It was moved that the House should go into consideration of the report of the select committee to whom had been referred a resolution of the House in relation to the back lands of North Carolina. The following is the resolution of the select committee:
"Resolved, That in case the President of the United States shall think proper to enter into a treaty or treaties with all or any of the Indian tribes claiming lands within the territory south of the river Ohio, for the extinguishment of their claims to all or any of the said lands, the sum of —— dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated to the purpose of defraying the expenses of any such treaty or treaties."
Mr. Goodhue did not see that the United States had any concern to interfere in such a purchase: it was private property.
Mr. Dayton explained that the petition of Thomas Person and others comprehended only two millions of acres. The resolution contemplated twenty millions. It will, when completed, enable the United States to protect the Choctaws and Chickasaws from the Creeks and Cherokees, if the latter should happen to attack them; and that they will attack the Chickasaws is not improbable, from assistance which the latter have given to the white people. Besides, the frontier will be capable of defence, at a much cheaper rate, in this way than at present it can be. It is now an irregular line. A peculiar circumstance, besides, will make the lands easy to be purchased. No Indian tribes reside on them. When the gentleman from Massachusetts considers these things, he will not object, since the United States will gain eighteen millions of acres by the transaction.
Mr. Goodhue admitted the reasoning as to the eighteen millions, but still scrupled as to the rest.
Mr. Swift recommended that the Indian claim should in the mean time be extinguished.
Mr. McDowell, in reply to Mr. Goodhue, said that if the gentleman had attended to the reasonings formerly used on this subject, and which had occupied considerable time of the House during the present session, he could have been at no loss for understanding the propriety of this purchase being made by the United States.
A committee were named to bring in a bill, in terms of the resolution recommended by the select committee.