, when brought into full action, will be found more dangerous to the harmony and union of the States than any other cause of discontent; and it is the part of wisdom and sound policy to foresee its approaches, and endeavor, if possible, to counteract them.

point of view, which of them should be adopted. Mr. B. undertook to affirm, and would quickly prove, that this supposition was a grand mistake; that there was a palpable difference in the words of the two plans, and an immense difference to the revenue in their results. He stated the words of the President, which, he said, were to sell the lands at prices which would reimburse the treasury for the expenses of managing them, and defray the cost of purchasing them from the Indians; the committee's plan was to divide the whole proceeds of the land sales without first deducting the amounts expended under these two important heads of expenditure; the difference between the two plans would be in truth and reality about two millions, "Of the various schemes which have been hitherto pro- but in practice at least three millions, and probably six. posed in regard to the disposal of the public lands, none Mr. B. took up the printed estimate of appropriations has yet received the entire approbation of the National Le- for the service of the year 1833, and referred to pages and gislature. Deeply impressed with the importance of a figures to justify his statement. At page 43, the sum of speedy and satisfactory arrangement of the subject, I deem $250,000 was estimated for surveying the public lands; at it my duty, on this occasion, to urge it upon your consid- the same page the sum of $49,654 for surveyors geeration; and, to the propositions which have been heretofore suggested by others, to contribute those reflections which have occurred to me, in the hope that they may assist you in your future deliberations.

neral, and their clerks; at pages 7 and 8, the sum of $62,658 for the general land office in this city. The compensation to the registers and receivers, about one hundred in number, was not taken into the estimate, but was "It seems to me to be our true policy that the public easily calculated. Their salaries, at $500 each, would be lands shall cease, as soon as practicable, to be a source of $50,000; their commission, at one per cent. each on three revenue, and that they be sold to settlers, in limited par- millions of dollars, would be $60,000; and their per diem cels, at a price barely sufficient to reimburse to the Uni- attendance on the public sales, at $6 per day each, would ted States the expense of the present system, and the cost be $-more; in all, about $480,000 for the expenses arising under our Indian compacts. The advantages of of administering the land system alone; and this expense accurate surveys and undoubted titles, now secured to on the increase, from the annual establishment of new land purchasers, seem to forbid the abolition of the present offices. The other head of expenses related to the acquisystem, because none can be substituted which will more perfectly accomplish these important ends. It is desirable, however, that, in convenient time, this machinery be withdrawn from the States, and that the right of soil, and the future disposition of it, be surrendered to the States, respectively, in which it lies.

sition of the lands, under treaty stipulations, from Indians; and stood thus: For annuities, and various treaty stipulations, $392,862; for removing and subsisting the Indians from the lands they had ceded within the limits of the States to their new homes west of the Mississippi, the sum of 474,000 dollars. These two items make 866,862 "The adventurous and hardy population of the West, dollars, and are found at page 45 of the estimate; but besides contributing their equal share of taxation under since that was drawn up no less than eleven new treaour impost system, have, in the progress of our Govern- ties had come, adding $110,000 per annum to the annuiment, for the lands they occupy, paid into the treasury a ties and other standing charges, and requiring about large proportion of forty millions of dollars, and, of the $430,000 for other immediate payments to be made this revenue received therefrom, but a small part has been ex-year. These united sums would be about $1,400,000, pended amongst them. When, to the disadvantage of and this exclusive of the expense which might be incurred their situation in this respect, we add the consideration during the year in holding treaties with the Indians for that it is their labor alone which gives real value to the further purchases of their lands. Mr. B. said that he had lands, and that the proceeds arising from their sale are shown an expenditure of about two millions payable on

VOL. IX.-14

SENATE.]

Public Lands.

