Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-09-27
From the National Intelligencel.

Messrs. Gales and Seaton: Not long
ago, citizen of Alabama, whist on visit
to this city, gave me very distressing &C.
count of some of the frauds practised by
wicked white men to obtain the Indian re.
servations. Some were frightened from
their lands, and, fearing to return, would
sell for trihe. False accounts were
raised against others, who. to avoid the
jail, would convey their lands for nothing.
Others would be made drunk, and, whilst
in that condition, be Induced to convey
valuable tracts for rifle, or some other ar
ticle of no greater value, &c. &c. And so
anxious are the whites to divest the Indians
by any means, ofthe whole of their posses
sions, that title thus acquired is consider.
ed as valid as if it had been obtained by a
fair and bona fde bargain and sale, and
for valuable and equitable consldera-
tion.
The following extract from letter OF a
friend of mine, now in Mississippi, is far.
ther illustration of the distress to which
these wretched people are reduced, by this
wicked and abominabe system Of frauds:
GA Choctow Indian by the name OF
Red Pepper, who had reservation, went
to the house Of Grant Lincecum, white
man, who has been living among the lndl.
ans for many years, and who told me the
story, and told him that the white man had
cheated him out of his land, and that he
was about o be driven from his home
the home of his father, and his fathers
father. That, in consequence, ne was
miserable ; that his heart was sick, and ne
intended to die. He requested Lincecum
to attend to his affairs when he should be
no more--to pay his debts, &C.; and for
that purpose gave him authority over his
effects. He then took leave of him, return
ed homo, and shot himself.
Another, in the Augusta District, had
reservation Of land-it was an old home
stead. He had been repeatedly applied to
by white men, but would not sell. His
claim, by some oversight, was not marked
on the maps in the Land Office, or, it
marked had been erased. This home was
entered by speculator. A short while
back the mau who entered it went to
the place, and told the Indian the
land was entered, and he must leave
il. After the man had retired, the In
dian called his wife, and told her of anoth.
er instance ofthe white mans oppression.
He told her that he was too old to hunt tor
their support-.oo old to 60 West; that
thew had better die. 1t was agreed to.
He arranged his wife and three children IN
n row. and called in his brother.in-law, Ia
white man, and told him Of his designs,
and wished him to witness their execution,
and to tell, afterwards, what he had wit
messed, and the causes that led to 1t. he
then, with tomahawk, split the heads, sue.
cessiively, of his wife and children, and
stabbed himself. These are facts. The
Door d-s have been much wronged +;
not by the Government but by spectators.
They have dared to violate every principle
of humanity and honest dealing, and have
made large fortunes Will the Great
Spirit suffer it to benefit them! A rascal
ventured to hint to me how advantageous 1t
might be to me if would aid and abet him
in his fraudulent schemes"
The above extract is from gentleman
whom we'll know. The Government
does well to repose confidence In h'm.
Neither the United States nor the Indians
will ever suffer where he has power to pre-
vent it.
Yours, &c. b.