164
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855
But, Mr. President, in this case, if every cloud which hangs over the present claim were dispelled by the partialities of friend- ship which I feel for the individual interested, I would not vote to rob the Indians of this pittance; but I would redeem, as far as possible, the honor of the country by saying the Indians were wronged; if through mistake, no matter; if by intention, no matter; give to this agent whatever is fair and liberal, and pay him out of the Treasury of the United States. Yes, sir, give him his pound of flesh, but not one drop of human blood. Do not rob the Indians; pay him out of the Treasury; redeem the honor of the country, and vindicate what little feeling there is in behalf of the poor Indian. 1 Congressio1U1l Globe, 1854-1855, Part 1, pp. 727-728. See Note No. 2, under "On an Increase of the Army, and the Indian Policy of the Govern- ment, January 29, 31, 1855," in this volume, for an enumel'ation of some former speeches on the Indians. Richard Wigginton Thompson, the attor- ney for the Menominee Indians, had boldly acc\lsed William Medill, the Com- missioner of Indian Affairs, of having cheated the Indians in the payment of the annuities that were due them. This charge was readily admitted as true by several speakers in the debate, provided one regarded the business from the individual point of view, but seemed more or less to think that Medill had done "good business" from the governmental point of view. 2 Richard Wigginton Thompson (June 9, 1809-February 9, 1900), was bor~ in Virginia, but his adult years and his political career were, for the most part, spent in Indiana. For biographical sketches see Biog1·aphical Direc- tory of the Am.erican Congress (1928), p. 1612; Dictionary of American Biography, XVIII, 468-469. 3 William Medill (1802-September 2, 1865), was born in New Castle, Dela- ware. He served as Representative from Ohio in the 26th and 27th Con- gresses; was Second Assistant Postmaster General in 1845; and Commis- sioner of Indian Affairs from 1845 to 1850; Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, 1852-1853; Acting Governor, July, 1853; Governor, 1854-1855; First Comp- troller of the United States Treasury, 1857-1861. He died at Lancaster, Ohio, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, there. See Biographical Direc- tory of the American Congress (1928), p. 1303. 4 This reference is to W. G. and G. W. Ewing, who were local Indian agents among the Menominees. In the long debate on this question, it is shown that these men were guilty of having cheated the Indians, as had also their associate, W. H. Bruce. See the full debate, beginning February 12, 1855, in the Cong,·essional Globe, 1854-1855, Part 1. nAlfred Cumming (September 4, 1802-October 9, 1873) was born in Au- gusta, Georgia, the descendant of a long line of politically and socially influ- ential ancestors. He was twice Mayor of, Augusta, Georgia; was in the Mexican War, and served as sutler with Scott's army; in the early 50's was Indian Agent on the upper Missouri, and is recorded as having given satisfaction, both to the Government and to the Indians. But he is chiefly remembered as the Territorial Governor of Utah, and for his connection
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