[JAN. 24, 1833.

the management and acquisition of the public lands for sales, unless the price is graduated to the quality, so as to the present year, and that without going into any of the bring the inferior lands into market, will equal those which far-fetched charges which the Senator from Mississippi are past, or pay the expenses fairly chargeable on the had supposed must be brought in to make up this amount, lands. A reduction of the price, so as to bring the infeas he had mentioned it on a former day. He had not in- rior lands into market, is absolutely necessary to make cluded the expense of the Indian Department, an item of them pay their expenses; and this is precisely what the $145,300, for what might be called the diplomatic inter- President has recommended. He proposes to sell their course of the United States with the Indians, in keeping lands for prices which will reimburse the Government for up commissioners, superintendents, agents, sub-agents, its expenses; and this is all they ever did do, and more interpreters, making presents for good-will, defraying ex- than they will hereafter do unless the price is reduced. penses of visits to military posts and the seat of Govern- To put this question in a still more convincing point of ment. He had included nothing but what strictly and ri- view, to vanquish all opposition to the President's plan, gorously occurred under the treaties for purchasing the to show the enormity of the policy which would quarter lands from the Indians, and managing them; this amount- the lands and the Indians upon the custom-house, and to ed to two millions of dollars for the present year, and satisfy every candid man that the lands ought to defray could not be much less for many years to come, as many the expenses of the treaty stipulations which they had of the annuities were permanent; others had fifteen to created, Mr. B. said he would take an inside view of a thirty years to run, and the expense of new treaties was pair of those treaties-one from the South and one from not yet done with. This amount, or whatever it might be, the North-and show the amount of the charges which more or less, the President intended should be paid out they had brought upon the Federal Government, and the of the proceeds of the sales of the public lands; the bill cause for which these charges were incurred. He alludunder consideration proposed that the proceeds of the ed to the States of Mississippi and Indiana-States in land sales should be divided, without first deducting these which recent treaties for the acquisition of Indian lands expenses; that they should be thrown upon the custom- had been made, and from each of which States there was house. And here resulted a real difference of two millions one Senator who had heretofore advocated the policy of to the revenue in the results of the two plans. throwing the expenses of these acquisitions upon the Mr. B. held two millions to be the difference in truth eustom-house revenue. He took first the Choctaw treabetween the two plans, but that the difference in fact and ty, made at Dancing Rabbit creek, in September, 1830; & practice would be infinitely greater; and he went into treaty made exclusively for the purchase of land, and for proofs and statements to show that this practical difference which the United States had agreed to give: 1st. An would certainly be three millions, and probably six. That annuity of $20,000 for twenty years, which was $400,000: it would be three millions at least, he showed to be ad- 2. To pay for the education of forty young Choctaws for mitted and declared by the Committee on Manufactures, twenty years, which was now costing the United States who brought in the distribution bill, and made the report $9,100 per annum, making the sum of $182,000 for the in its favor at the last session. That committee assumed whole time: 3. To pay $2,500 a year for twenty years three millions of dollars to be the annual product of the for schoolmasters in the nation, making $50,000: 4. To lands; and going upon the assumption, whether true or defray the expenses of removing the nation (19,000 souls) false, that three millions were to be abstracted from the to their new homes west of the Mississippi, $475,000: revenue for distribution, the high tariff party, who had 5. To furnish subsistence to the nation for one year after still the federal legislation in their hands, would take removal, at an expense of $608,000. 6. To furnish care at all events that three millions of duties on imposts uniform dresses and swords to ninety-nine chiefs, and penshould be retained to supply its place. This they would sions to the principal ones, say $40,000. 7. To furnish do upon their avowed principles, without concealment 2,100 blankets, 400 looms, a rifle and hunting equipments or disguise; but what they would do in reality may well to each warrior; say $15,000: 8. To pay for Choctaw be inferred from a knowledge of their policy, and from cattle, $12,000: 9. To furnish blacksmiths, millwrights, the declarations made on this floor, in the discussion of axes, ploughs, hoes, wheels, cards, iron, steel, &c. &c. this bill, that the proceeds of the lands in a few years will for sixteen years, the amount not known; and, in addition be six millions, and in a few more twelve millions. to all this, to allow about 1,400 reservations to be selected These six millions and twelve millions are then the out of the ceded lands, and sold by the Indians for their sums which the high tariff gentlemen will fix their eyes own benefit. This treaty, Mr. B. repeated, was made in upon as coming from the lands, and consider as the mea- the fall of 1830; the Indians were to commence removing sure of the corresponding amount which must be kept up the next fall, and complete their emigration in three years. on duties. They were, therefore, not yet out of the ceded country, Having shown that upwards of two millions of dollars and almost the whole of the stipulated payments remainwould be payable this year on account of the manage-ed yet to be made by the United States. Was it rightment and acquisition of the lands, Mr. B. proceeded to he put it to the candor of the Senator from Mississippi compare it with the amount receivable from the lands, and [Mr. POINDEXTER] to answer the question--was it right argued that this amount would not be sufficient to meet to throw the burden of this expensive treaty upon the the expenses upon them. The average receipts of the custom-house revenue, and take the money which would public lands, from the opening of the sales, had been be received for the lands to be divided among the populous about a million-say forty millions in as many years. States of the Atlantic sea-board? He [Mr. B.] appreTwice in that time they had risen to three millions, and hended that the ceded territory, after deducting the rehad immediately afterwards declined. In 1819 they were servations, paying the treaty stipulations, and the expenses at three millions, and in three years afterwards at less than of surveying and selling, would never reimburse its cost; one. Two years ago they were at three millions, last still it ought to be bound for the cost as far as it would year at two; this year unknown, but estimated at two. go, and was actually so bound; for the eighteenth article The average of the last ten years is about a million and of the treaty contained a lien upon the land for its paythree quarters; and when it is considered that there are but few new lands to come into market, that the mass of what is now upon hand is the refuse of ten, twenty, fifty, and even a hundred years' picking under the sales and entries of the United States and the donations of the Kings of France and Spain, it cannot be expected that future

