Mr. DOOLITTLE. The amount estimated for by the Dept was over $700,000. The amount whie was actually expended when the question was presented to the ComIndAffrs was $385,000, and the estimates for the expenditures up to the list of August were over $700,000. Our committee, after very long and patient investiation into this matter, bringing before us it] the agents of these tribes, an the SecyInterior himself also coming before the committee to impart any information that had come to his knowledge and the ComrIndAff, became satisfied that, so far as the money which had been expended was concerned, we must make the appropriation; and as to the condition of the ndians, we were fully satisfied that some further appropriation was necessary to keep them from actual starvation. We have cut the thing down, as I think, to the very lowest oint, so far as any future or additional expenditure is to be made, that we can do without suffering these people to starve upon our hands. If the Senate will give me their attention I can state the facts in this case in a single moment. When the war commenced the southern Indians joined the rebellion, with about 1/2 the Creeks and a 3rd or more of the Choctaws, and drove the loyal Indians, as they were called, out of the country, in the depth of winter, into Kansas, to the number of about 20,000. Their presence in the State of Kansas have continual dissatisfaction to the people of Kansas, and we were constantly pressed to pass a law to compel the Interior dept to remove those Indians out of the State of Kansas into the Indian country. At last Congress passed an act which directed the SecyInterior to remove thee Indians from the State of Kansas back to their homes. This was undertaken. When they were removed back to their homes, the long and short of the whole story is, there was nothing upon which they could live except some few cattle that were found in the country. Some of them have not reached their homes yet. Complaints have been made that the thing has not been managed with as much wisdom as it might have been. Perhaps those complaints are well founded; but.whether it has been man aged with the discretion that it ought to have been or not, the truth is the Indians were there; the Indians were upon our hands; the Indians were almost in a state of absolute starvation; and the Government has never fed them any too well. It has cost no lai e sums of money, it is true. We confiscated tiiie annuities of the Choctaws and all the Indians of the Indian country, and used that money to aid in supporting them. In addition to that, we have can compelledto expend large sums of money out of the Treasury. Let me say to my honorable friendfrom Ohio that the result to which our committee came, after the fullest exami nation, was, that we would favor this appropriation of half a million dollars, and that it should be the last. Most of the Indians are now at their homes, and we are making or rsngements and treaties with them, and now they must take care of themselves. They can do it. These Indians, in comparison with other Indians, are civilized; and with the assistance we have given them, and the cro s growing this year, the will be able to live. That is the real truth. hope my honorable friends from Ohio and Maine will not resist this appropriation, for it is an appropriation to which we must come at the net. The money has been expended, and it must be paid.