Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-08-11


The RED Mes AND THE PAIy F.ors
The following article from the N. York
American, is well calculated 10 produrc
fehect'on. With such reports of wrong
ana outrage" well might the soul turn
SICK II such resorts are had to obtain the
valued and coveted Indian reservations
oil may still regret, but who can wonder
al Indian hostilties
WARS WITH THE INDIANS have ever. we
lear. had too near connexions with frauds
upon He Indians and the chanier or
wrongs inflicted by the white christian
man, upon the ignorant savages. i. one
mat this nation must, in the course Of
providence, one day expiate.
VI this long and bloody chapter. VIC fear
that .be recent hostiIities with the creek.
VIII constitute dark page-proyokcd. a,
there is too much ground TO believe. these
hosillltles were by the frauds of the white
man.
The Indian was first robbed Of bis land,
ana then goaded into desperate vengeance
10 ihe hope that war might be the result,
and that II would sweep away the witness
and the evidence Of the enormous oppres.
slons which occasioned il.
lake this simple statement, given sub
stanllally by one recently from the scene.
conVersant with the facts, and acquainted
win individuals concernedin the purchase,
Ihe U. ,. Commissioners for negotia
ting with the Greeks, the surrender of
their lands and the terms of their emiora
ton beyond the Mississippi, in order 10
INDUCE the ChleIs TO favor the project.
gave them reservations of aIilc, or half
mile, or two miles square, which they
would be at liberty TO dispose of, or hold.
as they pleased and with this apparently
sale provision against their being defraud.
ed, that II at any time they determined to
sell, the deed. should be signed and record
ed in the presence OF the United States
Indian Agent.
Thus bribed with their own rich lands.
the Chiefs d'i lend themselves 10 the views
oil the Commissioners, and a treaty WAS
formed.
Then was opened the field of specula
ton upon these reservations. 1t was soon
ascertained, however. that at any rate the
more ssgaclous Chieh would NOT sell
What then The marks and boundarie.
ofthelr reservations we're obtained-exact
descriptions OF them made out, the whole
put into the form ola deed, and then some
wretched and degraded Indian was hired
TO perSonate The o,cner Of The particular se.
seroatlon; and when duly tulored and
prepared to answer the questions that
would be put to him at the agency, the ia :
'oraole moment Of taking him there wa.
Wa'chec-ei'heT when, from the press Of
business. things might be hurried over. OF
Wheh any person IN the office likely 10
Distinguish between the real chief and the
Imposter was absent. The white man nre.
sents his deed. the drilled Indian ackno,v
ieu6es u as his, states the consideration
received Tor 1t, answers ghbly the usual
questions, makes his mark, the deed is re-
corded, The imposter is turned of with
perhaps i've dollars and gallon of viii,
KEY, and the triumphant white man saIlies
iolIh' bis fraud accomplished.
lie next step is TO enforce this deed
ssa'"s.'he unsuspectlng and bona fde own
er oi ,he iand. The process is easy. One
specu'"'of exchanges VITA another. for
even sueh men have not the hardihood 10
meet race 10 lace the individual thew have
cheated or puts his deed in the market
uniil II Tails INTO hands that nau NOT havs
participated in the wrong Tie reserva
lion IS sought out, and the Indian owne,
being found in occupancy is unceremoni
ously ordered TO quit Astonished. be
pleads that the land i: bis, that there mus
be some mistake. The forged deed j,
heid up 10 him; and TO all his protestation,
na' u is forgery, the laugh Of scofn, anl
inc threat oil instant and violent expulsion