tribe for the purchase of their land in the State of Indiana. He has succeeded in procuring from them a cession of two hundred thousand acres on terms advantageous to themselves and the United States. It may be considered the precursor to a total cession of their remaining land in that State, and their consequent emigration to the Western Territory; a result desirable in many respects, especially connected with advantages to a portion of our citizens, and doubly gratifying from its being compatible with the best interests of the tribe. The alteration proposed by a resolution of the Senate at the last session of Congress, in the boundaries of the land granted by the Chicago treaty of 1833, to the united nation of Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatamie In. dians, has received their assent under certain modifications, specified in their agreement of the first of October last.

No material alteration has taken place since the last report from this office in the condition of the Cherokees. The question of emigration finds them still divided, and a considerable portion appear to be insensible of the manifest benefits accruing from its adoption. Without tolerable unanimity, it is impossible to proceed with it advantageously to all parties interested in the general issue. In the mean time the division has engendered much malignancy, and the opposing parties appear to evence a rancor bordering on hostility. Occasionally their animosity has broken out into acts of violence; and it becomes my painful duty to communicate one instance that resulted in the death of a very meritorious and much regretted individual. On his return from their National Council at Red Clay, in August last, where the question of emigration was agitated in a tumultuous and excited meeting, John Walker, jr., one of their leading men friendly to its adoption, was way-laid and shot. The necessary orders for the arrest of the assassins were promptly issued by Governor Carroll, the present Executive of Tennessee. Several persons are now in confinement on a charge of having taken part in the murder. Should occasion call for it, the military will be ordered out for the protection of those who decide on emigration, and of the emigrating officers of Government engaged in this hazardous and responsible service.

A negotiation has been commenced by Goveror Lucas of Ohio, with the band of Wyandots in that State, for a cession of their remaining land, and their removal to the west of the Mississippi, and recent communications furnish strong grounds of belief, that, under his judicious management, it will be eventually brought to a successful close.

Paper D, herewith transmitted, contains extracts of a letter from Lieutenaut J. Van Horne, disbursing agent in the removal of the Creeks and Cherokees, to General George Gibson, Commissary General of Subsistence. It cannot be perused without emotions of pleasure, inasmuch as it furnishes evidence of the prosperous condition of those tribes, and presents a pleasing account of the fertility of their land, and their rapid improvement in agriculture.

The expedition to the far West, under the command of General Leavenworth, undertaken in compliance with orders from the War Department, for the objects therein detailed, proceeded on its route through regions almost unknown, and amid difficulties of the most perplexing nature. In consequence of the death of that brave and lamented officer while in the performance of duty, the command devolved on Colonel Dodge, who returned with the expedition to Fort Gibson, bringing along a number of the chiefs of the Pawnee and Kioway Indians, bold and warlike tribes, who have entertained no very friendly feelings towards our citizens, between whom and them there had hitherto been but little intercourse. These tribes being borderers on the newly occupied In

23d CONG. 2d SESS.

dian territories, it became imperative to repress their hos tile disposition, under the guaranty of the United States to afford adequate protection to the emigrating Indians. With the view of establishing pacific relations between these and other tribes, a general council was held under the auspices of Colonel Dodge and Major F. W. Arm» strong, which resulted in mutual engagements of peace and friendship, fortified by proper intimations on the part of those officers, in behalf of their Government, of support to the injured, and punishment to aggressors. The journal of proceedings is herewith communicated, and cannot fail, on perusal, to awaken much interest, and to excite emotions of the liveliest character.

At the general council above mentioned, impressive speeches were delivered by several chiefs of the Creek, Cherokee, Osage, and Choctaw tribes, which I feel bound to advert to in terms of the highest commendation. In their addresses to the warlike chiefs then assembled, they took occasion substantially to observe, that their people had opened their ears to the advice which had been given to them, and adopted the habits of the white man; and that, by so doing, they had become peaceful, prosperous, and happy; that they had relinquished the chase and cultivated the earth, and that by becoming agricultural they lived in peace and in the enjoyment of abundance; and that the same inestimable benefits would assuredly await all the tribes who would walk in the same path. Such counsel, from such a quarter, so well-timed, and so impressively urged, it is confidently believed, will be productive of substantial good, and is eminently calculated to make a deep and durable impression. The duties and services of the commissioners west being closed by the expiration of their commission, according to the provisions of the act under which they were appointed, it is proper and just to bear testimony to the ability and zeal manifested by them in the prosecution of their labors. Great benefit has resulted to the various tribes by virtue of their mission. Important treaties were concluded by them, existing divisions were healed, difficulties that threatened collision were settled, and a spirit of peace and conciliation was infused among the Indians through their instrumentality. Clothed with ample powers, the task assigned to them was exceedingly arduous, but, entertaining full confidence in the humane policy of the Government, and studying to promote the best interests of those confided to their care, they entered upon it with spirit, and acquitted them. selves with credit.

