THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 517 



the buffalo has grown more and more confined year after year ; that 

 they have been driven westward before advancing civilization." But he 

 opposed the bill! 



Mr. Hawley, of Connecticut, said : u I am glad to see this bill. I am 

 in favor of this law, and hope it will pass." 



Mr. Lowe favored the bill, and thought that the buffalo ought to be 

 protected for proper utility. 



Mr. Cobb thought they ought to be protected for the settlers, who 

 depended partly on them for food. 



Mr. Parker, of Missouri, intimated that the policy of the Secretary of 

 the Interior was a sound one, and that the buffaloes ought to be ex- 

 terminated, to prevent difficulties in civilizing the Indians. 



Said Mr. Conger, "Ido not think the measure will tend at all to pro- 

 tect the buffalo." 



Mr. McCormick replied : " This bill will not prevent the killing of 

 buffaloes for any useful purpose, but only their wanton destruction." 



Mr. Kasson said: " I wish to say one word in support of this bill, 

 because I have had some experience as to the manner in which these 

 buffaloes are treated by hunters. The buffalo is a creature of vast 

 utility, * * * . This animal ought to be protected ;***." 



The question being taken on the passage of the bill, there were — ayes 

 132, noes not counted. 



So the bill was passed. 



On June 23, 1874, this bill (H. R, 921) came up in the Senate.* 



Mr. Harvey moved, as an amendment, to strike out the words "who 

 is not an Indian." 



Said Mr. Hitchcock, "That will defeat the bill." 



Mr. Frelinghuysen said : " That would prevent the Indians from kill- 

 ing the buffalo on their own ground. I object to the bill." 



Mr. Sargent said : " I think we can pass the bill in the right shape 

 without objection. Let us take it up. It is a very important one." 



Mr. Frelinghuysen withdrew his objection. 



Mr. Harvey thought it was a very important bill, and withdrew his 

 amendment. 



The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to a third reading, read 

 the third time, and passed. It went to President Grant for signature, 

 and expired in his hands at the adjournment of that session of Con- 

 gress. 



On February 2, 1874, Mr. Fort introduced a bill (H. R. 1689) to tax 

 buffalo hides; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 

 Means. 



On June 10, 1874, Mr. Dawes, from the Committee on Ways and 

 Means, reported back the bill adversely, and moved that it be laid ou 

 the table. 



* Congressional Globe, Vol. 2, part 6, Forty-third Congress, first session. 



