of the District of Columbia where the decision in the lower courts was upheld on December 4, 1901, by Chief Justice Alvey. Finally, Springer, now aided by attorney Hampton Carson who was hired by the Indian Rights Association, appealed to the United States Supreme Court and where once again he was unsuccessful in his appeal. On January 5, 1903, in a unanimous decision, the Court affirmed the Court of Appeals and upheld the Congressional action. The Court rejected the Indians' argument that Congress' action was a taking under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Justice Edward D. White described the Indians as the wards of the nation and matters involving Indian lands were the sole jurisdiction of Congress. Congress, therefore, had the power to abrogate the provisions of an Indian treaty, including the two million acre change. Justice John M. Harlan concurred in the judgment. This case maintained that the federal government had always had plenary power over tribes and could unilaterally abrogate Indian treaty rights despite the protests of the tribes. Springer unsuccessfully challenged the federal income tax levied during the Civil War in the case of Springer v. United States. William Springer died from pneumonia at his home in Washington D.C. on December 4, 1903. He was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. References External links Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives Illinois lawyers Illinois College alumni Indiana University alumni Indian Territory judges Politicians from Jacksonville, Illinois Politicians from Springfield, Illinois United States federal judges appointed by Grover Cleveland 19th-century American judges 1836 births 1903 deaths Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois 19th-century American politicians