The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-18
Communications.
soUTHwEsTERN INDIANS.
TnuasDAY, August 70, lo1i.

Il
ency has honored during the LAS four mouths ms
condition Of Indian Affairs Southwestern non
tier has been the subject Of repeated and proiongec
conversation. The deep and active interest which
you in those conversations have manifested in thess
matters involved in the prosperity of my section o.
country, and the intelligent reflective benevolencs
which you evince in your designs for the adjustment
OF existing difficulties between the white and red men
and in the permanent veal of both races, have eIc,
ed IN me the highest confidence that under your aus
pieces these veIed questions will be finally adjusted
and peace and prosperity reign our borders Ihi'
confidence have already communicated to my fellow
citizens at home; and their eyes are now turned 70
you, in earnest expectation Of these happy results
Al our last interview about two weeks since, you
pleased TO request present in writing state
ment Of such facts important to the settlement Of our
Indian relaiions, as my peculiar opportunities may
have put into my possession. The whole subject i
vast beyond the scope Of your present leisure and OF
my immediate design Ii would require the space OF
volumes to present the practical results Of my twenty
years research and experience among those tribes with
whom our relations becoming hourly more compll-
Gated and shall take other occasions, under you
future commands, for the presentation Of the great
Of supreme and immediately urgent Importance on
which shall present condensed statement of facts
necessary to the adjustment of existing dficuiies-
These are-our relations to the SEhIlNOLES and TO
the CHEROKEES
l. As to the Seminoles:
Our present difficulties with this tribe date from the
treaty made with them in March 1888, al Fort Glib
son, by Mountford Stokes, Henry L. Ellsworth, and
John +. Schermerhorn Commissioners the part Of
the United States for that purpose
In this treaty, the Commissioners declare on the
faith Of the United States that they do hereby de-
signale and assign 10 the Seminole tribe of Indians
for their SEPARATE and future residence FOREVER,
tract of country lying between the Canadian river
and the North Fork thereof, and extending West TO
where line running North and South between the
main Canadian and North branch will strike the forks
Of Little river; prorided said West line does not
tend than twenty-five miles West from the
mouth Of said Little river" have here transcribed
the words of the treaty This treaty having been rati
fed, and efforts being made TO effect the removal
of the Indians from Florida under it, in 1884,
snail portion Of the Seminoles removed and took pos
session Of their country. A short time after the
great body Of the Creeks removed also to the West
and feud existed between the two great factions
Of that nation, which made it desirable TO separate
their locations for time, General Arbuckie (then in
command that fron,icr) gave permission to Aypo-
hoihola the chief Of the strongest Creek faction
remove from the neighborhood Of the Mcintosh fac
ton, and settle on the lands Of The Seninofes, then
mostly unoccuped. The number Of the Creeks thus
ntruding the Seminole territory was no, less than
IL 900
Now, what made this now location particularly
fortunate was that the Greeks and the Seminoes in
their ancient Eastern territories always hostile to
each other; nor had their removal and their common
suferings obterated their hereditary and invetcrate
enmi,y, which will certainly riren into bloody war,
if they not separated there,
The Seminole territory having become in this man
ner permanently occupied by the Creek 'squaters'
the little band Of Seminoes who had previously been
located there remained disco ntcnted and annoyed
Under these circumstances it was, that in September
last Captain Page, (of the U. s. Army, and Captain
Armstrong, Qhe Superintendent of Indian Affairs on
the Arkansas fron,ier,) were appointed by President
Van Buren,, commissioners 10 collect and bring to
Florida delegation of the Seminoles in the West
with view, through their influence and representa-
tons to induce their hostile brethren to submit and
remove TO their new country. These commissioners
accordingly held council at Fort Gibson, with the
Seminole chiefs and proposed to them go to Fiori
da and invite their former associates to return with
them. The Seminole chiefs refused to accompany
the commissioners to Florida. They Indignantly de-
clared that the Government had deceived them and
that they had no lands-no country Their high
chief the famous Micanopy, said, in eloquent reply
to the commissioners request, 4" We have not here
tree to shade us, nor foot Of ground to bury our
dead Give us the land you promised us and we will
then go to Florida, and our people there will remove
here, for they are tired Of war" Captain Page how
ever, managed to obtain delegation of Seminoles
who went with him 10 Florida. Through their means
aided by his promises, he induced number of the
Florida Seminoes to remove West On their ARR.
val at Fort Gibson this year they complained of hav-
ing no country, and refused go among the Creeks
who had intruded upon their allotted territory They
sncamped soon after part of the Cherokee terri
tory, where they now remain, to the great and grow
ing dissatisfaction Of the Cherokees In this statement
you will perceive how small and how easily obyated
is the only prominent difficulty in the way of the
final settlement of the famous, or rather Infamous
FLORIDA WAR; which has " swallowed SO much trea
sure so much blood--a war whose victories could
never yield US honor though its ruinous defeats have
brought upon us double disgrace. That war with its
prof'less expenditure of 900, nigh, long ago
have been ended, without the shedding Of another
drop OF blood on either side had our engage
menis to the Sen,inoles in the West been hon
es,ly fulfilled. And even now it is not too late
to save our coun,ry's honor, her blood, and her
treasure from e1avagant and hopeless sacrifices tha
may otherwise be long continued. How slight is the
exertioD, not of generosity not Of sagacty hut of