Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-09
Government Mission in Missouri.

The Methodists have an establishment
near Fort Independence for the salvation OF
the souls of the poor Indians. A correspond
ent of the Free Presbyterian, having recent
ly visited it, writes n follows:
Having nothing TO occupy me, yesterday
mounted mule and took jnunt to the IN
dian missions among the Shownees, about
fifteen miles from this place, and three or
four miles from the village OF Westport'--
There are three stations there, two 'nisslons,
one under the control of the Friends, and
one of the Baptists; in addition to which,
there is, one shaping-shop under Methoaist
auspices, to which, from its dniphIbious cnnr-
acter. am at loss to give it title, anu
therefore have called it by that name which
expresses its most prominen: pecuiiarlty'-
Perhaps my meaning could not be better
simpliiied Than 10y relating an anecdote con-
cerning this same mission, told me tills
morning, MIR. called upon an old
chief of the Shawnee tribe, and after some
conversation of general nature, asked nun
what he thought of the mission. Inc cnlei
fixed his eyes thoughtfully on the ground Tor
some time, and then shaking his head repll-
ed, la Indian, " don't know, don't know =
come here mighty poor-get mighty rich
l am told that strangers have very h''ie
chance to find out much about the opera
tions of this mission. They appear to take
it for granted that oil such visitors are spies
upon them, and knowing that their opera
tions would not bear the light of investiga-
ton, they appear to shrink from every thing
that holds out the possibility of an exposure.
| rode fifteen miles, with the best and most
froternal intentions in all the world toward
the institution. tfor had not then learned IFS
peculiarities,l and, after got there did not
even receive an invitation to walk around
the premises. 1t was decidedly "cold shoul-
derb | have since been told that my treat
ment was not at all peculiar, so of course l
have no right to complain. The only thing
worthy of note is the reason for such treat
ment of visitors and that have glanced at
above. ale that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light lest his deeds
should be reproved."
This institution is under the patronage oi
the General Government, and the way the
managers have feathered their own nests by
plucking the Government and the poor indi-
ans, would do credit TO the most incorrigi-
BILE yender of horn-flints and wooden nut
mers. If the half that has been told me oil
this concern, by those of high respectabliiy
and verncity, be true, it is as vile swindling
concern as can he found in the country
stead of cooperating with their christian
brethren of the other missions for the eleya-
ton aud ovangelization of the Indians, they
rather operate against them, and work ior
their overthrow, obviously because their de-
struction would be their own nggrandlze-
ment. need hardly add that they are pro-
slavery, and until recently the mission has
owned slaves. Whether or not they own
any ut the present time | have not learned.
Embodcned, no doubt, by such CHRISTIAN
example, many other white persons, slave
holders, have moved into that territory with
their slaves. The end is very apparent. An
insiduous effort will be made ere long to dis
possess the Indians of sufficient portion OF
territory TO constitute State, and having
thus silently and stealthily stocked 1t with
slaves and made the slave interest predoml-
nant, they will claim to be admitted into the
Union as u slave state. You who live re-
mote from the scene, have little idea how
adroity, and yet certainly, this project is pro-
crossing. The people Of the free States, re-
| living upon the faith of the Government, and
occupied with the destnies of New Mexico
and California, have never dreamed that the
STAKEHOLDER had the eye of his cupidity up
on the Indian Territory, and that these poor
uniortunates were at some future day TO be
ousted to make room for more shambles for
human cattle. But it will be done, or grent-
ly mistake the signs.