There is little mention to be made of Indian hostilities during the past year. They have been few, and those not of an aggravated nature. A steady and onward course is observable among the Indian tribes towards the grand point of civilization. Their long imputed in domitable. spirit of revenge, and their eager thirst for war, have undergone a sensible change in the process of meliorating circumstances. The happiest consequences may be anticipated from extending the means of tuition among their young people, from the introduction of mechanical arts into the different tribes, and from the increased attention bestowed on agricul tural pursuits under the patronage of Government throughout the territories of emigration, nor can the gratuitous but useful labors of the missionary, and the inculcation of the pure doctrines of Christianity, be overlooked in the enumeration of means that are conducing to the great end so precious in the sight of the philan thropist and so dear to the finest sympathies of our na. ture-the transformation from the cold and barren con. fines of savage life, to the sunny and fertile regions of civilization and religion. All which is respectfully sub. mitted. ELBERT HERRING.

To the Hon. LEWIS CASS,
Secretary of War.

23d CONG. 2d SESS.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Pension Office, November 7, 1834. SIR: I have the honor to transmit, herewith, statements marked from A to H, inclusive, showing the num. ber of persons now on the pension-rolls of the several States and Territories of the United States, under the various acts of Congress; the number added to the rolls since the last annual report; the number who have been reported as dead since that time; the number who have relinquished pensions under the act of March 18, 1818, and obtained the benefits of the act of June 7, 1832; and the amount of funds transmitted to the pension agents for paying stipends due the present year.

From the statement marked H, it would appear that the expenditure has exceeded three millions of dollars. A very painful duty devolves on me in making this report: I allude to the recent developments in several parts of our country, in which some of the most iniquitous transactions have been discovered to have been perpetrated by men of high standing in society, whose official stations and respectability placed them far above suspicion, and who have taken advantage of the good character they have sustained to practise some of the most daring frauds. In every fraudulent case which has come to the knowledge of this department, steps have been taken to punish the offenders. In some instances, prosecutions have been successful, and terminated in the confinement of the criminals in State prisons: in other cases, they have fled from justice. In every case where, on account of the solvency of the party, there was a prospect of recovering money improperly paid, a suit has been commenced.

It has been ascertained that papers have been presented at this department purporting to contain proof of revolutionary service, taken in open court, bearing the official seal of the clerk of the court, and duly certified by him, when, in fact, the persons in whose behalf the claims were made, never had any but an imaginary existence. In some instances, the claims have been admitted, and money has been paid; in other cases, money has been paid to a period after the time when the pensioners died; and this last-mentioned description of fraud was effected by means of falsifying the certificates of a clerk of a court of record. The person who made these false certificates was agent for a great number of claimants, and had free access to the seal of the court; the clerk, on one occasion, affixed his signature and seal to blanks, leaving them to be filled up as they might be required. These papers fell into the hands of this agent, and he used them for his own purposes. The judge of the court, the clerk, and the author of these forgeries, it would seem at the first blush, were all equally concerned in this nefarious business; but the two former, on being questioned in regard to the matter, frankly owned that they had such unlimited confidence in the integrity of the accused, that they never doubted any statement he made. The judge and clerk, on placing before them some of the papers above alluded to, admitted that they had never known such persons. It seems that this agent and the judge occupied the same room as an office; the clerk another room on the same floor, separated from theirs only by a narrow passage. In all instances the

agent drew up the declarations of the claimants, and after the applicants made oath to their declarations, they were laid aside. The agent, at particular periods, would go into the clerk's room with a bundle of papers, and get them authenticated at his pleasure. This shamefully negligent conduct of the officers of the court is ascribed to the great confidence which they reposed in the integrity of the agent. But it appears to me that such indifference as to the manner of discharging a high official trust betrays a want of proper qualifications for office, and is but little less reprehensible than if they had been accessaries in the agent's guilt.

To prevent a repetition of such fraudulent practices, the appointment of officers in each State and Territory, for the purpose of examining, in person, all pensioners, and applicants for pensions, I conceive to be indispensable. My experience for the last sixteen years has fully satisfied me that it is all-important that the most rigid scrutiny should be exercised, not only in the investigation of claims when originally presented here for adjudication, but in making payments after pensions are granted. As the officers or agents appointed to pay pensions cannot in general detect imposition, provided the vouchers are drawn up in conformity with established regulations, the duty of inquiring into the identity of the pensioner should devolve on some person or persons who can have an opportunity of examining each pen. sioner in the neighborhood where he resides. Unless some mode be adopted under the sanction of law for such examination, I know of nothing that this department can cause to be done that can form an effectual barrier to the continuance of frauds. The additional expenditure arising from the creation of such officers, should not, in my opinion, be considered an objection, as the amount saved by the services of such officers would not only far exceed, but probably double or quadruple the amount of their salaries.

The time for making applications for pensions on account of revolutionary service should, I think, be limited by law. And it would be proper that the names of all pensioners who fail to apply for their stipends for two years should be stricken from the roll: but this cannot be done without an act of Congress to authorize it.

The pension laws should, I think, be so amended as to probibit, under a heavy penalty, any officer who may administer an oath to a pensioner, or an applicant for a pension, or who may authenticate the papers of such a person, from being in any way interested in the claim.

Believing that it is sound policy, as well as humanity, to give a preference to those laws which prevent crime, rather than those which tend only to the punishment of the criminal, and that what I have suggested will not have the effect to debar any just claimant of his rights, but, on the contrary, to cause a more favorable decision, I cannot doubt but that every true friend of the soldier will coincide with me in the views I have taken, and give to these propositions his cordial assent, I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,