ment, and a stipulation against any construction of the words of the treaty to the prejudice of the Indians.

The treaty of the last summer with the Pottawattamie Indians for lands in Indiana was next examined by Mr. B. He said it was purely and simply a sale of land from that tribe to the United States; and, in consideration of that

JAN. 24, 1833.]

Public Lands.

[SENATE.

sale, the United States became bound as follows: 1. For The Secretary of the Senate then read as follows: the three additional annuities to the different bands of the "General Coffee has succeeded in concluding a treaty tribe; one of $20,000 for twenty years; one of $15,000 with the Chickasaws, which will lead to their location in for twenty years, and one of $15,000 for twelve years, the West. The basis of this treaty is different from any making the whole sum to be paid in annuities $933,000. heretofore assumed in our negotiations with the Indians. 2. Assumption of debts to traders, $117,000. 3. De- The whole value of the country ceded is assigned to the livery of merchandise to the value of 247,000. 4. Stipu- Chickasaws, and the United States become, in fact, trustees lations for education, farming implements, mills, pensions to make the necessary arrangen.ents for their benefit. to chiefs, iron, steel, salt, expenses of removal, &c. &c., "It is stipulated that the ceded territory shall be to an amount which cannot now be ascertained; and, 5. surveyed and sold, and the whole proceeds, deducting In addition to all this, reservations to the extent of two only the actual expenses applied to the various objects hundred and seventy sections of land, (175,200 acres,) enumerated, connected with the temporary subsistence, which would doubtless be taken out of the best of the removal, and permanent establishment of the Indians. A ceded territory, and greatly diminish the value of the residuary fund is to be vested in some productive stock, and cession. The Senator from Indiana, best acquainted with the income to be annually appropriated for the public and the value of the ceded territory, [Mr. TIPTON,] frankly private objects stipulated in the treaty. A country for declared to the Senate, when the treaty was under consi- the residence of the tribe is to be procured by themselves, deration, that the land was not worth the money to be and it is probable they will be able to make a satisfactory given for it. The Committee on Indian Affairs was of that arrangement for that purpose with the Choctaws, a kinopinion, and in a moneyed point of view-as a bargain dred people, who are in possession of a much larger district between the United States and the Pottawattamies-would than is required by their numbers. have advised its rejection. But the State of Indiana was "No pecuniary benefit will result to the United States concerned; and to relieve her from the presence of an from this treaty, but, should it be ratified, it will constiinconvenient population, to allow full scope for the ex-tute an important era in our Indian relations. It will protension of her laws and the spread of her own popula- bably lead to the establishment of the principle, that, in tion and improvements, the treaty was reported for rati- future cessions of land, the full value shall be secured to fication. Here, then, was another acquisition of land the grantors, with such deductions only as may be neceswhich can never pay its own debt; and Mr. B. put it to sary to carry into effect the objects of the treaties. The the candor of the Senator from Indiana, who had favored advantages to be derived by the United States from these the distribution bill, to say whether it was right that this arrangements will be limited to the removal of the Indisadvantageous treaty, thus solely ratified for the benefit dians from their present unsuitable residences, and to of his own State, should be thrown upon the custom- their establishment in a region where we may hope to house, to aid in keeping up a high tariff to inflame and ex- see them prosperous, contented, and improving. And it asperate the South? cannot be doubted but that a course so consistent with the Mr. B. went on to say, that these two treaties, the con- dictates