The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-12-08
b FL0RIDA INDIANs.


Tbs Council AND SUBSCRIBER OF MURDERRRs'
From the following talk which We End IN
the Washington Republic, it does not appear
that the seminoles are willing to emigra'e'
The Commanding General aud party reached
Tampa on the 9Th ult. The I)ndians, some
fifty or sixty in number had been there nine
DAYS with three ofthe murderera and the hand
of the fourth who was killed n the attempt
to capture him, Every chief and sub-chiet OF
note in the nation was there. They looked
haggard and depressed; and spoke Of their
having gone through many troubles and trials
in capturing the young men who committed
the murders on Indian river. After the U. .
Commander-in-chief addressed the council,
Assunwhn, the chief speaker Of the nation
replied rs follows to that part Of It which re-
lated to their removal from Florida:
"We did not expect this talk. When you
began this new removaI matter felt as if you
had shot me. | would rather be shot am
old, and will notleave my country. Gen, Worth
said he spoke TO- your President, tOo-that he
was authorized to make peace and leave US
quiet in our country, and that SO long as our
people preserved the treaty yours would. For
manv wears you have had no cause to com
plain; and lately when a few bad young men
broke The law, a thing that cannot be proven
ted among any people, did we not hasten to
make a.onement4 We met you as soon as we
could, and promised to give you ample salts
faction; and from that day we have not rested.
We have killed one Of our people, and have
brought three others to be killed BY youS and
we will bring the fifth. There has been much
trouble and grief but we have done justice, and
we came here confident that you would be
satisfied. Now when you ask Us 10 remove l
feel as though you had killed me. will not
90, nor will our people. want no time TO
think or talk about, it for my mind is made up
AS for the delegation (alluding to a delegation
proposed to be composed Of members Of the.
tribe heretofore emigrated to Arkansas, and
brought TO Florida to induce their friends to
follow them.) did not invite them 70 come
and see me. Some Seminoles went to Arkan-
sas many years ago. We were then sorry to
lose them; but we have got over that sorrow
long since, and now they are nothing to US,
and we do not desire to see them. l did not
expect this talk, aud had | done so, | would
not have helped to deliver up these men to
YOU"
Billy Bowlegs, who is a 6ne-loOking fellow
Of forty, followed with great earnestness and
dignity Of manner. After talking somewhat
to the same effect as .AssamwhG, though with
more wildness Of phrase, but not Of manner,
he added:
we have nowmade more stringent laws
than we have ever had before, and | have
brought here many young men and boys to see
the terrible consequences Of breaking our
peace laws. l brought them here that they
might see their comrades delivered up to be kill
ed. T. is business has caused many tears but
we have done justice.
"Inow pledge you my word that, IL you will
cease this talk Of leaving the country no other
outrages shall be committed by my people, OF
if ever, hereafter, the worst among my people
shall ctoss the boundary and do any m'schie
to your people, you need not look for runner
or appoint councils to talk. l willImake up ny
pack and shoulder it, and my people will d.
the same, We will ask but one question
Where is the boat to carry US to Arkan
sas?n :.
A day was appointed for another council
but they did not promise to attend. Their
was an informal promise. that some rune
would come in to see the whites, but ihey Of
ten observed that they were stunned and cor
fused by the talk and could not promise any
thing.