Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-19
THE CHiCKASAW CHARGE.
To The Editors Of The ETnDE-f,y9 9r1,,s

III
NASHVILLE, July II, 1928.
Stf: In the supplement OF Mr.. Claws address
10 the public, published in December last is a
letter TO him from MIR. Z. S. Todd OF your State.
supporting TO relate conversation between the
late Governor Shelby and Mr.. Clay, in July 1924
upon the subject OF the Chckasaw treaty. in ISIS
MIR. Todd observes in his letter 10 Mr.. Clay: ..In
appropriate connection with the preceding nara
i've, can state the substance of a conversation of
like tendency, had between yourself aud our ven
Grated friend, The iate Governor Shelby, at hi. re-
sidence, as early as the month OF July 1924 He
commenced the conversation by asking wha, YOU
thought OF the prospects OF General Jack son in the
approaching election? You replied by stating that
sYou did not believe he would be elected and spoke
freely and fully Of his conduct and qualifications
very much III the manner you had treated of them
an your public speeches--that YOU did not exoecf
erom him, or his councillors, any friendly feeling
toward Kentucky, or the great western Interests
which she had so prominently supported; and that
tyou had strong apprehensions his administration
would be reign OF fury and turbulence. Gov
Shelby then remarked, that he concurred entirely
IN these views, and proceeded TO communicate TO
YOU what ne had never mentioned out OF the cir
Gle OF his immediate family, the great change eff
iected In his mind towards Gen Jackson by his
conduct at the Chckasaw treaty in 1918; that the
high estimation in which he had heretofore re-
garded the temper, the discretion, ju.r 40. T. and
dis'nfcTested patriotism OF Gen Jackson, mad
been greatly lessened by his conduct on ti,at oc-
caSon. He said, his rash hot-he19ed tsupe,
if it had not been restrained you'd have cost the
nation double the sum for which the land was nj
tinately purchased; aud he had so permitted the
integrity OF his principles to be the dupe OF an in
trtgue as to propose, behalf OF his personal
friends then present, 10 secure for them a reser
vaon OF the Big Spring, and valuable tract of
land around II. To this proposition he Governor
Shelby, opposed an indignant refusal, but at
length consented to its partial adoption, with the
understanding that the government should have
the redemption right at the price stipulated He
accordingly caused the necessary information TO
be transmitted to the President, who pronp,Iv
accepted the reservation on behalf OF the govern
Inent.
have no hesitation in SAYING, that The account
here given IN relation TO the transactions of the
Chickasaw treaty OF 1915 is greatly erroneous
was present when that treaty was made and have
perhaps, as accurate knowledge of what was done
or proposed TO be done, as any other person OH the
ground, not even excepting the commissioners
ieeI myself July authorised III saying that either
Governor Seelby's recollection mus, have entirely
failed him,cr that his remarks have been incorreci.
iy reported. l have in my possession dunIicste
of the secret and confidential Journal of the pro
ceedings OF the commissioners, in the hand writing
OF their Secretary, Col. Robert Butler and will ev
tlact so much as relates TO the proceedings of the
60 Big Spring reservation, i'm order In sbotv tta,
nothing unfair or selfish could have been attempfed
The Journal says: " The reservation made by the
treaty OF September 1916, to George and Levi
Colbert, was proposed 10 be given in fee simple
and that conveyance would be taken for The s,t,o
Tor the benefit Of the government if the Executive
chose TO accept IL; that it should be made 10 an in
dividul, and placed in my hands, as an escro,o
until the option Of the government was had The
sum proposed for these reservations was in the first
Instance, $4,000; but would not be heard The
c0ntdenfidi agent was then instructed 10 offer
$l7,0OO, which made them listen" &c. The com
ins5ioners finally offered them $4,000. which
they agreed TO take.
When inform yon that the confidential AGENT
alluded TO in the extract above was myself vou
must be satisfied that no one on the freaty-eroynd
could have had better opportunity of knowing
The nature Of the propositions which were submit
ted, or proposed 10 be submitted 20 the CoIberfs
for their reservations and do aver that no other
arrangement th1n The recorded in the secret
Journal, was ever proposed, or, far as I know
ever contemplated by either Of the commissioners
Ut was believed that the possibility even, Of max.
tng treaty, depended upon the purchase Of those
reservations. The plan originated with General
jackson, and believe he communicated his views
10 me before he consulted Gov Shelby upon the
subject. The General ob. orycd 10 rue tI,t the
commissioners were not authorised by the govern.
ment 10 purchase those reservations: but fbat he
thought il might be done by Introducing clause
into the treaty, should one be made, authorship
tls Indians TO sell 10 an individual. and the 90
vefnmcnt could either sanction it on not. Wien IL
should be Laid before them for ratification This
arrangement wds proposed not lof the purpose Of
benehtting pcrs0n0tJriends, " then present. >" but
70 enable the commissioners with more certainty
90 accomplish The obiscisof Tie government. The