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FEB. 21, 1825.]

Fortifications.-Drawback Duties.

instructed in his duty, while he remains practically igno-
rant of those branches of the ordnance service, which, in
the actual operations of war, are daily necessary in con-
ducting the service of artillery. The mode proposed of
instructing them at Old Point Comfort, is the only one,
and will be both economical and effective.

I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,

Hon. J. HAMILTON, Jr.

J. C. CALHOUN,

Chairman of the Military Committee,

House of Representatives.

Estimate for carrying into operation the Artillery School for instruction, at Fortress Monroe, for the year

1825:

For the purchase of fifty artillery draft horses, at $100,

For materials for erecting stables and forage house for fifty horses,

For hire of mechanics,

For building forges with bellows, and converting casemates into workshops,

For extra pay to soldiers employed as artifi

cers,

For wages of a master carriage-maker, and a master blacksmith, each $600,

Department of War, Feb. 1st, 1825.

$5,000 00

[Sen. & H. of R.

the provisions of the bill; it had been drawn under the immediate eye of the Comptroller of the Treasury, and could not be expected to have the sanction of that Department, if it injured the present system of duties. It was bad policy to tax goods which only touched at this country on their way to another, and were not to be consumed here.

Mr. WRIGHT again spoke in opposition to the bill; if it went the whole length of the British ware-housing system, he would advocate it; but this would require au abolition of all credits at the custom-house. He renewed his motion to lay the bill on the table.

Mr. LIVINGSTON, of Louisiana, said that the bill was made an important change in the fiscal operations on one which deserved serious consideration, because it

our commerce; that he had at first doubted whether suf

ficient precaution had been taken in drafting it, but that not seeing any very important omission, and having been informed that its details had been considered by the Treasury Department, and had received the sanction of the Committee of Ways and Means, he was prepared to $7,500 00 give it his support.

1,500 00 1,000 00

740 00

500 00

1,200 00

$9,940 00

The amendment was agreed to, and the bill was then ordered to be read a third time, as amended.

Un motion of Mr. SMITH, the Senate then proceeded, as in committee of the whole, to the consideration of the bill from the other House, making further approprianons for the military service of the United States for the year 1825.

The amendments proposed by the Committee of Finance, were unanimously agreed to.

Mr. COBB then moved to strike out the following clause in the bill:

"For payment of the amount of the annuity due to the Cherokee nation, under the treaty of the 24th of October, 1804," which was ratified during the last session of Congress, and for which no payment or appropriation has heretofore been made, $20,000.”

Mr. COBB stated his reasons at considerable length for making this motion, which were answered by Messrs. BENTON and SMITH; and the motion was finally negatived.

The bill, as amended, was then passed to a third reading.

The Senate then proceeded, as in committee of the whole, to consider the bills for the relief of two companies of mounted rangers commanded by Captains Boyle and McGirth; which, after some discussion between Messrs. CO B and JACKSON, was passed, and sent to the House for concurrence.

The Senate then adjourned till 11 o'clock to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.-SAME DAY.
LAW OF DRAWBACKS.

An engrossed bill to extend the right of deposite in public or other store houses, on certain conditions, and with certain privileges to other goods, besides wines, teas, and distilled spirits, was read a third time. And the question being "Shall it pass?"

As the law on the subject now stands, all duties on importation must be paid in cash, or secured to be paid by instalments at different periods, from three to twelve months; and a deposite of goods may be made instead of personal security, to insure the payments. Teas, and some other articles, form a modified exception to these regulations, which will be presently noticed. But as all duties are considered as taxes on consumption only, the law had justly, as well as wisely, provided, that if within a reasonable time merchandise on which a duty had been paid, should be re-exported, the duties, with a certain deduction, should be refunded. This was just, because otherwise the tax, instead of falling on the consumer, would rest on the importing merchant, who, on re-exporting the merchandise, must do it with the load of the duty he had paid. It was wise, because a contrary conduct would banish all the transit trade from our harbors, confine our importations strictly to the amount of our consumption, and force our merchants, whenever they carried the produce of one foreign na tion, to the ports of another, to go abroad to make up their cargoes. The drawback system had been found in practice to realize all the advantages which the theory of its establishment seemed to warrant : it had greatly increased our carrying trade, given scope to the enterprise of our merchants, enabled them, by assorting their cargoes at home, to compete, in foreign markets, with the merchants of the countries from which each of the articles composing such cargoes were brought, and if freed from some inconveniencies and unjust burthens, would enrich them and their country, in a degree commensurate with the greater facilities and freedom that would then be offered. The present bill was intended to effect this by providing,

1st, That duties on all goods imported may, at the option of the importer, either be paid, or secured in the manner now directed by law, or that they may be warehoused at the expense of the party, and that the duties need not, in that case, be paid until the expiration of two years, unless they are sooner sold for consumption. And that at any time within the two years, they may be re-exported, without any other payment to the Government than the half of one per cent. to pay the expense of entries and other documents.

