Arkansas intelligencer. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1842-1859, 1844-03-16
LETTER FROM THE CHocTAw CHIEFS

-. #
LETTER FROM THE CHOCTAw CHIEFS
To Capt ARMSTRONG eation the condition of their
brethren East Of the Mississippi.
We have been furnished with the following
letter from a citizen of the Choc,aw Nation, and
publish it for the information Of the Choctaws,
both East and West, and for the citizens on this
frontier, who are deeply interested in the preser-
walton of peace and harmony on our frontier.
The Choctaws, having for a warning, the late
unhappy difficulties in the Cherokee Nation, have,
with wise precauton, moved in time to prevent
similar fate to themselves. They have spoken
IN time for the Government to provide against
such state OF things; and, We think, have drawn
true picture eff the past, tho present, and wha.
may be the future, in case their voice is not lis.
tened to. They have sagaciously pointed out
remedy for evils that hang over them, and the
Government will prove itself recreant in its duty
to the Indians, and to the citizens on this frontier,
If it does not act wisely in this matter. a sr.
The constituency of no portion of Congress
are more deeply interested in this matter than
those Of the Arkansas delegation; and we hone
they will turn their immediate attention to it,
II affords us pleasure to be able 20 say that n
voice has never been raised in the West, this ses-
sion, without being responded to by our indefa-
tigable delegation at Washington.
CHocrAw NATION, FEBRuARY !, 1914.
| Friend and Brother, We have understood tina,
our brethren in Mississippi about TO Join us in
this country, and that they to receive large
amount Of their reservation under the treaty Of
Dancing Rabbit Creek. one half before they start
the other half after they &c, here.
You who emf grated US. and knew us in Msss-
sippi. while we were yet people, you know
what we were then, and what they were.
AS party they had opposed the Treaty Of
cesslon; as party they were opposed to emigra-
ton; as party, they had always opposed every
effort to educate and improve our people. and, in
fact. every deviation from the ancient customs of
our tribe. They considered it beneath the Dig
nifty of an Indian to work 10 hunt out of
the question; and as our nation was at peace
nothing remained for them but absolute dcnesa.
with its almost inevitable concomiiant among the
red people. nemperance.
Ignorant, idle, dissipated, then. when schools
were at hand. and minister RS of the Gospel were
laboring to enliohtcn them; when the example Of
the more advanced among their own people was
before their eyes; when the fostering care Of the
Government protected them from the evil r,iu.
much worse must they be now. after being so
long untra mmelled by the restraints, moral and
legal. which existed before; so long abandoned
to the practices of those who thrive on their ruin
and so long crushed by the consciousness that
they re homeless wanderers, literally strangers
and intruders in tho land of their fathers.
With these views. we feel. those only Of on
blood can feel the vital importance 10 our un.
happy brethren of a speedy emigration. But
while we rejoice at the prospect Of their rescue
from impending destruction, we dread the effect
their coming among US is sure to have on our
people.
To say nothing of the influence of body with
habits like theirs, if they have their arrival
any considerable amour, in money, it will be q
source of unmixed evil TO them and to us, while
II lasts. and It's bad effects will remain long after
the last cent has been squandered.
IL IS not necessary to 90 into detail of the
wild career of extravaganza and dissipation they
would run, or TO describe its pernicious influence
on our young men. for the case of the Chcka.
saws must be still fresh in your memory.
We will pass on to the time when the whi,key
dealer, and tho gambler, and the Spectator have
gathered their harvest, and the money is gone
Whether that time arrives before they leave Mis-
slssIppI, as II possibly may, after they reach
this country, when it does come, their condition
will DO truly deporabe. .s.
They are coming TO a colder climate, and are
likely to suffer from the incemencies of the sea
son. and the diseases of the country. Where ar,
they 10 get clothing, and shelter. and medical aid
Government will, perhaps, feed them for ,
year; when that year has passed, what are the,
10 live on?
True. our territory is large; we have lane
enough and to spare. But who is to furnish
them with ploughs. hoes, or axes, or any on,
of the thousand aids without which man nigh
starve on the richest soil ..'.r
We have, indeed. four blacksmith shops, fur
nished by tho United States but so far are the
from supplying our wants, that we have beer
obliged 10 provide for eleven more out of our an
null es. and still we have not enough.
There are several schools among us, wherein
as You are aware, limited number of scholars
are educated and maintained at the EXPENSE q,
the Nation. -.. E.- s...
Our brethren from Mississippi will undoubtedly
ask us TO admit their Children to these schools
but 1t is we'll known to you that there are ALREADY
three times as many applicants as we can pro.
vide Tor. How then can W, be expected 10 sbnre
these advantages with those who have no mart No,
'ot IN the matter, when our means ore inndeo,o,e
f