The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-16

" the per capita mode of paying our annuities is
approved by the body OF the people, aud secures
the honest application of the money, to whom IL
belongs, which was not the under the old
system. The ex-chiefs oppose this mode of pay
ment because il is no longer paid into their hands,
and the way is not open for the TO defraud the
masses of their money" Speaking of their posi-.
ton under the republican constitution, they say:
"The ex-chiefs have no just cause of complaint, or
of hostility towards the new government, except
what is selfish or personal They enjoy the same
protection and civil rights as all other citizens
they have not been deprived of any power they
formerly had, except such as they exercised as
chiefs, and the power to enrich themselves by We
nally selling the homes of their kindred without
the consent of their owners and then turning their
occupants out 10 perish"
Perhaps there was never more bare faced at
tempt 10 gain power for selfish ends, than is now
exhibited by these exchiefs Two of the principal
actors in this measure are Maris u. Pierce and N.
T. Strong, both of whom signed the fraudulent
treaty of 1888. They not only signed it, but as the
active agents of the Ogden Company, used the
most effective means TO induce Others to sign it.
Under the old government, such was the power of
the Chiefs that less tn an fifty of them claimed, and
actually exercised the authority, 10 sell all the land
Of the nation, and such was their depravity, that
for sum not amounting to more than 10000 or
40, coo dollars about forty of them were bribed TO
sign treaty for that purpose, without the consent
of the people 10 whom these lands belonged 1t
may be proper, hereafter 10 present the public with
the whole of the nefarious proceedings.
The Silver Creek document speaks very highly
OF the old government. Ii says, "the government
under which these Indians he'd lived until the
summer Of lS4S, so far as the committee can
learn, had never failed to give great and almost
universal satisfaction" greater misrepresenta-
ton could hardly be made. Ii shows clearly that
the committee who made the report derived their
information from corrupt source, made this state
ment without regard TO the public documents on
record, at the seat Of government, at Washington,
al New York, and Boston. So far had the govern
ment under which these Indians had lived until the
summer of lS4S, failed in giving such I" great and
general satisfaction" it had for more than ten
years before that time, given great and almost uni
yersal dissatisfaction In 1888, by means of bri-
berry and corruption, that fraudulent treaty was
executed. For many years afterwards the bribed
chiefs themselves were kept in state of uneasi-
ness and vexation, because they in turn were
cheated, and failed TO get the price of treason
They were, in that respect, worse oil than Judas
Iscarot The chief priests and the captains cove
nanted with Judas 10 pay him thirty pieces OF
SILVER, and they promptly paid bin, whereas the
chief priests and captains Of the Ogden Company
covenanted with the chiefs" Indians OF the Seneca
nation, TO give them more than thirty thousand
pieces of silver, but very few of them were
ever paid, and, failing TO get their brbe money,
N. L Strong and Maris Il. Pierce, the mainwork-
ers 10 that iniquty ever received the price OF their
corruption. These men were both regularly bred
lawyers, and knew how to take care of themselves.
For ten years after the execution Of that treaty,
the nation was very far from being in a state OF
universal Satisfaction; they were, in fact, almost
universally distressed. The chiefs did not lose
their office by their treason, though they had lost
the confidence of the people. After the recovery
OF the Alegany and Cattaraugus reservations,
they had as much power again 10 betray them as
they had before. The people, sensible OF this be-
came increasingly dissatisfied. A general council,
accordingly, was held at Cattaraugus, in the
month Of January, lS45, for the express purpose of
taking from the chiefs the power they had so
grossly shnsed. Did that indicate aimoSt uniVer
Al this council, it was determined to carry the
subject up by petition TO the New York Legisla
tuTe, and law passed providing for the better
security Of the Senecas against the frauds OF their
chiefs. This law continued TO be strongly opposed
by some Of the sx-chiefs, so long as any prospect
remained that they could obtain its repeal. Ii was
also strenuously opposed by the trustees and mem
beers Of the Ogden Company as will be seen by re-
ference 10 public documents at Albany.
Ii was not long after the people had thus been
secured against the alienation Of their lands, be-
lore they discovered that they were continually
defTauded by the chiefs out of their money. Here
was another cause Of " dissatisfaction" and, AZ
ter repeated evidences OF their incorrigibe dis
honesty, the people were determined To get nd Of
them altogether, by substituting government in
which all the officers should be chosen by the
people, and be held responsible 10 them.
Among the ex-chiefs who were dePosed by this
change Of government, there are honorable excep-
tons; come high minded men, whose honesty and
integrity cannot be bought for a price, and who
were enjoying the confidence OF their nations;
these, always looking TO the best interests OF their
government of their nation, and Identified them
selves with the masses.
Such was the old government OF the Senecas-
such their rulers! o, most excellent govern
ment how worthy OF all praise how secure for
the persons and property of the citizens Why,
under the provisions Of this government, II only
required the concurrence OF 40 or % profigate. or
corrupt and ignorant individuals, 10 rob the nation
Of it's inheritance, and TO sell the land Of every
men, woman and child in II
OF patriotic chiefs. Raise high the towering
column, and the lofty obelisk, TO their memory
Ckiefs 90 true 10 the interests of their constituents
that nothing short Of 30 900 pieces Of silver could
induce them TO rob 2il9 Of their brethren, and
send them into exile, ruin and death
There are now several Of the ex.chiefs who re-
csiye personal annuities; IL being the price OF their
brides in selling the homes Of their people.
ON the l7th and 18th Of April last, quasi coun-
Gil Of the repudiated chiefs was held at the Catia-
rbugus Council House. On ihe 18th, the follow
ing question was put 10 the meeting &C Shall we,
who oppose the so-caled new constitution (being
the majority OF the peoplel submit TO IL, and take
part in The election in May next IL Is very
easy 70 make assertions about "maJouty; u u
bad been es easy 10 prove Il, those grumbling
chiefs would not now be factious band Of Office
seekers. The government Of the United States
would not have sustained minority, IN changing
the government Of the SeReca Nation.
IL is feet worthy Of note that al the elecuon
held on the CaitaraRus Reservation, on the lst
Tuesdsy 81 MAY, 1910, the ex-chiefs came to the
pole. TO man. and voted for their candidate and,
with their majority" could not elect TO oihce :
single candidate who were the nominees OF Their
party and such would have b, en- the fate OF Their
candidates, had they been presented at the poll.
81 the late election but the ex-chiefs gravely and
wisely concluded that " discretion was the better
rart Of yalor"
After the senecas had, by the persevering die
honesty Of their rulere, been forced to institute
republic, and had adopted constitution, both
parties appealed TO the authorities at Washington
the old chirfs for aid in suppressing the new go
vernment, the latter for support 10 the exercise OF
its power. The Commissioner of Indian hhhri
| imme dately wrote TO the agent near Cattaraugus
directing him 10 inquire into all the circumstances
| Of this extraordinary movement, (for u was the
hrst case Of tiibe Of aborigines adopting re-
| publican, representative form OF goyenment,) ana
| particularly to inquire whether the change nad
| been effected by a majority Of the nation. Thu
| was done, and the sub agent, after dlgent inquiry
wrote to the department on the 9th Of January, lS