The advantages to the importing merchant by this arraugement, are principally, that, being exonerated from the necessity of finding security for the duties before he knows whether he shall find a market for his goods, he

Mr. WRIGHT, of Ohio, opposed the bill, as calculat-will be enabled to extend his importations, and to keep ed to alter materially the system of imposts now existing, and he moved it lay on the table, but withdrew it for a moment to accommodate

always a large quantity of the article in which he deals on hand, ready to meet the demand for domestic con. sumption, or for foreign trade. To the exporting merMr. M'KIM, of Md. who spoke in reply, and explained I chant, (whether the same individual or not,) it will give

H. of R.]

On Drawback Duties.

[FEB. 21, 1825.

this preference shown to our domestic trade, it may at
least be considered as giving the merchant sonie title to
indemnity, by enabling him to enter the foreign market
to advantage. At present you oblige him to find secu-
rity for the payment of duties on goods not intended for
consumption; when he exports them, you tax him 2
per cent, on the amount of their duties; you deprive him
of the facility of making up an assorted cargo, and
thereby nearly destroy the advantages he could derive
from his vicinity to the best market in the world for car.
goes of that description, and you take away from the
country the great profi ́s to be derived from the deposite;
and in the same degree that you injure your own trade
in these respects, you favor that of foreigners.
The amount of the two and a half per cent. retained
on the debentures for the last year, amounted to 126,359
dollars. This was a tax laid on the export trade, and if
not in terms, was in effect a contravention of the consti-
tutional provision that prevented such tax, and it oper-
ated to that amount to the benefit of foreigners who car-
ried the foreign article to market without entering the
United States. Mr. LIVINGSTON regretted that this mea
sure had been delayed to so late a day, because gentle-
men who might otherwise have been in favor of it, had
not time to examine whether sufficient precautions were
taken in the introduction of a new system, to avoid frauds
on the revenue; for his part, however, since he had
been assured that it had passed the scrutiny of the able
and attentive committee of this House, within whose
department it came, he should give it his support.

the great advantage of finding, in consequence of this to deprive the importing merchant of the supply of the increased importation, the means in a moment of assort-home market; and, without questioning the wisdom of ing his cargoes for any market; an advantage which, in the present state of our commerce, and its highly flattering prospects of extension, ought not to be overlooked. The markets of Mexico, and of the whole Southern Continent, are now open to our commercial enterprise. That commerce, more than any other, requires assorted cargoes. More than any other, it requires promptitude in collecting, and despatch in forwarding them to their destination, to avail ourselves of those variations of glut and demand to which, more than any other, those markets are subject, excepting only, perhaps, those of the West Indies, to which this reasoning will equally apply. This arrangement will aid, in an incalculable degree, the advantages derived from our local position for carry. ing on that commerce. Their vicinity gives us an immediate knowledge of their wants, and cargoes of the most complex kind are formed, and in the market, before the European merchant can have heard of the demand. It is true, that our present drawback system operate, in some degree, this effect: the advantages of a return of the great proportion of duties, is one that does not seem to have been appreciated in other countries, and particularly in the commercial countries of Great Britain and Holland, in the degree its importance merits. In England, the allowance of drawback on re exportation, was never genera! In the cases where it is allowed, more than one half of the duty sometimes is retained, and in some cases more. For instance, in Great Britain, on steel there is a duty of 50 per cent. and no drawback; on brandy a duty of 178. sterling, and no drawback; on some species of linens the duty is 68. 4d. per piece, and the drawback only 2s. 8d. In the kingdom of the Netherlands, the transit and export duty are sometimes 50 per cent. higher than that paid on the import; but, although this varies with regard to many articles, on none is the part retained so little as that di. rected by our law. But although these regulations yet remain in Great Britain, they now operate no hardship, because, becoming sensible of the error of her restrictive system, of which this formed a part, in the year 1803, she adopted the plan of permitting foreign goods to be warehoused and re-exported free from duty. This was enlarged in the year 1823, and extends now to all foreign goods, except tea, and other Chinese goods, gun-powder, and other munitions of war, linens, beef, pork, fish, and some other articles, which were except ed, to favor, if not the interest, at least the prejudices of some classes of traders and manufacturers. So that under the present regulations there, every merchant who intends to re-export, will warehouse, instead of entering h's goods. This bill proposes the same system, and it is not presumed that it will be attended with any peculiar disadvantages; indeed, it is now, with respect to certain articles, in operation,and has been so since the com-ed for their expediency. mencement of our fiscal system. Teas and wines may now be warehoused, and no duty need be paid on them unless they are entered for consumption; and if any frauds have been practised in consequence of this indulgence, it cannot have been to a great amount, or this extension of the system would not have received the approbation of the Treasury. On the contrary, under the debenture law, Mr. L. said he had understood that frauds had been practised to a great amount, particularly in the article of brandies. The casks which contained this liquor on its importation, being re-exported filled with domestic spirits of a very inferior quality. It is said, that in one of our great cities alone, thirty or forty empty casks of this description, accompanied by the certi Mr. P. P. BARBOUR, who moved, on account of the ficates of importation, are daily sold to the distillers; if lateness of the hour, and with a view to enter on the apthis quantity should be exported, and the drawback ob-pointment of Printer to the House, that the bill be, for tained, the loss to the revenue could not be less than the present, laid on the table, and the unfinished busi300,000 dollars per annum. This could not take place ness of Saturday be postponed, to proceed to the ballot if they were warehoused. Besides, sir, said Mr. L. the of that appointment. policy of our Government has lately been by high duties

