Columbus Whig. (Columbus, Miss.) 1843-18??, 1844-02-22

s.t.4gSeAMs nd4loll Naud az the time OIL
Treaty OF Dancing Rabit Creek was a
close observer during the six months after the
ratification of said tFeatys 4 was with Col
Ward al the Agency great portion OF the
Time, a6ild as sceH as IreccoEfect no. more than
4OOsapplicants by Choctawa were made dur
ing nav attendance with Ward, for registration.
freccollsct there acre several of the number II
do not remember how many rejected by Col
Ward; who they were LIDO notreecolect: INV
intercourse with the half-breeds Of the Choc
taws was frequent; they complained to me Of
Chcctaw's ignorance and that they. would not
register their names and still they would not
remove west. do not know of one Choctaw
rejected by the agent, Ward sreho remains
East Of the MtssiSsippi.--I never heard any
complaints OF the ChoetaWs under the 14th ar
ticle OF the Treaty, but by a few familiesuntiI
Col. Fisher, in the year 1854 g. 35,was nndefs
stood to be amogst them remaining IN the
country contracting with said Choctaws,tEc''
have. given that part of my answers which
~ charged as inconsistent with my deposition
ef DecemberI634 Z La this answer to the 9Th
interrogafory, state that .stIT was with Col
Ward great portion Of the time, and as soelI
as recolIect not more than one hundred appli.
cations were made by Choctaws during NV
attendance for registration. recollect there
was several of that number rejected by Col.
.
1884, l said 81 was frequently present when
Indians made application to said agent to reg
istcr themselves TO take citizenship and rec
ceive lands under the 14th article of the treaty,
and have known Col Ward to reject gOdd
number" VIII any candid and honorable
mind conceive that there is any discrepancy in
the two statements1 In the statement of MAY
1643, say, that as well as recoIlect there
were not more than one hundred applications,
and several OF the number were rejected, but
do not know how many. In my affidavit of
December 1884. state was frequently pre-
sent when Indians made application, and have
knowntke agent Ward to reject a good num-
Der of applicants. Is not several out Of 100,
equal to good number. and is good number
equal several. None but a malignant heart
hired to write down the reputation of fellow
citizen. would have even surmised dscrepan-
cy. !,
Another objection to my testimony urged
most vehemently by my assailant is, to the an
swers gave to the 4th and 9th interrogato-
ries; do rot.'' Now if any candid mind will
but scan the question, they will sea that |
could give no other answer. The questions
are ia substance as follows. 18th lnterrogatory.
Do vou kn6so of any Choc 'daO Indian or pther
person WHO Has ATTEMPTfD TO gel trdudu-
lent or unfouTled claim alLoaoed by thfs Board?
Now, how could know who had Attempted to
get through fraudulent claim, unless the
Board had furnished me with docket OF all
the cases that had been before them, and the
testimony that had, been adduced. / was then
compelled to say, 81 do no"
Again, the 9Th interrogatory. Do you k1aoso
any white man whom you suspect and believe
will attempt to-set up fraudulent and unfoun-
ed-c claim before the board! Here is a kind OF
mixed question, in which | am called on to
4be1 IN hr
intends to carry out the frauds. To that /
was bound to answer I did moi. could not
know the future purposes Of any man.. To
The other part of the question, Calling on me
to state my sUsPTcIoNs and belief; i answered
fully and gave the facts and reasons on which
nv suspicious and belief were founded. and
the answer to that portion of the lntcrrogatory,
is what has brought down on me the fury Of
the whole crew. Twas compelled IN ans wef-
ing, to analyze in my mind the last question;
as nv part required me 10 speak directly of
nv knowledge, and part as to my belief and
any candid enquirer, who will read the 9th IN
terroratorv and my answer. will be clearly sat-
isfied that my answer that I do not kr0l0 was
intended by me to apply to the first enquiry
whether knepp any white man who intends
tn carry out fraudulent claims before the ( ON
mrs. I,could know of the future inte7lts of no
The next charge is. that wrote letter to
Washington before | gavo testimony before
the Commissioners, offering for fee OF sS2O,-
600 that would defeat two and hall mlllInns
of script. Now fit so happens records again
lamp the Lie on the forehead of this nahg-
nant slanderer, in this charge.
\ rave testimony on the 9th of May, lS43,
and finding that was assalled by the corrupt
ere ~ that were q tlrbed by the develop e nens
/ made. on the third of June after, wrote the
Eia,fer rs washington; all of which appears by
records now in possession of the commr's.
T,he Government would have made good
hargain, and would have been enabled at the
EXPENSE of the Government to procure the at
Eatenndance of witnesses, not only to SUSTAIN my
testimony, but to mainlan the rights OF Tue
Government and the State.
Tffb;s living writer ofthe article IN the wing
bas anv honesty left, and can be awakened 70
! desire to serve his Government and State,
s.,;II s,,oyv rive lew damning # ctssa showing
IT, ,,,rr,,rfon that pervades the management Of
-. IA mon the Government and people -
Tba ST ! interrooatorY propounde1 to me IN the
syar,,nation il, MAY, DO you know OF any con-
Tracts .swith the Choctaws before the explfa;
t:oTS If ..vo years from the ratlncatlon o. saq
Treafv.on the oath of February 1903!
| answered, did; and caves the names o. sever
Al ,r,hnl had made contracts with SAID indlans
far-.,arded certificates from the clerks OF dli-
orens counties to prove that fact which record
49, he indian contracts that had been
s .,aoss gs~ecorsed. Now be it known, that with
these facts matters cf records fhe Indian appl-
cants when brought before the board ioE eAsn =,
;sa,;o,, are seyeralIy made to swear, that aPey
hs mi conHrdcted ANY PoRTIoN Of their amos
nv, nreJ5;otIs ia the oath Of February 1850;
The nuestion put to the Indian caimah.' Tue an.
swsr IS invariably that be hs made no eo' me-
p pscord testimony sent by me to the Board,
$50 tles names ola number Of Indians VINO
s ~ Keen an examined and had taken the oath
aS geS bsa not contracted any oftheir lands