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The Indian as Slaveholder and Secessionist

longing outside the Leased District was designated, "Treaty with the Comanches of the Prairies and Staked Plain."

The negotiation of the remaining treaties of the Pike series came as an immediate effect of Confederate military successes and belongs, in its description, to the next chapter. It is proper now to return to a consideration of the work of the Confederate Congress, in so far, at least, as that work had a bearing upon the alliance with the tribes. On the twenty-eighth of August, Hugh F. Thomason of Arkansas, offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be instructed to inquire whether any, and if so what, treaties have been made with any of the Indian tribes, and if so, with which of them; and whether any, and if so, what legislation is necessary in consequence thereof; and that they have leave to report at such time and in such manner as to them shall seem proper.[1]

There the matter rested until after the whole series of treaties had been completed which was in ample time for President Davis to submit[2] Pike's report[3] and the tangible evidence of his successful work to the Provisional Congress at its winter session.

President Davis's message of December 12, 1861, transmitting the Pike treaties to the Provisional Congress, summarized their merits and their defects and gave direction to the consideration and discussion that ended in their ratification. It called particular attention to the pecuniary obligations[4] assumed and to the

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  1. Journal, vol. i, 565.
  2. Message of Dec. 12, 1861 [Richardson, op. cit., vol. i, 149-151; Official Register, fourth ser., vol. i, 785-786].
  3. This report I have been unable to find.
  4. The pecuniary obligations of these treaties are of great importance. Apart from the annuities secured to them by former treaties, and which we are to assume by those now submitted, these tribes have large permanent funds in the hands of the Government of the United States as