Mr. TRIMBLE, of Kentucky, opposed the passage of the bill, especially on the ground of the loss to the 24 per cent. fund. The object of this 2 per cent. as retained by the Government, was to pay the expense of the systein; this fell equally on the importer and con sumer; but the expense of the warehouse system, under this bill, doubled the burden on the importer, and whol ly relieved the exporter. But the principal objection was, that the importer only gave his own bond, and held one of two keys of a private warehouse, while the collec tor held the other he might easily withdraw the goods and go off himself, and leave the Government in the lurch. The bill went chiefly to benefit foreigners-for they constituted a large majority of the importing mer chants in our sea ports. He believed the country lost a large amount, annually, as it was-and this would go to increase the amount.

Mr. CAMBRELENG replied-contended that 23 per cent. was much more than sufficient for the expense of goods in transitu, and operated as an impolitic tax on the transit trade. He denied the danger of frauds—and his only objection to the bill was, that it did not go far enough. He stated the objects of the bill, and contend

Mr. BUCHANAN, of Pennsylvania, professed himself in favor of the bill, as having a favorable influence on the trade of this country, especially to South America-it enabled the merchant to go into that market two per cent. cheaper than at present, and argued the policy of securing that trade as speedily as possible. He replied to Mr. TRIMBLE, and concluded that no law, proper in itself, should be objected to, because it happened to benefit foreigners. He thought the bill would have a beneficial effect on the manufacturing interest.

Mr. SHARPE, of N. Y. stated the present course of commerce, and insisted on the advantages of the billbut gave way at the request of

The motion prevailed.

FEB. 22, 1825.]

Massachusetts Claims-Purchase of Paintings.

IN SENATE-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22. 1825. The Senate proceeded, as in committee of the whole, to consider the bill "supplementary to an act, entitled An act enabling the claimants to lands within the limits of the state of Missouri, and territory of Arkansas, to institute proceedings to try the validity of their claims," approved the 26th of May, 1824, and to repeal a part thereof."

Mr. EATON moved further to amend the bill, by adding, "within the territory of Arkansas," so that the 1st section would read as follows:

"That in all cases within the territory of Arkansas, where a title is set up under any French or Spanish grant, concession, warrant, or order of survey, or shall, in any manner, be derived from them, and the quantity of acres contained in the original grant, concession, warrant, or order of survey, shall exceed one league square, then, and in that case, should the decision of the court be against the United States, it shall, and hereby is declared to be the duty of the District Attorney to take and prosecute an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States; and to make out and forward to the Attorney General a brief of the points and arguments relied upon on the, trial; and it shall be the duty of the Attorney General to attend to said appeals, in behalf of the United States, when brought into the Supreme Court."

