Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-10-16


were on the deck of the boat. md conseopen,lv
they were nearly all sick; and when they found
that the iano assigned them was mostly prairie.
ana at tiat Cry time destitute of water--lhev
SICK and not able TO build shades or dig wells
they knew not what to do but. II, lime IN reeva
them, they received an invitation from, the Sene
cas- OF the Neosho sub-A gene v to come and STAY
win thcm until The fall season, when thew would
be we'll. and could return 10 their own iand ot
Fort Scott. The Indians believed that f ,le,.
were well, and had some assistance which bo1I
been promised them by the Government. thew
wouid Ike their new country verv well; so they
nearly all accepted the invitation oc their old
brethren, and came TO the Neosho sub oencv
VIII mere remarks that IN the treaty ratified by
the Senate of the United States the sum of four
hunared thousand dollars promised these In
uiahs, 10 ieeo them &C.. the first year. After
'hey had been severa! days in the country nea r
my Agency, they. all that were ab!e-men. wo.
men ana chtldren--came 10 me and told me tha I
they were lost; had no agent here in the West:
were all sick; had been on the wav long time:
were nearly naked, and were starving; and asked
IL l would be their father and help then | then
told them that | had already a large family of
children, viz: the Senecas, Seneca Shawnees and
2uapaws, and that it took me nearly all my time
10 attend TO them; and besides this, | told them
that was but small father; onZysa sub Agent !.
and, that my influence was but weak: for. oltho.
could tell The truth often, and nearly as plain
as tsose larger ones, yet, perhaps would not be
oeiieved. But promised them nv assistance.
ana Inc frst thing they did, was TO address a
letter through me to the Department, imforminu
them of their peculiar and distressed condition.
They spoke of the dry season; of the prairie
country; stated It's destItuiion Of water and tim
per; and that they werc sick, &c. They then
asked to be fed here, where they wore comforta-
BILE In the Neosho SUBJ Agency, instead Of the
place near Fort Scott, until they could get we'll
and prepare 10 live on their own lands. They
also stated In this letter, that as they had no f-
ther (or ageut) in the West ye all their business
should be transacted by me, for the time being
This was no enpiable job for me, in addition 10
my other labors, and without any additional pay.
These Indians earnestly requested that these
things should be done; and also, requested the
Department TO write TO me- Immediately, that lhey
might know what TO do. We waited and waited
for an answer, nearly one whole year; these In
dians, in the mea ntime, at the mercy of myself
and the old settlers (Senecas.) Only few weeks
ago. had occasion to visit w Washington City nv.
self, and in talking with the proper authority
there, | found that the whole matter had been
left or rather referred to Maj. Harvey the Super
intendant at ST. Louis; and there it died. for |
will state hero, that Maj. Harvey never did say
word TO me in his life, neither upon this or any
other subject.
This is tho story, though badly told. This is
the way these Indians were treated; left here one
whoe year, without any money, provisions, clo-
thing or anything ese-and that, too, after they
had been assured that they would be- attended to-
But II seems that the Governm mt is not 10 bame
for The money for their substance was placed in
tho hands of Maj. Harvey. at ST. Louis, in due
time; but what ever done with IL is more
than can tell; all know -, that II ahese In
dams, except few, remained here, believing that
some attention would be paid them after while,
by some person having instructions and aulhor-
ty; for | had none. They finally. however, de.7
spalred, and have all gone back to New York, in
the most horrible condition that your mind ca
Imagine. A gentleman by the name of Fleming
b. .McCurdy, contracted TO feed what few re-
mained at Fort Scott. He Gd feed them, and
anxious to feed those That were here, on the
same terms If be could be authorised, but he ne
yer was; and will here state, while | am giving
all the facts, that Mr. McCurdy has nerer gel re-
ceiced a dime for what he did feed.
have now given The facts Of this unfortunate
affair. | cali it unfortunate for this reason. that
If understand the policy of the General Govern
nent. il is 10 remore at the earliest practicable
moment all the different Indian tribes that yet
remain East, md within the chartered limits of
the States west of the Mississippi, and locate them
permanently in the Indian Territory. 1t IS evil
dent al least that the Government did intend it,
so far as these Indians were concerned, or they
never would have made the treaty; ard through
the negtect-l am bound to say t--of some Of
the Government officers, this whole matter has
been broken, and the Indians pre- JUDGED agains:
this policy OF emigrating west, that II may take
years TO remove it. One reason why say that
all this dissatisfaction &c. is caused by some of
the GOVERNMENT officers is, that these Indians nd
thousands Of white men are blaming the Gorern-
naent-that is, the head of the Government
whilst every person, when they become acquain-
ted with the facts, can at once that II is other
persons who are guilty. This money for the sub
sistance Of these Indians, as have before stated,
was appropriated and forwarded TO the Superin-
tendant of Indian affairs at ST. Louis. There /
have lost the run of il. He may have turned it
over 10 some of the Agents sub-Agents, for
aught | know; but he has-never caused 1t 10 be
applied, | am certain. If the first company OF
Indians had been treated correctly. and fed and
kept alive here, rs intended by the Govern
ment &C., they would in my opinion have ere
this been well pleased; and instead of telling those
yet behind, not TO follow, they would now be en-
couraging them 10 come on and join them here.
| This is all. ! make comments. draw no
conclusions. do not wish 10 do any person IN.
justice, unless plain facts. and keeping watch
full eve TO see the intentions of the Government