Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-01
CHOCTAW TREATY.

--oe. w oo-Wu
CHOCTAW TREATY.
The Senate have confirmed the Choctaw Treaty.
The Injunction OF secrecy having been removed, we
are enabled to lay before readers the To-
teresng particulars in relation to the subject.
QUERIES addressed to General William Clark, Su.
peiintendent OF Indian Ah,rs at st Louis, 10 Mis-
souri,, by the Sena,e's Committee on Indian Affairs,
with his answers thereto.
Question 1. Are you Superintendent Of Indian Al.
far- al ST. Louisl
-7nstcer-I am
Question 2. How long have you been familiar with
the Indian tribes Of the West!
.9nstcer-Snce was q boy when seventeen or
eighteen years OF age, engaged in the combats
aud skirmishes between the so tiers of kentucky and
the Indians ln the year 1890 or 1891 was officer
IN Generals Scots and wilkins camp iigns aud after
wards served under General Wayne. I was in the
Chickassw nation 10 1894, sent on a mission under
President Washing ton. with talks" aud presents
On my return, detachment of Chckasaws accompa-
ME d me to General Waynes army, and large party
OF Choctaws followed Afterwards and joined the Chick.
ssaws at Greenviile.
Since my return from the Pacific Ocean io 1905
have almost constantly been charged with the conduct
Ut Indian Affairs the Upper Mississippi, Missouri,
&c, either as Agent, Governor, Coumissioner or SUI
perin'endsnt Of Indian Affairs.
Question g. Have the Indians Fact of the Mis,ssip
pr shown adisposon to eDgrate TO the West IT thar
iven II so since how long, and what tribes' and wha,
proper ton Of the tribes have emigratedi
-dnstceT-They have shown a strong disposition to
emisrate TO the West Of the Mississippi They bel an
TO emgra's before my kaowledgs Of Them need.
went TO St Louis In 1903; and ftom 1907 when 1
appointed Brigadier General Of the militia OF Uu
per Louisiana, and charged with the agency OF Iudan
AHnrs Ia that Territory and the greater part of lii
/ nos, II became my duty 10 make myself scnnaini.d
with Indian Affairs. Before thai tim O. and under the
Spanish Government. the emigralons had CONNIE ced
portion OF the Cherokees were settled on the ST
Francis river Some Muscoes, as they we're called
probably Mseogees, (Creeks) we're scattered In the
swamps bstween the Mississippi and ST. Francis rivers
a band OF Delawares were settled on Apple river: a
large baud OF Shawnees In Cape Grerdsau county: an.
other band OF the same, called Rogers band were set.
tied near Forisan,. kick,pOo Chief aud his party
were in prairie below Portage Sioux Some
Choc,aws were 10 the South, on the waters of Red
river. The Piankeshaw tribe emigraed soon after the
commencement OF the late war; and settled on the Mis-
and Cohokias, were found at ST Gsnevisve in 1898
when hrst visited that place Since the late war.
the Weas, the greater portion Of the Delaware nation
and parts Of the Munsees aud Senacas TRIBES and a
great part Of the Kickapoos, Of Illinois, have emiyra,
ed also many families aud individuals belopsny %
tribes that had previously emigrated; great many
Of the Winnsbagoes. They have been smigratios
every year. My accounts 10 the War Office will
show the number and tho tribe, as through my super.
intendeney their forages the Mis- is,ppi was
paid, and provisions supplied them.
Question d Do you thlpk the East the West OF
the Mississippi the desirable residence for The 10
dams at present. and IL the West, your reasons for
thinking So!
anstOer-At present think the West of the Mis-.
is,ipP the most desirable rssidence TOR the Indians
aud know that many OF their principal leaders tbink
20 like wise; for thsy have told me So and some n
them have applied to obtain exchanges Of Lands
that they might remove West. think II the bes
country for them, because believe be well
ed to Indian life, and free from the pressure of wb,s
population which has, with few exceptions, been ths
cause OF the rapid decline OF OF the Indian tribes
and believe that the country West of the Misis-
sippi may be apportioned so 10 afford permansn,
home to all the tribes East of that river and ensb.
our Government to better their condition by giving
them individual lights in soil, aud ssisiauce
they all requife) in removing, settling and prols
them IN their parsons aud properly.
Question 8. Have You hal any hand in promoting
the policy OF removing the Indians to the Wesp and
| II go, state the part you have acted.
.fustoer-I have understood IL was Mr. Jefferson,
policy to the eastern Indian of the Mis-
sssiPp and have aided that policy in several ways
About 1924, under Mr.. Honroes administration sen,
map and plan TO OF the Senators from Missouri
(Cel. Benton,) then Chairman Of the Committee ON In
dian Affairs in the Senate, containing my views the
subject, and recommending that large district of coun
try should be purchased from the Kansas and Osages
of Missouri and Arkansas and divided into suita,
bic districts for permanent homes to all the eastern In
dans, and they removed to 1t by the aid OF hs United
States, and with their consent About the end of
Mr. Monroe's administration, deputat on Of Sha wnees
Weas, Piankeshaws, &c. to Washington to SO.
licit home these terms and accordingly early in
tho administration Of MIR. Adams jr was authorized
to effect II. To do that had make purchase from
the oages and Kansas and then bought the great dis.
trict OF country, supposed to contain seventy millions of
acres Of land which the Indians are now renewing
The purchase that extent made without express
authority; but my reasons for doing have explained
correspondence WIN department. OF War.
1925, to which refer.
The purchase was approved by the Executive. and
the treaty edeciDg II ratified by the Senate Sine
then, have considered II ss Indian country spp,o,ri
sed to the permanent residence OF the emigrstins
tribes.
G2LesiiOn 6--Do you know Mr.. August p. Cboa,ssg,
and would you rely implicitly upon his statements,
gfnswer--I know Mr.. Choute au, and bav. knou,
him from his youth be born In ST. Louis Of one nj
the most respectable families IN upper Louisiana and
hass residences near my own. He IL trader to large
amount on the Arkansas. I would rely implicitly on
his sia,ements and place great confidence in his iudg
men Of indian sffrs, SHOWING him to be well ibfsrG
ID on the subject.
WM. CLARK
Hon. Mr. BENroN, u. 8. Senate
Washington Cny, Fet. 18Th, 1881
ousrIss pot to Gen J. Campbell, &c.