This amendment was agreed to.

Mr. LOWRIE moved then to strike out the 1st section of the bill, which repealed the 15th section of the origi

nal act.

A long debate ensued, in which Messrs. LOWRIE, | EATON, BENTON, SMITH, BARTON, KELLY, HOLMES, of Maine, and VAN BUREN, took part, and It was finally decided in the negative by yeas and nays, as follows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Chandler, Clayton, Cobb, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Edwards, Findlay, King, of N. Y. Lanman, Lloyd, of Mass. Lowrie, McIlvaine, Macon, Palmer, Parrott, Seymour, Smith, Van Buren-19.

NAYS. Messrs. Barton, Benton, Bouligny, Brown, Eaton, Elliott, Hayne, Holmes, of Miss. Jackson, Johnson, of Ken. Johnston, of Louisiana, Kelly, King, of Alab., McLean, Mills, Noble, Ruggles, Thomas, Williams.-19.

[Senate.

referred to in it, it will be seen that the conduct of the Executive of that state, in refusing to place the militia thereof, at that difficult conjuncture, under the direction of the Executive of the United States, as it was bound to do, by a fair construction of the Constitution, and as the other states did, is the great cause to which the difficulty adverted to, is to be ascribed. It will also be seen, on a view of those documents, that the Executive of the state was warned at the time, if it perserved in the refusal, that the consequences which have followed would be inevitable: that the attitude assumed by the state formed a case which was not contemplated by the existing laws of the United States relating to militia services: that the payment of the claims of the state, for such services, could be provided for by Congress only, and by a special law for the purpose. Having made this communication, while acting in the Department of War, to the Governor of Massachusetts, with the sanction and under the direction of my enlightened and virtuous predecessor, it would be improper, in any view which may be taken of the subject, for me to change the ground then assumed, to withdraw this great question from the consideration of Congress, and to act on it myself.

Had the Executive been in error, it is entitled to censure making a just allowance for the motive which guided it. If its conduct was correct, the ground then assumed ought to be maintained by it. It belongs to Congress alone to terminate this distressing incident, on just principles, with a view to the highest interests of our Union.

From the view which I have taken of the subject, I am confirmed in the opinion that Congress should now decide on the claim, and allow to the state such portions thereof as are founded on the principles laid down in the former message. If those principles are correct, as on great consideration I am satisfied they are, it ap pears to me to be just in itself, and of high importance, that the sums which may be due, in conformity therewith, should no longer be withheld from the state.

Feb. 21, 1825.

JAMES MONROE.

The Senate, as in committee of the whole, resumed the consideration of the bill authorizing the purchase of the Equestrian Portrait of Washington, by Rembrandt Peale.

Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, moved to amend the bill by filling the blank with $4,500; which was decided in the affirmative-ayes 20, noes 14.

On the question shall this bill be engrossed for a third reading? it was decided by yeas and nays, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Barton, Benton, Bouligny, Brown, Eaton, Elliott, Hayne, Holmes, of Miss. Jackson, Johnson, of Ky. Johnston, of Lou. Kelly, King, of Alabama, M'Lean, Mills, Noble, Ruggles, Taylor, Thomas, Wil-nate to pardon him for a few moments, and he would liams-20.

NAYS. Messrs. Bell, Branch, Chandler, Clayton, Cobb, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Edwards, Findlay, Holmes, of Maine, King, of New York, Lanman, Lloyd, of Mass. Lowrie, M'Ilvaine, Macon, Palmer, Parrott, Seymour, Smith, Tazewell, Van Buren-22.

So the bill was rejected.

Mr. NOBLE then rose and said he would ask the Se

give the reasons why he could not vote for the bill. The bill proposes four thousand five hundred dollars for the object. Mr. N. asked what was the object of legislation: and gave the answer, that it was for the benefit of the whole nation. The purchasing of the portrait would be extravagant, and but of little use to the people of the United States, remote from the Capitol. It would serve,

The following message was received from the Presi- however, for members of Congress to examine, and those dent of the United States:

To the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States:

I transmit, herewith, a report from the Secretary of War, with a report to him from the Third Auditor, of the settlement, in the amount stated, of the claims of the state of Massachusetts, for services rendered by the militia of that state, in the late war, the payment of which has hitherto been prevented by causes which are well known to Congress. Having communicated my sentiments on this subject fully, in a message bearing date on the 23d of February, 1824, it is unnecessary to repeat in detail here, what I there advanced.

