The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-17
LOCAL MATTER S /.

The SEmISoLE INDIAN DELEGArIos, Tin fol
costurne,J under the charge Of General Blake, wer,
introduced to the Commissioner OF Indian Affair!
-' his bureau in the War Department
yesterday ,o,t.,,,. a..
Among the gentlemen prescn. - - -
-" Wayne, Senator Morton, OF Florida,
noticed Jug .,-v Of War ..s
and General Eaton. OK -Secre... '" 49,
General BLAKE said to the Commissioner thai
delegation had come to see him for the purpose OF
having their affairs made straight and in the hope
that something would be done for their good as
well as that of the Government.
The COMMISSIONER. Does Billy Bowlegs prefer
speaking in English, or through the interpreter
General BLAKE. Through the interpreter, as
he desires the others to hear him. 30,
Accordingly. old Indianzed negro Abraham
took his seat near the table, and at once pre-
pared to act as the mediufi ., .-...-...
The CoMMIssIosER. Say to Billy and the other
Indians that am happy to see them. wish them
to understand that l am their friend. All have
to say TO them will be said in friendship and in
truth.
BILLY BowLEas made brief response; which
OLD ABRAHAM interpreted, Every we'll"
The COMMISSIONER. wish them to speak to me
in the same way. desire them to make known
freely all their wishes, and to open their hearts to
me- will hear, and listen attentively to all they
have to say. When they explain to me fully what
they want, will then tell them what intend to
say.
BILLY. Very we'll.
The ComMIssoNrR. Abraham, tell Billy l should
be glad to hear him say to Inc any thing he desires
BILLY. Very we'll ' g, %.
The CoMnIssIoNEn. ] want him to speak out
freely, without fear and reservation, and to make
known all his wishes.
BILLY. Very we'll. ...' .'.
The CoMmIssIosER. He is among q strange peo-
pie, know; but be need not suppose that he is
among people not friendly to him. He has no.
thing to fear. want him to speak to me as II
had seen him at his own house in Florida.
ABRAHAM Very WE'LL Billy says, and that he
caught violent cold, and will wait until he gets
little better, as he can hardly explain now what his
business is.
The COMMISSIONER. every WELL" You a
younger man, Abraham, than ! expected to find
you How old are you?
ABRAHAM. am pretty old, but don't know
how many years.
The CommIssloNrR Which is the oldest, you or
Sam Jones'
ABRAHAM. can't tell exactly, but think
Sam is little the oldest. l am the straightest
man.
The COMMISSIONER. They say Sam walks with
a crutch a staff.
ABRAHAM. They say go.
The CoMmrssoNEn. l should have been glad il
you had brought Sam along with you
ABRAHAM. He wouldn't come.
BILLY BowLEas interposed, saying he could not
expect Sam Jones to come with them unless he had
killed him and brought piece of his flesh
Laughter.l
The CommIssIoNER. don't want you to kill
him. 1t affords me great deal Of pleasure to sec
Billy and all Of you, although Sam Jones ia not
here.
BILLY then said he did not expect to come to
this place to see nobody at all. When he Is asked
to do something he ought not to do, that is the
reason he comes TO see you The old people who
made the treaty in Florida are dead. Now all Is
left with him, and he wants to see how it is.
The COMMISSIONERS. l will tell him how the
matter stands, and will tell him the truth
BILLY. Very well.
The ComMissIoNER. have to deal with great
many Indians scattered over this bI Dad country
that is, to tell them nothing but the truth.
BILLY. Very we'll. l wish to hear from you.
and afterwards may answer you.
The COMMISSIONER. suppose he wants to know
what the Government expects OF him, and the
reasons.
BILLY. wish to hear you. AS you attend to
the Indians will listen to you.
The CoMMIssIoNER, TO Abraham.) Say to
Billy all know with regard to treaties is re-
corded in books, and that they speak for them
selves. The Semnoes in Florida, in the year
1882, by their principal men, made treaty with
the United States. BY that treaty they bound
themselves to leave Florida and emigrate to the
country provided for them west of the Mississippi
| river After this treaty was entered into, grca
many Seminoles refused to comply with it. They
were unwilling to do what their principal mer
agreed they should do. great deal OF difficulty
and trouble came of their refusal to go West. WaI
broke out, and many of the Indians and many o
| the whites were killed. That treaty remains in
full force to this day. 1t is just as much treaty
now as it was twenty years ago. The men who
make treaties die, but the treaties live. This great
country of ours, the United States, has made a
great many treaties with foreign powers. All the
men who made those treaties are dead and gone
but the treaties stand, and bind this Government
and other governments still. 1t docs not follow
therefore hat becauSe thew who AHMED
treaty dead and gone, the treaty does not
stand. 1t still remains 1t was treaty Of the
Seminole nation; and, 30 long as the nation lasts
the treaty will last, and will be binding them
After those troubles broke out and war com
menced, (Which, unfortunately, resulted in the
killing Of 30 many men, white and red } officers
were sent to Florida, and arrangements made
with the Seminoles, which fear they have taker
to be treaties, but they arc not treaties. Genera
Worth was down there good many years ago
and he made an arrangement with the Seminoes
but it was not treaty. The arrangement which
was made by General Worth was intended to be
only for while, and not like treaty, to live for
| ever. l fear the Seminoles in Florida have beer
given to understand that the agreement made with
General Worth was treaty, and that it did away
with the treaty made twenty years ago. lfso I'M
derstood, they have been deceived.
The lands once owned by the Seminole Indians
have been coded by the treaty made with them
| and sold to the United States. They are no Ion
ger the lands of the Seminoles If they had never
they sold their lands in Florida, the Unitec
States might agree to their remaining in Flo
rida but now the United States cannot agree
without the consent of the State of Florida
The State of Florida claims that the United
States shall remove the Seminoles from bel
territory, according to the treaty They want tt
continue to live there, but this they cannot d.
without the consent of that State; and there are
other Indians in the same situation. Some years
ago, tribe of Indians living away up in a north
ern State, made treaty, like that with the Semi
! noles, selling their lands and promising to 60
West Since that time they became Dissatisfied
| and did not want to leave the country, and they
| made application to remain where they are.
told them, ns now tell the Seminolcs that they
could not do without the consent of the State
This will show you that hold the same language t
all, and that deal with the Seminoles as do will
other Indian tribes who live within the limits of th
different States. Now, il the people of Florida. tn
| Governor, and public men, were willing for th,
Seminoles to live there, and desire it, the Govern
ment might agree to it; but as they arc opposed
to it, the Government cannot agree to it, II know
e, ~