Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 585 MAY, 1826.] Creek Tredty-Fraud. [SENATE. recommended that the committee should be until they got their gratuity in one way or instructed to insist on the amendment. If the other, or defeated the treaty altogether. He proposition made was to recede from the considered the practice to be sanctioned by the amendment, it would be in order to propose an usage of the United States; he believed it to amendment. If the Senate were to recede be common in all barbarous nations, and in friom their amendment, and to propose nothing many that were civilized, and referred to the more, then the bill would go to the House as article in the Federal constitution against reunamended, and they might pass it without ceiving "presents" from foreign powers, as a any amendment at all. The Senate could act proof that the convention thought such a reon the bill or on the report of the committee. striction to be necessary, even among ourAs regarded the two propositions for the dis- selves. tribution of the money, it would seem at first Mr. B. also adverted, in answer to something view that there were two objections to the which had been said in previous debates, to mode pointed out in the amendment of the the part he had acted in getting the suppleSanate. How was it to be ascertained what mental article adopted. What he had done was the usual proportion in the nation? If was with the knowledge and consent of the that could be ascertained, it would seem to put Secretary. It amounted to nothing more than it out of their power to make any other distri- producing a conviction in the minds of the bution. The amendment of the House gives Creeks themselves, that it would not be acdanthem that power. Mr. H. said he thought the tageous for them to hold any land in Georgia; safest way would be to have the distribution this being accomplished, the consideration was made by the nation. Either the one or the left to be adjusted by others. Not a word other of the amendments ought to prevail, with respect to its amount had passed between from the facts which had been disclosed. The Mr. B. and any one of the Creeks or Cherobetter way would be to take the amendment of kees. They agreed, upon the representation of the House, and to pass the bill in that way. Mr. B., to give up all the land claimed by the If the agent paid the money to the assembled Creeks in Georgia; but, when they camne to renation, they would have it in their power to duce that agreement into the form of an artidecide which way they pleased. It would cle, a difficulty occurred; the line between gratify them more-it would please them bet- Georgia and Alabama had never been ascerter-that the money should be paid to the tained; and the Indians were unwilling to chiefs and warriors assembled. If they are agree to a line, the course and position of willing to make such an iniquitous distribution which was unknown to them, and which was of their property, we have no right to cornm- to be fixed by a power over which they had no plain; but it is not probable that they will do control, and which might run, they knew not so. It would be better, Mr. H. said, to have it how deep, into their country. They were made in such a way as would satisfy them, willing to agree to the line where it was beand, though he should vote for either amend- lieved to be; and, accordingly, two points, ment, he thought it would be better to recede. named by a part of the delegation from GeorMr. BENTON said, that, after the explanation gia, as those which would include all the land of the views of the Committee of Conference in Georgia, were agreed upon, and inserted in which had been given by the Senator from the supplemental article. It was intended to New York, (Mr. VAN BUREN,) he would limit cede all; it was believed that all was ceded; himself to a statement of facts on two or three the exact truth could not be known until the points, on which references had been made to line was- run. He considered the unwillingness his personal knowledge. of the Indians to agree to an unknown line as The Secretary of War had referred to him, natural and reasonable; and, if any mistake in his letter to the committee, as knowing the had occurred, there was certainly no blame on fact, that the Secretary had refused to give pri- either party. The Indians agreed to the points vate gratuities to the Creek chiefs to promote indicated by gentlemen from Georgia, and the success of the negotiation. The reference these gentlemen, to his personal knowledge, was correct. hr. B. had himself recommend- had expended great pains in consulting maps, ed to the Secretary to do so; it was, however, and in referring to the knowledge of individuabout forty days after the treaty had been als to fix the points correctly. signed. He referred to a paper which fixed The time at which Mr. B. had offered his the date to the 9th or 10th of March, and the services to aid this negotiation, had appeared treaty had been signed in the month of Janu- to him to be eminently critical, and big with ary preceding. It was done at the time that consequences which he was anxious to avert. Mr. B. had offered his services to procure the It was after the committee had resolved to resupplemental article to be adopted. The Se- port against the new treaty, and before they cretary entirely condemned the practice of giv- had made the report to the Senate. The deing these gratuities. Mr. B. said he had re- cision, whatsoever it might be, and the consecoimnended it, as the only way of treating quent discussions, criminations, and recriminawith barbarians; that, if not gratified in this tions, were calculated to bring on a violent way, the chiefs would prolong the negotiation, struggle in the Senate itself; between the Senat a great daily expense to the Government, ate and the Executive; perhaps between the

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 585
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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