Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-09-08
DOMESTIC NEWS.
TIE CHOCTAWS.

j
We have conversed with a gentleman OF
intelligence, who has Just returned from a
tourney through the Choctaw country, and
through him we arc enabled 10 lay before
our readers the following Information;
The Choctaw nation was heretofore d.
yided into three districts, the government
If each of which was confined TO an cleo
i've Chief But some 3 or months since,
two of the Chiefs resigned, and Leaoor
was elected Chief Of the whole nation.
Mushelatuby was extremely dissatisfied
with the consolidated government or
with the chief placed at its head, and ne
determined to "nullfy" The election at
least in part Inpursuance OF tins scheme
he WIS appointed Chief Of one OF the dis
tricls. and assumed the powers OF that Of
fee. m defiance Of the superior authority
of Lef5of. and of the Sovereignty OF the
State of Mississippi The State wInked
nj the uespass. But Eefoor was more
Jealous of ms power He "could not brar
- rival near the throne" Last month,
(July.) me collected six or seven hundred
warriors, and marched against Mushela-
nby. But the latter and his friend, the
black water chief were able 10 muster a.
bout an equal number of warriors TO oP
pose hlm. The parties met, but neither
was guilty ofany further act Of hostility.
Peace was agreed upoa between the rya'
chiefs. and they separated on terms of
friendship We believe II was stipulated
that Mushelatuby should continue 10 hold
the Office OF district chief, if his appoint
ment should be confirmed by a re.elcc-
ton.
The whole nation is represented as u.
unanimously cOncurring in the desire to
sell their lands, and remove west Of the
Mississippi 4 messenger, Maj. Don.
nelly, has been sent TO the nation by the
President, to request the Chiefs to meet
him at Nashville for the purpose Of hold
ing a talk. The Chiefs betray great a.
version TO this measure. They would
gladly escape the responsibility If they
ecu They arc anxious that any treaty,
which maybe entered into, should be made
in the presence Of their people, and meet
with their concurrence on the spot. The
Indians are known to be as versatile no
their notions as their n2!ghbors the whites.
And with the Indians, a change Of oPIn-
ion. in regard to public affairs, IS APT to be
attended with consequences much more
disastrous to the leader than among their
civilized neighbors. In the one case char
acter only IS lost, in the other, sometimes
life. For this or some other reason the
Chiefs at first refused to attend the PresI-
dent at Nashville But Intelligence had
been received that Cholbert. the Chicka-
saw Chief, had accepted like invitation
given by the President. Upon which
Mai. Donnelly and the interpreter, Col.
Pitchlin. renewed their solicitations to the
Choctaw Chiefs. and our informant states,
no doubt was entertained Of their final sue
cess
BUTT may be asked, What authority
have the Chiefs toenter into a treaty! The
political bonds by which the Indians were
formerly united, are dissolved, their Gus
toms and laws abrogaied and the allegiance
whichthey owed to their councils or Chiefs,
transferred to the State of Mississippi
They cannot legally be subject at one and
the same time, to SaUagC customs and Gle.
liked legislation Ifthey arc citizens Of
Mississippi, their chiefs and their councils
can have no authority, their acts would be
void, and their truntieS d mere nulity.
TIcksJwg Reg. .Aug. y.