69
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1849
the Indian Bureau detected this error, but unfortunately this sagacious and vigilant gentleman did not detect the mistake until it was too late to rectify it. Well, now, if this be true, the·se Indians must have been very sagacious indeed to have believed that the records would be falsified, and that they would be successful in getting their claim allowed, although it had been once paid already, before the discerning and sagacious head of the department would be able to detect the fraud. If these Indians accomplished all this, they certainly deserve a great deal of credit for their smartness. But, sir, this happens not to be a case of that kind. It is manifest that these Indians have a just claim arising under the treaty with that tribe, and the treaty provides the manner in which it shall be disposed of and paid to the different classes of the population, because there was the "Old Settler" party and the "Emigrant" party, and this happens to be the "Old Settler," party, or the party of Old Settlers. Now, sir, how are we ever to ascertain the justness of this claim and the propriety of its present adjustment? Is it to be done by every Senator looking over the file of vouchers and documents? Will every Senator take the trouble to do this? ·wm the honorable gentleman at the head of the Committee on Finance take that trouble upon him to arrive at the conclusion as to the justness or unlawfulness of this claim? It seems that this busi- ness has been accumulating for years, in order to give every Senator sufficient time to look over every voucher, so as to enable him to arrive at an accurate conclusion as to the precise amount due in every case. I consider the resolution referring this whole matter to the proper accounting officers of the Government as not only wise, but efficient, if due credit be attached to the action of the officers or the attention of the committee. It appears that the settlement was made by two highly re- spectable accounting officers-one of whom, the Comptroller, was concerned in the negotiation of this treaty-and they had reported their views of the construction of the treaty, which accompanied it on its presentation to the President, after it had been negotiated. The other officer, the Auditor, is a man who thoroughly understands his business, and who accorded with the Comptroller in his opinion upon this treaty; and the opinion of Mr. Burke, the other commissioner, also corroborates this very
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