of justice, and so honorable to the national chatents of which he had just examined, were fair specimens racter, would be approved by public sentiment. Should and accurate averages of the treaties which had been we hereafter discard all expectation of pecuniary advanmade for several years past with the Indian tribes east of tage in our purchases from the Indians, and confine ourthe Mississippi. The time had gone by when William selves to the great objects of their removal and re-estaPenn purchased domains for a few beads and blankets; blishment, and take care that the proceeds of the the time had gone by when this Federal Government in- cessions are appropriated and applied to their benefit, structed its commissioners to allow but a cent an acre for and in the most salutary manner, we should go far towards the land which they purchased from the aborigines; the discharging the great moral debt which has come down time had gone by when the United States was a land to us, as an inheritance, from the earlier periods of our speculator upon the Indian tribes; the tables were turned, history, and which has been unfortunately increased, and the Indians were now speculators upon the United during successive generations, by circumstances beyond States. Within the last ten or a dozen years a new state our control. The policy would not be less wise than just. of things had sprung up; a morbid sensibility to Indian The time has passed away, if it ever existed, when a rewrongs had been excited; missionaries had gone among venue derived from such a source was necessary to the them to stimulate excessive appropriations for schools, of Government. The remnant of our aboriginal race may which they would have the application, without accounta- well look for the full value, and that usefully applied, of bility to the United States; politicians had encouraged the remnant of those immense possessions which have them to resist the jurisdiction of the States; and then passed from them to us, and left few substantial evidences princely revenues must be given to them to induce them of permanent advantage. One great objection to a reto go off quietly and avoid the conflict. These causes moval, which has been urged by the most discreet Indians, had enabled the Indians to have what they pleased for and by many of our citizens, who are honestly seeking their land; and they had generally pleased to have a their improvement, is the prospect, judging by the past, great deal more than it was worth. So notorious and in- that their location west of the Mississippi would be temveterate had this spirit become, that the present adminis-porary, as they would be soon pressed for new cessions, tration had found it cheaper and more economical to and would yield, as they have heretofore yielded, to sucbecome the trustee rather than the purchaser of Indian lands; to receive their cessions in trust, to be sold for their benefit, turning over the whole proceeds to them, with the deduction of expenses, rather than go on in the old way of buying and selling for profit. On this plan a treaty had just been concluded with the Chickasaw Indians; and as it was an era in our Indian intercourse, and exhibited this administration in the high character of renouncing the character of land speculator on Indians or white people, and had been communicated to Congress in the report of the Secretary of War, (Gov. Cass,) he would ask for the reading of so much of the Secretary's report as related to it.

cessive applications for this purpose. Although the nature and objects of their removal, and the spirit of the act of Congress which introduced the system, are opposed to such attempts, still the apprehension is entertained, and has proved injurious. Probably no course would better satisfy them upon this subject than the introduction of a principle, which would secure to them the full value of the property, under all circumstances; thus lessening the probability, in their view, of any wish on our part to acquire it, and insuring on theirs, if not the power and disposition to retain it, at least the means of converting it to the greatest advantage."

Mr. B. resumed. He held this arrangement with the