The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-16

ing been declined by the Globe, is forwarded for
insertion in the Madsonian:
SALT IN IOWA.
To THE EDITORS OF THE GLOBE:
The Clone, of Saturday evening, contains an ar,i-
Gle charging Governor Doty with having embraced
within the boundaries of the new Indian territory
:" the salt-lakes and salt mines of the Northw
Upon this charge you remark as follows:
at is a curious coincidence that Western salt
should have been twice TAKEN attempted to be Ia
ken, from the white people (who would manufacture
IT, and given to Indians who cannot) by the Federal
party, and both times by the Of Indian trea
~. The great salt formations west of Arkansas
where it exists both in springs and in the fossil state
were cut of from the Territory Of Arkansas during
Mr.. Adams administration, and given 10 the Chero-
KEGS; and now the Salt Lake and salt mines in the
Northwest 10 be included in the Indian terri
tory if the treaty is ratfed) above the Falls Of St.
Anthony"
Ii there is any measure connected with this Gov
eminent, in the discussion of which political feeling
should be laid aside is that which concerns our In
dian relations. The honor and the treasure OF the
country are deeply and seriously Involved in this
question and if any plan can be offered which, upon
deliberate examination will lie found TO contain good
Common sense reasons for relieving 1t will ultimately
establish oil the Indian tribes under our jurisdiction
peaceful border neg hbors then such plan or scheme
ought not 10 be discarded the ground of its being
projected by political opponent. The question Is
worthy of free and scrutinizing discussion; but it
should be conducted teInperately and unbiased by
party feeling Believing that you entertain the
opinion ask you insert this reply to the msrepre-
sentation contained in the article alluded to in your
paper.
The }" Salt Lake and mines spoken Of, as existing
in the northern part of Iowa. do not come within any
of the reservations made by Gov. Do,y's treaty, nor
within the boundaries embraced in the late purchase
from the Sioux. If you examine the evidence you
have yourself adduced, (Mr. Niccoet's map,)
completing by Lieutenant Fremont, who has explored
all that country, you will discover that there Is no
" salt lake or mines" within that purchase. Some
slight indications Of salt may have been discovered
in eervescences ON the prairies but no body Of salt
exists there. The salt region spoken Of by Messrs
Nicolet and Freemoat, upon which the salt lake was
discovered is range of latitude 49, tco degrees north
OF the northern boundary Of the contemplated Indian
territory 1t will be found in the waters of ebay
enne river and Devils lake. and the surrounding coun-
try is barren region, where white settlements cannot
exist.
The Globe says, they were cut of from the Terri
tory of Arkansas during Mr.. Adams administration,
and given to the Cherokees p Now, if you turn to
the treaties negotiated with these people, you will find
that this not the fact The project of removing the
Cherokees to tho west of the Mississippi, was con-
ceved as early as 1905 On the 9th day of January,
1909, President jefferson answered q petition Of
party of Cherokees, upon this subject, as follows;
The United States, my children, are the friends
OF both parties" &c. Those who wish to
remove are permitted to send exploring party to
connotre the country on the toatsrs Of the Arkdnsas
and Whits ripers, and the HIGHER UP, THE BETTER, as
they will be the longer unappoached by settlements,
which will begin the mouth ofthose rivers the next
step taken ia this matter was by General ANDREW
JACKSON, and other commissioners, who concluded a
treaty with the Cherokees at the agency, on the 9Th
day of July, 1917. By this treaty an exchange Of
lands is commenced with these people, predicated upon
the former promise to give them permanent home
west of tho Mississippi river" The 9th article pro-
selves in exchange for the lands coded in the first and
second articles hereof to to that part of the Cher
okee nation on the Arkansas, as much land on said
river and hte river they have, or may hereafter
receive from the Cherokee nation east Of the Mlsss-
sippi acre for acre." The article also fixes the
boundaries of the lands thus coded to the Cherokses
and which, if they had not since been altered would
have greatly reduced the territorial limits of the pre-
sent State of Arkansas. .s..@....
Gen. Jackson's treaty was ratified on the Goth De-
cember, 1877, and in March, 1918, TALK was made
by President MoNRoE to the Cherokee deputaton OF
Arkansas then visit at the seat Of Government,
from which mako the following extracts:
"My friends and children. am very glad to see
you. When we face TO face, We can understand
the wishes and intentions Of each other without any
danger of mistake. The country which
YOU give I'D 10 good country and il il and con-
toward YOU and endeavor to make you happy in your
new homes the Arkansas. I hare not yet OBJ
tanned the lands lying that riDer to the icest Of your
settlement. will give instructions to Gov Clark to
hold treaty with the Quapaws this summer in
order TO purchase them, and when purchased ,aoiA
direct them TO belaid off for you. 1t is my wish that
you should hare limits to the West that you may
have good mill seats plenty of game and not be sur
rounded By the phites."
The above talk was communicated to Gov. M'Minn,
Cherokee agent, by Mr. CALHOUN, Secretary of Wa,
March 10Th, 1918, and number of copies were
printed and circulated through the Cherokee country
Mr.. Calhoun commences his letter to the agent, thus
his day the Arkansas Delegation propose to leave
Washington their return. trust that the recep.
ton they have met with will be found calculated to
have most favorable effect on the great object which
the Cover nment has in view that of removing the
Cherokee nation to the West of the Mississippi, |
which in its probable effects i0iH lead ultimatelyo the
removal Of the Creeks. c"iehasa1cs and Chocta1os."
In 1921, the Cherokees complained to rho Secretary
of Warthat the promise made to them by the Presi
dent as above quoted) "that they should have a
country with no limits to tho VEST" had not been
complied with and that white people were settling up
on their lands. Mr. Calhoun replied to the Cherokee
Chiefs by letter. dated 9th October 1921 in which ne
go II has always been the intention OF Govern
ment 10 carry into effect fully every promise made to
YOU. and which was under the impression had been
done particularly upon the points complained Of as
orders were issued time since for the remova OF
the whites from your Iands, ana Jrom to "u..
country to the West Of your reserpafion and ny which
YOU would obtain the outlet promised" IT
Is 10 be always understood that in removing the white
settlers from Lovebys purchase for the purpose OF
giving the outlet promised you to the West you &C
9uire thereby no rghtto the soil, but merely to an
out let of which you appear TO be already apPrzed
and that the Government reserves to itself the rght
Of making such disposition as it may think proper
with regard to the salt springs upon that tract OF
country"
Ihavs now clearly shewn from Government records,
that the organization Of Indian territory west Of
the Mississippi was commenced in 1877, in pursuance
of > promise made in 1901 That in 1918, President
Monroe, pledged the Chcrokees protection against the
settlement Of white people upon any land within the
limits of the United States psst Of their rsserDdion.
And in 1921, Mr.. Calhoun expressly refers To the
saitsprings supposed to be upon the outlet given to
the Cherokces nest of the Reservation which was to
be set apart their permanent homes" .u