New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-20
Interview of Florida Indians with the Com.
missioner OF Indian Affairs.
from The Nanoral InteIhseneer, ~

Interview of Florida Indians with the Come
missioner OF Indian Affairs.
from The National IDtsLsenesr. nth.
The six Seminole Inoiaos recently arrived
In Wa,hlp ston we're yesterday introduced TO Commits
,ioner Lea By Luther Blake E'q, who was depused oy
the Bureau 10 proceed 10 Florida and endesvor, a.
last effort to bring about compliance WIN me Treaty
of Paynes Landing of 1882 on the part OF those Semi
mole. remslopg In that STATE With view
TO this desirable end, or rather Impending necessity,
By Bowless snd Eve other Seminoes we're inv.so o.
that they might learn az the seat VI "o'oiH' VIZ ~
tin alum on the subject.
There were present at the Interview Juoge Wayne'
of tie Supreme Court; Hon. Jackson Morton OF rlo'
ida; Hon John II Eaton and several other sen'eihon'
either now or In time past conneosea WIN 'n' 'u''
ness. $500
The Commissioner told the Indians that rs was happy
10 see them wished them to look upon nim - tosn
friend and that they sho aid consider Gil M sso ~ uo
tted by friendship and truth de hoped they would TO
Div in The same way and empty their minds oil all they
wished him 10 understand 1900 - . -.
The Comm issloner invited Billy Bowlegs 70 SPEAK,
and that without fear restraint nooen ne
strange place and among strangers, he must sun iook
rms M a. bis friends leaving him nothing to Tear he
desir ed that What was said should o. Jus, 'no sae
II were said at BilIys own home In rloios; ,u.
Rnv Rowleas In answer 10 this INVITATION uscl'neo
m ,neak roc as he had a bad cold and on otnor ac
counts wished more time. In reply to question why
Sam JONES did come, Billy said has no snt nave
brought bis dead hesh here, but could not ger MIN 70
The Commissioner said be was very glad to see thoss
who were pres, nj, even without Sam Jones'
Billy then remarked that he came here to understand
all about the treaties The men that had made those
treaties were dead, and without coming here he was
unable to ind out the truth.
The Con missioner then entered Into heightened but
clear Ineligible pointed address to these Indians
In |, be laid before them the nature OF the treaty OF
1892 bnc ing the United States Gov. rnment on the one
hand and the Seminole sion on the other Toe semi
noes IN this treaty, he said surrendered their country
A. ILL ID G,a,aa nd In
Mississippi 10 a country prepai ed tor them oy the
Government But when ihs time for removal csmsa
great many ofhe Semnoes refused 10 thus being ur
WILLING 10 carry out tbe treaty made by their head men ON
behst of The whole nation This produced trouble, aud
devastating war, destructive 10 the lives OF macy
whites spd indiana broke out Il 10 true that most OF
the men who had made the treaty we're dead, but the
treaty Itself was as much alive as ever. Men die but
treaties i've The treaties between and foreiyn
Governments continue to live, tho ugh their makers die
TIT treaty ofle32 was with IL Seminole Nation, and
pot Nd erely with the men who signed IT,
The Commissioner feared tina. the nature OF certain
srrapp ements which had been made from ZINE TO time
In Florida BY officers OF the Government with Semi
nots Misunderstood These arrangements were
mporary only and not permanent Ike treaties Gen.
Worth ad gone down 10 Florida and made such
rsr cement but 10 no treaty. and II the Ssminoles
sd been told II was they were deceived. the lands
acid 10 the United States by the treaty OF 1882 belong 10
the Government and the pr perry of Ssninoles
DO longer. II treaty had been made 10 this effect,
the nl,ed States might have permitted the Semooles TO
remap but they cannot do II without the consent
Of the State of Florida which State demands their re-
movsl, according to the treaty The Semlnoles
not the only ooisns In sbs position there 10 tribe
similarly situated In the far North vest The COmms
loDer bad talked T. that toe In tue same way that he
now does 10 the Sem'noles
The Ststs If Florida getting very inpatient and
bad 10 force OF her own and drive the
Semipoles out, the Uuited States did not do IL Tor
kem Tbis was The state Of the case which as msn Oh
,eu,e the Seminoles must see, and was TO prevent
uuTderous collisions between the cowboys OF Florida
AZ the Uued States soldiers on the one hand and the
oles on the other, that the Commissioner had
opted the course he had in ging them here Ii
ar broke beta cen the whites aud Semnoes,
the latter would bs AL destroyed IL Is nstura for
nan to love bic native home and he (the Commandment
bad the ssme feeling with other men but he had
rhap, ed home two rec Dimes 10 bis lie, and would
DO Il ~ ain II any thing Ike the Inducements held out to
he Sc m noles offered to him The indians there
lore, In Florida do hot spp ar to oe aching wisely they
,et m h be listening 10 the bad advice of bad
Even If the United States could permit them 81 stay Ia
Florida would be beat for the SsmDoes 10 em'grate
Those that had gone west of the M'sisspp were doing
well they did IN Florida and oeaer shan those
Row remsir ing In that Stste. The Government was
timely disposed tOshTd the SemDoles and would, II
hey pese sbIy removed, do much for them, as united
Iibe In Their new home.
The Com sypesed TO the coored interpreter,
Abraham who resided fourteen years west Of the
Mississippi az TO the prosperity be enjoyed out there.
ABRAHAM confirmed what bad been asked OF him.
The Commi..ioner said that the whole matter was
his The treaty OF 1892 blinds the Semnoles 10 remove,
md, If they do &c. all will be well with the; II they do
,ot nobiug but difficulty, tfou 10 and danger swsit
hem Gen. Blake had been cent b them - say thls,
nd no doubt be had cone It, II any body advised them
outrsry g. what tbs Commissiober had now said, he
lad too an uDtrutb; and II they did not believe the
,onmis,loner now, they very soon would
Tbo ComnissioD.r then invited Billy Bowlegs 10 re.
y when no vas 10 better health, sDd bad time
idev Tnis be promised TO DO
ArraDsement wers then made 10 call on the Presi.
lent VI ihe United States sooD Who, said Col Lea will
great pleasure 10 speaking with them. Gen Blake
ou attend to all their wants and reasonable denres
white in the city. The Indians then shook hands and
eired.
Before leaving the building they we're conducted Into
be rooms OF be Quarternsst-rs Bureau Gen. Jesupa)
be Gerei al having known BUY B'wlegs and one or
NO Of his ompsDons Ia Florida They seemed pleased
With the ,cogniuon aud ns~ered sundry little quss
ons to the past health &c To question cssu.
y put by Gen Jesup. Are you going to The country
pesIi Billy Bowegs. though previously convsrsng 10
-. sb suddenly stopped, aod referred 10 Abraham TO
I've the reply, which was, ~ do not kE0D yet This
IEvenstion was not renewed, and the Indians 5000
n
They are expected 10 leave Washington on their
turn home about the 18th Instant, embarking for
bsreston or Savannah at kewYork They are stop.
ng at Browne Hotel