WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1854
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most solemnly given, that they never should be removed. Here is the provision of the treaty of 1835 with the Cherokees: "The United States hereby covenant and agree; that the lands ceded to the Cherokee Nation, in the foregoing article, shall, in no future time, without their consent, be included -within the territorial limits or jurisdiction of any State or Territory." It is true that the Cherokees are not within the limits of the boundaries of the T'erritories proposed to be organized by this bill; but the Senecas and Shawnees are; and I will read the pro- vision of the treaty with them: "The lands granted by this agreement and convention to the said band of Senecas and Shawnees, shall not be sold or ceded by them, except to the United States; and the United States guar- antee that said lands shall never be within the bounds of any State or Territory, nor subject to· the laws thereof." How you can organize this Territory in the face of that solemn guarantee, I cannot conceive. If you run a line around them, embracing the Indians, but excluding them by the words of the act from its operation, will it exclude them from the boundary? You may say that the law, so far as respects1them, is suspended; but still they are within the boundary, and you cannot place them out of it. It is idle to talk of making a provision which is against all common sense and common language. Mr. President, upon this branch of the subject I have very little hope of impressing the minds of Senators here with what I would fain desire; but as I never expect to have an opportunity, probably, of addressing the Senate again, or any portion of my countrymen, in relation to the Indians, I hope I shall find an apology in every gentleman's charitable feelings if I evince an unusual degree of anxiety and zeal far beyond my custom. Sir, these people are friendless. They have no political influence; they have no hopes; no expectations to present to the ambitious and aspiring. They have no wealth with which to recompense their advocates and friends. They have not the blandishments and the refinement of civilization with which to win or to court public favor. They are human beings; and I can appeal to the venerable Senator from Michigan [Mr. Cass.] who was familiarly acquainted with all their characteristics before they became contaminated and despoiled of their natural virtues by white men. I perceive, in looking over the records, that not less than thirty-odd treaties have been made by him with the various tribes of Indians; and it is saying no little for his heart, that in
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