By recurring to that message, and to the documents

who had business at Washingten, to the exclusion of all others, as to its efficacy; but the purse strings of the people must be untied, to pay off the appropriation, and at the same time they derive no advantage.

The name of Washington, Mr. N. said, was as dear to him in his military character, and his civil, as to any other American. He appreciated his character, his worth as a statesman, his religious and moral principles: and believed that no man was ever his equal in the United States, and he feared never would be again. If you take from the people this sum of money, the benefit should accrue to them at large, and not to members of Congress, and those whose business brings them to the city. We have his portrait, and why ask another?Washington is dead--but his name will forever live with

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On the question, "Shall this bill be engrossed for a third reading?" it was decided in the affirmative, by Yeas and Nays, as follows:

YEAS. Messrs. Barton, Benton, Clayton, Eaton, Elliott, Findlay, Hayne, Holmes, of Maine, Holmes, of Mississippi, Jackson, Johnson, of Kentucky, Johnston, of Louisiana, Kelly, Lloyd, of Massachusetts, Lowrie, Mills, Parrott, Ruggles, Seymour, Smith, Van Buren-21.

[FEB. 22, 1825.

the people of the United States, and not because this Government, to seek out the causes of their continued Senate is about to add another portrait to be fixed in the deterioration, and, as far as practicable, to arrest its prorotundo of the Capitol. gress, by the application of the most appropriate remeThe object of this bill certainly ought to be the com-dies. To any one who has carefully attended to the hismemoration and perpetuation of the venerable Washing- tory of the tribes within the old states, it must be appaton, for the benefit of the present age and generations to rent, that their uniform decline results from causes growcome after us, and to make lasting impressions from his ing out of their location. So true is this position, that, examples and precepts, upon the present and future age. while you can scarcely point to a nation of Indians wastCan this be done by another portrait in the rotundo ?--ing away, either numerically or physically, in their native If the honorable member from Massachusetts (Mr. MILLS) wilderness, I know of no tribes within the states, surand from the Select Committee, who reported the bill, rounded by a white population, who have not declined will change it and appropriate the four thousand five in both these respects, and who are not in manifest danhundred dollars, under the superintendence of some skil-ger of extinction. What, sir, has become of the immense ful man, to collect and cause to be digested, and printed, hordes of these people, who once occupied the soil of the acts of Washington, both military and civil, he would the older states? In New England, where numerous vote for it, upon the condition that, as the money is tak- and warlike tribes once so fiercely contended for supre en from the people, they should derive the advantage. macy with our forefathers, but 2500 of their descendants Mr. NOBLE said, early impressions were lasting, and now remain! And these are mixed with negro blood; he would discriminate between rich and poor; and when dispirited and degraded! Of the powerful league of the the work was completed and printed, he would distri- Six Nations, so long the scourge and terror of New York, bute them among the latter: the former could buy for only about 5,000 souls survived! While in Jersey, Pennthemselves, and he would extend them to the cottages sylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, they are either enin the pine hills in North Carolina, to the Western for-tirely extinct, or their numbers are so reduced as to ests, and every portion of this Union. Parents could have escaped the notice of the Department. In Vir then read and make early impressions upon their child-ginia, Mr. Jefferson informs us, that there were in 1607, ren of the political, moral, and religious worth, of Wash-between "the sea coast and the mountains, and from ington, which never can be done by fixing up pictures the Potomac to the most Southern waters of James river, and portraits in the Capitol. upwards of forty tribes of Indians,"-now there are bat forty-sever. individuals within the whole state! From North Carolina none are re urned-and only four hundred and fifty from South Carolina! While in Georgia, where, thirty years since, there were not less than thirty thousand souls, within her present limus there are not now more than half that number. That many of these people have removed, and others perished by the sword in the frequent wars which occurred in the progress of our settlements in all these states, I am free to admit. But where are the hundreds of thousands, with their descendants, who neither removed nor were thus destroyed? Sir, I ke a promontory of sand, exposed to the ceaseless encroachments of the ocean, they have been gradually wasting away before the current of the white population, which set in upon them from every quarter; and unless speedily removed by the provisions of this bill, beyond the influence of this cause, a remnant will not long be found, to point you to the graves of Mr. ELLIOTT, of Georgia, rose, and, as a member of their ancestors, or to relate the sad story of their misforthe Committee on Indian Affairs, asked the attention of tunes! From this view of the subject, sir, I am brought the Senate to a few remaks which he proposed to make, to the conclusion, that two independent communities of in explanation and support of the objects of this bill. people, differing in color, language, habits, and interests, The measures proposed in this bill, said Mr. E. have, cannot long subsist together-but that the more intellifor their object, the preservation of the Indian tribes gent and powerful will always destroy the other. This, within the United States, and the improvement of their it must be confessed, is a sombre picture of human nacondition; as well as the advancement of the wealth ture-but it is a sketch from real life; and the statesman and power of the Union. The attainment of objects so will legislate for man as he is, and not as he ought to be. interesting both to the philanthropist and the statesman, Now, communities not independent of each other, may justified a special message from the President of the differ in most of these respects, and yet not only subsist United States, and can hardly fail to secure the grave together, but, to a certain extent, increase and better attention of this body. So long as the Indian tribes their condition. Some of the South American Indians, within our settlements were strong enough to wage war although conquered and reduced to slavery by the Spanupon the states, and to pursue their trade of blood with iards, were not destroyed. Their tribes are still extant; the tomahawk and scalping knife, it was neither the and, having commingled their blood with that of their policy nor the duty of the Federal Government to con- conquerors, they are at this time an improved and powsult their comfort, or to devise means for their preserva-erful people. The African slaves, too, in the United tion The contest, then, was for the existence of our States, are a distinct and separate people, but they rainfant settlements, and for the attainment of that power pidly increase, and are daily improving in condition. In by which a civilized and Christian people might safely these instances, the mutual dependence which exists, Occupy this promised land of civil and religious liberty. creates, in some sort, a community of interests. It was then to be regarded as a struggle for supremacy, two communities of people, wholly independent of each between savages and civilized men, between infidels other, and differing essentially in character and habits, and christians. But now, sir, when, by successive wars, must find their feelings and interests in perpetual colliand the more fatal operation of other causes, hereafter sion. To confine such discordant materials, therefore, to be noticed, their power has departed from them, and within the limits of the same state, cannot fail to engen they are reduced to comparative insignificance, it well der endless contentions. And these, as in all other conbecomes the magnanimity of a humane and generous troversies, where physical power is made the arbiter of

NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Bouligny, Branch, Chandler, Cobb, D'Wolf, Dickerson, Edwards, King, of Alabama, King, of New York, Lanman, M'Ilvaine, M'Lean, Macon, Noble,Palmer, Taylor, Tazewell, Thomas, Williams-20.

INDIAN TRIBES.

On motion of Mr. BENTON, the Senate resumed, as in committee of the whole, the bill for the preservation and civilization of the Indian tribes within the United States.

But,

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right, must ever result in the discomfiture of the weak er party; who, at length, dispirited and degraded under a sense of comparative weakness, and increasing wants, become idle and vicious, seeking in the bottle that gratification, which they once enjoyed in the chase-and this degradasion, and these habits, lay the foundation of their subsequent deterioration.

And, sir, if it be so difficult to preserve the Indian population within the states, from gradual but certain extinction, owing to the operation of causes inseparable from their location, how can we hope to promote either their moral or intellectual improvement, under such circumstances? Confidence in the sincerity and good intentions of those who essay to teach and improve us, is essential to success in the undertaking. But how can confidence exist amidst the daily irritations which grow out of the unhappy situation of these people? Are they yet in the hunter state? Their sustenance, then, depends on the quantity of game that may be found within their limits. But this is daily decreasing, by the encroachments of the whites, who penetrate their forests, and kill off the animals on which they subsist. Have they advanced to the condition of herdsmen ? Their stock pass the boundaries of their territory; they are found to trespass upon the property of the whites, and they are destroyed.

[Senate.

derive support from its fertility. It is a part of the country which will not answer our purposes of social intercourse and compact settlements. But, for the Indians, hardly any country could afford greater advan tages than the tract adjoining the Kansas river, the Osage, the Neocio, the Verdigrise, and, perhaps, the Arkansas, below where our route to Mexico crosses it. They could, from those places, procure salt from the salt plains of the Arkansas; and during the incipient state of their progress, before their harvest could be equal to their support, the game would afford them an abundant means of support."

