Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-07-29
HEAD QUARTERS, FoRr GIBSON, July l3,
ORDER No. 1913.

I. The Agent of the Cherokee Nation rcpo,A
that there sis, in this vicinity, many gambleQT
who have no other occupation; that there are N
number of whites in the Cherokee Nation, with
out authority, most of thom of notoriously b1s
habits, idle, loafing characters who come in c<3
lision with the Indians" The Cher okees hal
power to make their own laws; and, whilo thu 4
omit to make and to enforce such as arc neccss}
ry to cXpel from among them eide loafng chal
acters,' the Inference is legitimate that the pro-
sence Of such peopeis not disagreablc TO the Chez
rokee Nation.
The military authority will afford them ali lc-
gal assistance in the execution Of such measures
of relief as they may establish. AS regards the
Nation al large, this is as far we can 60. But,
in cur immediate vicinity, we are required by our
own preservation, to undertake the cure of such
evils as may exist there, even without the aid Of
the Cherokee people.
ii. All gambling as al Occupation" in this vi.
cinity though off the reserve. is prohibited; and
all persons who keep drinking and gambling
houses within tho above prescribed limits, will up
on proof thereof, be removed. This will not be
done with a view Of interfering with the occupa-
ton of any one, but with the hope of protecting
ourselves from The destructive influence of such
examples. The soldiers not being gamblers by
profession. it seems to be proper to establish this
rule to protect them from the gamblers by occupa.
tion. In this, the soldier may disposition in
the officer TO assist him in taking care of himself
and his money. His own prudent aid shoul Id not|
be withheld. BY all means, keep out of the hands
OF the sharpers, who hang around the Pos: to fat.
ten on your crodulity.
Ill. The lands at the Dragon Cantonment, and |
as far beyond as it was required for military pur.
poses. was in the possession of the United States,
before the Cherokees owned this country. In thcI
Treaty Of 1928, which put the Cherokees in pos
session of it, a'resorvo was made, at this plnce II
for military services. In 1884, it is believed, the
Dragon Can,onment was established at its pre- i
sent position, and it has been held BY the Unitedli
States to this time. Subsequently. the reserve,
according TO the provisions Of the Treaty of 1881
was run off, and part Of this Cantonment was
found to be out o. it. This fact, feel wnrra ned
IN saying, has been made known to the Depart&
ment of War. and tho Government deeming Il
necessary for the military service, as we maH
suppose, possession has been held to the pres
Gay. The right of the Government to hol r.
none will dispute, who arc not blinded by. in, Der
or prejudice. The Treaty of 1886 grants L..
United States lands for military purposes, whesa
ever it may be needed, with no other rosirctio1,
than to pay for private property which may be n :
quircd, or rather, taken for Fort. Under th1
Treaty, the Government has taken from the Ch& :
rokees no land, but merely holds that which it wny
IN possession Of before the Treaty. Had the Cd
vernment said they wanted more, they had nd
thing TO do but instruct their Agent to take it,
If such instructions were not given, it must had !,
been for the best Of reasons; the Government, d n
ready had possession Of as much as they wantey :,
namely. the site which the Dragons occupy.
When the United States have no further use f 9
it, we may fairly presume instructions will ne gil y
en- to abandon it, aud the Cherokces cannot be ,I
mitted to take possession of it before. T. !: Of IS
stion which some of them have show TO 500
themselves near the Cantonment, and I. seount ~
some instances. almost 20 take possessic psss
public buildings, and to contend for the d bv law.
occupancy. is not credtable to them. Ws.s. OF 1
to accord to them evrery thing to which they have
any claim, it is n,ortifving to see them coniendN
ing for more.
w. No building or she'd of any description wi
be allowed to to be put up, by any private person
nearer than half mile to the Dragon Canton
ment; nor will any addition, whatever be aIloweX =
to those already up. Tho Commanding Oficctc
OF the Squadron of Dragons, tho officers Of hi !
corps. and all others, will see that this ordsr I
strictly complied with. Any attempt to vioaq
1t: which may be seen by tho non-commissionejs =
officers, will be reported by them to the COM
ing officer Of the corps to which they beoc6Y "a
By order Of Col. Davenport, an
[signedl JAS. BELGER,
: Lieaf. and Post Adj foas