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Show 6 REPORT OF THE ception of about 1,342,000 acres, being the amount of their several reservations, was ceded to the government. All the cessions vest the title uuconditionally in the United States, except those from the Iowas, the confederate band of Kaskaskias and Peorias, Weas and Piankeshaws, and the Delawares. The stipulations with these tribes are, that the land ceded by them, (except the Delaware outlet,) shall, after survey, be offered at public sale, and sold to the highest bidder; and such portions as are not so sold, shall be subject to entry at $1 25 per acre, for the term of three years; after which time Congress may reduce the price of the land then remaining unsold. The expense of surveying, managing and selling the land, is to be deducted from the proceeds of the sales, and the residue to be paid to the Indians. The prices stipulated for the lands acquired in Nebraska do not exceed the average prices given heretofore for Indian lands, whilst those for the acquisition in Kansas are greater. This is attributed to the higher grade of title possessed by the Indians treated with in the latter Territory, but which will not necessarily be the case in the conventions contemplated to be held with the tribes there, who are the mere holders of title without guaranty for perpetuity by the United States. The payments have been graduated and extended so far as was deemed judicious, in view of the condition of the tribes dependent, from present habits, upon annuities for subsistence. But perpetual annuities have been discountenanced, as tending to indolence and helplessness. The moneys have been placed, except in a few instances, I and in those to a limited extent, nuder the control of the President of the United States, to be so applied as will, in his opinion, most cou-duce to civilization, comfort, and mental and moral improvement; and the payment of debts contracted by a few individuals, or alleged to have been contracted by them in the name of the tribes, and termed . national obligations, heretofore a prolific source of bribery and cor-ruption, are expressly forbidden. The lands thus acquired are of excellent quality, eligibly situated, are now being rapidly settled, and will soon be brought under culti-vation by that portion of our population who intend to make these Territories their future homes. Congress appropriated the funds necessary to fulfil the stipulations of these conventions, the Senate having ratified all without amend-ment, except those with the Miamies and Shawnees. The amend-ments to the former did not require the assent of the indians ; and thoso to the latter were assented to by the Shawnees, coupled with t h e condition that neither the present nor any future council of the tribe should ever appropriate any of the funds stipulated to be paid them to the satisfaction of certain pretended claims of R. W. Thomp-son, G. C. Johnson, and Ewitrgs and Clymer, against the tribe. The condition was deemed of sucli a character as to require the considera-tion and action of the Senate, and the paper was returned to the In-dians, with a suggestion by the department that they should cancel it, make their assent unconditional, and, if they desired to do so, ex-press their views of these claims in the f m of an independent reso-lution. This suggestion was adopted by the Shawnees, the amens- |