Such is the country proposed to be assigned to the Indians as their future home. It will be sub-divided into surveys of sufficient extent to meet the exigencies of every tribe; and to each will be assigned a separate location. The whole to form a colony of red men, under the protection and guardianship of the Federal Government. From this territory, all white men will be rigidly excluded, except missionaries, teachers, and artisans, now engaged in their instruction and improvement, or such as may hereafter become necessary for that pur pose; and these will be removed and settled with them. In this situation, all the wants of such a people will be provided for. No sudden transition from the hunter to the agricultural condition, will be expected by practical men. Such a change must be the work of time, and can be realized only in the descendants of those who shall be removed. These will be sedulously taught, both by precept and example, the value of the cultivation of the earth, on permanent possessions, and under a government of known laws. And, growing up under the influence of such instructions, with minds and morals improved, and relieved from the debasing associations of their former situation, every hope may be indulged of the most gratifying result. In the mean time, the adult population, upon whose habits and prejudices no very salutary effects could be expected, will find employment and profit in the chase, and in the management and increase of their domestic animals; for which purpose every section of land may have an outlet to the Rocky Mountains, and the privilege of hunting be purchased of the natives.

Nor, sir, is this all; new acquisitions of territory are repeatedly urged upon them, and, savage as they are, they are not so devoid of common sense, as not to argue from the past to the future, and to anticipate the fate which awaits them, in the traditions of the powerful tribes who once commanded the banks of the Potomac and Delaware, and whose names alone survive! Under the pressure of such circumstances, it is idle to look for any solid or extended improvement in the Indian population within the states. A few of them, of mixed blood, may acquire some knowledge, and more property; but the great mass of this population cannot be expected to escape the causes of decline and degradation which have heretofore produced such uniform results. Under this impression, and with a view so sustain and improve the Indians now within the states, this bill was reported. It proposes to accomplish these benevolent objects by the But, here, sir, I will anticipate two objections. The purchase of a tract of country lying between the Mis- first, that the congregation of so many different tribes souri and Arkansas rivers, as a permanent possession for of Indians on adjoining tracts, must necessarily lead to these people. This tract is said by Mr. Storrs, who has wars between them, more ruinous than the collisions explored it, to be very fertile, well watered, and abound- they experience with the whites in their present situaing in game. But I will give you his own language, from tion. This would probably be the case, were they not a letter lately received by the Chairman of the Commit- sensible of the presence and power of the Federal Gotee on Indian Affairs. In reference to the plan of co-vernment, to adjust their difficulties, and to put down lonizing the Indians, he says,

"Nature could hardly have formed a country more admirably fitted to such a purpose, than that which lies between us and the Arkansas river. It is among the most beautiful and fertile tracts of country I ever saw. Streams lined with timber intersect and beautify it in every direction. There are delightful landscapes, over which Flora has scattered her beauties with a wauton hand; and upon whose bosom innumerable wild animals display their amazing numbers. The Spring clothes this solitude with its richest scenery, and affords a combination which cannot fail to please the eye and delight the imagination.

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the wrong doer. But it is proposed to have agents among them, men of known principle, well acquainted with the Indian character, respected by them, and anxious for their improvement. These men will act as umpires between the various tribes, and, by a timely adjustment of their quarrels, take away the occasion of wars. And the presence of the military posts, which will be stationed on the Western and Northern limits of this colony, cannot fail to give to such supervisionary law, the efficiency which is anticipated. The second objection is, the danger to be apprehended by the adjoining states, from the power of the Indians thus collected. But, sir, it is to be recollected that these tribes have all ex"If a few remnants of our tribes were settled here, perienced the power, and been subdued by the arms of embracing, if possible, the Osages and Kanzas, and their the United States; and that the position which they will prospect should become flattering, others would natur- occupy, is one which will expose them to the whole Inally join them, and form similar establishments; and, indian population to the North and West of them. Under the course of a few years, we should witness the gratifying spectacle of an organized government of industrious habits, and peaceful villages, surrounded with smiling fields and domestic herds." As I passed through that delightful region, I could not help regretting that it should be a waste of Nature; and felt a secret assurance that, at some future period, flocks would feed upon its abundant herbage, and a numerous population would VOL 1-41

such circumstances, every motive to be sugg stel, either by fear or interest, must impel them to the cultivation of peaceful habits, and a close alliance with the United States. This objection, then, s founded upon the supposition, that these Indians will act directly contrary to their obvious interests, and make war upon those whose power they know they cannot resist, and the preservation of which, they feel to be necessary to their

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