Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-09-24
Interview of Florida Indians with the Cor,,,.
stoner Of Indian Affairs

Blake. now in Washington had their first Interview
with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs on Thurs
day last The following interesting account of tn.
" talk is from the National Inlelligencer:
The six Seminole Indians recently arrived IN
Washington were yesterday introduced 10 MIR. Com.
missioner Lea by Luther Blake Esq, who was depu.
ted by the Bureau to proceed to Florida and endeay
or, last effort, to bring about a compliance with
the Treaty of Paynes Landing of 1882, on the part
of those Seminoles persistently remaining in that
State. With view TO this desirable end or rather
impending necessity, Billy BOwlegs and FIVE other
Semnoles invited on, that they might learn at
the seat of government the ultimatum on the sub
ject.
There were present at the interview Judge Wayne,
of the Supreme Court Hon. Jackson Morton, of
Florida Hon. John H. Eaton and several other gen.
tlemen either now or in time past connected with the
bus ness
The Commissioner told The Indians that he was
happy to them, wished them to look upon him as
their friend and that they should consider all he
said as dictated by friendship and truth. He hoped
they would reply in the way. and empty their
minds of all they wished him to understand.
The Commissioner invited Billy Bowlegs to speak
and that without fear or restraint.
Billy Bewlegs, in to his invitation, decln
ed to speak nor as he had bad cold and on other
accounts wished more time. In reply to a question
why Sam Jones did not come, Billy said be might
have brought his dead flesh here, but could not get
him to come alive.
Billy then remarked that he came here to under
+ those treaties Dead and without coming here
| he was unable TO find out the truth
/ The Commissioners then entered into heightened
but clear, Ineligible, and pointed address these
Indians In 1t he laid before them the nature of the
treaty of 1882, binding the United States Govern
ment on the one hand and the Seminole nation on
the other. The Seminoles, in this treaty, he said,
surrendered their country to the United States and
agreed to remove West of the Mississippi to a eoun-
Try prepared for them by the Government But
when the time for removal came: a great many of
| of the Seminoles refused to go, thus being unwilling
to carry out the treaty made by their head
behalf of the whole nation. This produced trouble,
and devastating war. destructive to the lives of
many whites and Indians, broke out. 1t is true that
most OF the men who had made the treaty dead,
but the treaty itself was much alive
Men die, but treaties live The lands sold to TIE
United States by the treaty Of 1882 belong to the
Government, and are the property of the Semnoles
no longer. If no treaty had been made to this effect
the United States might have permitted the Semi
noies to remain but now they cannot do 1T without
the consent of the State of Florida. which State de-
mands their removal according to the treaty.
| The State of Florida getting very impatient,
and had threatened to send force of her own, and
drive the Semnoles out if the United States did
do it for them This the state OF the
which of sense the Seminoles must see, and Il
was to prevent murderoOs collisions between the
cowboys of Florida and the United States soldiers
the one hand and the SeHinoles on the other, that
the Commissioner had adopted the course he had in
his native home, and he (the Commissioner bad
the same feeling with other men !; bot he had chang
ed home two three times in his life, and would do
it again if anything like the inducements held out
to the Seminoles offered to him. The Indians
therefore in Florida do not appear to be acting wise
Ily-they seem to be listening to the bad advice of
bad men. Those that had gone west of the Misss-
sippi doing well ever they did in Florida,
and better than those now remaining IN that State
4 The Commissioner appealed to the colored inter
prefer Abraham, who had resided fourteen years
west of the Mississippi, as to the prosperity he
Ijoyed out there. Abraha m confirmed what had been
: asked Of him '.-- -te-
The Commissioner said that the whole matter was
this: The treaty of 1882 binds the SemiRoes to
move and if they do So all will be web with them
'if they do not, nothing but difficulty tronble, and
danger awaits them. Gen. Blake had been sent to
them to say this and no doubt he had done it, II
any body advised them contrary to what the Com
missioner had now said he had told an untruth and
if they did not believe the Commissioner now, they
very would.
- The Commissioner then invited Billy tBowTegs to
reply when he was in better health and had time to
consider This he promised to do.
Arrangements were made to call on the President
of the United States soon, who, said Col Lea, will
have great pleasure in speaking with them Gener
al Blake would attend to all their wants and reason
able desires whilst in the city. The Indians then
shook hands and retired.
Brfore leaving the building they were conducted
into the rooms Of the Quartermasters Bureau (Gen
and one or two of his companions in Florida. They
seemed pleased with the recognition, and answered
sundry little questions to their past health, &c
To one question casually put by General Jessup,
are you going to the country west ?n Billy Bow
legs. though previously conversing in English sud
denly stopped and referred to Abraham to give the
reply, which was, Il do not know YETI This con-
versation not renewed and the Indians soon left
They are expected to leave Washington on their
return home about the 25th instant embarking for
Charleston or Savannah at New York.
Gen. Scott's Right RIM ~ Danger.
Senator Wade wrote to TildeD Of Ohio, that he
e had had a conversation with Gen. Scott and that
the latter had said he would off his right arm
rather than lend it to the support of slavery. Til
den not only reported this about amongst the free
sellers, but he read it, or pretended to read it,
where some democrat heard it and published it
> There is no doubt about the facts so far But Til
e den has denied that Scott used that language
}, to him. He has written at least two letters about
II it, In one he is very explicit in his denial and don
t admit that he wrote any letter at all to Tden but
in the other he says he has not the letter at hand
n but the quotation from it is inaccurate Perhaps
II Scott didn't say he would cut off bis right arm or
" suffer it to be cut off &C. but if he did not there
1t a lie out between Wade and Tilden One or the
other must father it. They both good abolition
IN Scottes and have been rather ndiscreet We don't
lgi see however why the wings south should make
n such fuss about this. There is great deal Of in
he trinsic probability about it. Scott is much excited
nc these times and has to bob and dodge about very
Ist Indignantly He has enough to puzzle with
ny resolutions x annexed" No wonder if he should
ut make hasty declarations like hasty plates of sOn
be His is perfectly safe though in any event. no
n danger of losing IT, He said, Sunday too, that he
DIV approved the whig platform and he would