WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1853
opposition to the power of this Government, unless with his rifle in his hand, and in his own savannas. It is the very first time that we have heard of it, and here it comes up all at once to interpose in the execution of some very important matter con- nected with the well-being of the Indian. I will read the proviso to show that the objection has no ap- plication, and that there is no objection to it, unless it is for the purpose of sanctioning fraud and imposition upon the Indians: "P1·ovidecl, That sum aforesaid shall be paid to the said tribe pe1· cavita,. If any Indian agent, or other person shall violate this proviso, he or they shall be guilty of felony, and shall be liable to indictment in the jurisdiction in which the Indians reside, and punishable by fine and imprisonment, the fine not to be over $1,000, or less than $500, and to be imprisoned not more than ten years or less than five." This does not prevent the Government paying the Indians per ca,vita. A law is in existence, apart from this, requiring that from its passage all appropriations made for the benefit of the Indians should be paid per capita. There was a provision of law, and how has it been regarded? What do we hear from Minnesota'! Six hundred and odd thousand dollars were appropriated by Congress for the benefit of the Indians there to repay them for their lands, and provide for their ·sustentation for the present winter and the coming season, as they had to remove to another section of the country. Now, this law was in existence, and yet the Secretary of the Interior, regardless of it, because there was no penalty affixed to its violation, sent that money, and the Indians are now in a starving condition, because the money has not been properly appropriated. The man who found them in their starving condition, and provided for them, received not one cent, although his account was only $12,000, with sufficient and good vouchers, while the man who was their attorney here received some fifteen per cent, amounting to some seventy-odd thousand do1lars of the appropriation. His name "as Tyler. Mr. Wat Tyler I think they call him. He was their attorney, and came forward and said he ·was entitled to the percentage... [Various speakers.] I move to insist on this proviso; and I do it through respect to the Senate and for the honor of the Government. I do it for the sake of the Indians; and above that, I do it in honor of the eternal principles of justice and truth and honesty. \Ve can rescue the Indians from the cupidity of the w1·etches who
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