The true Democrat., 1854-09-27
Form the Fortsmth Herald The new Territories of Cha-La-Kee Muscogee and Cha-Ta.

II. h. ,J0
 for the report of the committee, in the U. S
 Senate, on the "bill to establish and oroan;se
 the Territories of Cha-la-kee Muscogee. and
 Cha-ta" We have read this report, together
 with the bill, carefully. The report explains
 the intention of the bill, and expresses strongly
 and honestly the wrongs that have been heap-
 ed upon the Indians in by-gone years. We in-
 tended to have published this report so as to
 enlighten our readers upon this much neglect
 ed but important and interesting subject; but,
 owing to its great length, we are compelled to
 make but "a few extracts, hoping they may suf-
 flee. We have seldom, read public docu-
 ment that has so much interested us, and has
 so fully expressed our views and wishes. We
 invite the careful attention of our red brethren
 on our western frontier, to the perusal of the
 report which is to be to them matter of the
 deepest moment; for upon their decision, we
 are clearly of the opinion, depends the earthly
 salvation, the we'll being and prosperity of the
 present generation, and the security, elevation
 and enlightenment of their posterity It will
 not now do to look at this matter with that pre-
 judice which has been the result of past wrongs,
 committed by the whites upon the Indians;
 but let by-gones be forgotten, and only look at
 the advantages or disadvantages which are to
 result from the reception or rejection of the
 provisions of this bill. The liberal proposi-
 tions made in 1.-the bill-we did not expect
 to see, knowing the prejudices of the whites,
 and the view that has generally been taken by
 them of the rights of the Indians. No Indian
 can read the report without admiring the sent;-
 ments contained in it, and cannot easily ressts
 the kind invitation to fraternize with the peo-
 pie and States of this Union If the Indians
 shall reject the offer held out to them, to be-
 come part and parcel of the confederation of
 the independent States of the Union, with all
 the benefits rights and immunities as citizens
 it will evidently be from misguided and blind
 prejudice-preterring to remain in a state Of pupslage and dependence, rather than to be ele-
 vated to the tuU stature and independence of as aoards with guaraian, rather than become men, and have the entire and untrammeled control of their own affairs Such, we say,must be the inevitable consc. quence if they reject the offer. How strange will such conduct appear when entrusted with that of the Indians of the Sandwich Islands, at present enjoying all the immunities of an inde- pendent people, yet knocking at the door of Congress, and begging to be received as mem- Der of this Union. We cannot believe that. after mature deliberation, with a careful peru sal of the territorial bill and the able report upon it, by the intelligent part of the Indians, that such course will be pursued And we would advise such as are intelligent among them, and who understand their present situa- ton, to be candid and honest with those whose minds cannot yet comprehend the proposed charge, and explain fully the advantages-forI we can see nothing else in the opposition which will accrue to them, and their children which are soon to take their places, and follow in their footsteps. There are very few Indians of what are termed full blood, that we are ac- quainted with-and we know hundreds of them that hang or cling to their old manners or customs. Indeed, so far from this among the i CherokeeS, with whom we are better acuuaint- | ed, these things have almost entirely pessed away and become obliterpted. Their present habits have become nearly the same as those ! of the whites, whose example in most things they endeavor to initiate. The chase, as a means of living, has been abandoned; the all 1 night dance, the ball. play, conjuring, &c, have long since, as national customs, passed away, | and serve only IS old Indian aJsmdities, for the ! old to amuse the young with their recital while seated around their cabin fires, during the 1 long nights of fall and winter. We say these things do not take up the time and thoughts of the full-blood; but they are anxiously looking ahead and rejoicing at the march of improve ment the young are making in education, and all that pertains to civilization. If the full | blood could be made to understand that all of his rights, as heretofore, will be secured to him and his children; that they are to enjoy with 1 out restraint all the rights as American citi- ! zens; to be placed side by side with his white i brother, and in every respect his equal; to have secured to him his lands and all of his person. al property; to have equal privileges in courts of law; to be protected by his own legislature from intrusion upon his lands by the whites; the eligibility of himself and children to any of the offices of government-we think he would | not object, hor would he, in our humble opn- ion, manifest that rejudice to the bill that we have seen so apparent in those of his more fa- vored brethren who boast of Indian blood, with very little of it coursing in their veins. So far as our knowledge extends, we have found stronger prejudices against the institutions of the whites among the mixed bloods, than among the -bloods. But we dontnow wish or desire to enter into matters of this kind; but we would rather devote our time and the col umns of our paper to the allaying of all preju- dice and all feeling; and endeavor, by all the power we possess, to induce our friends and neighbors to accept of a territorial government, under the kind and gentle provisions contained in Mir. Johnsons bill. If we can in any way aid in accomplishing this object, and be the means of elevating the Indian character to the enjoyment of all the rights as citizens of our Union, we shall feel we'll repaid for all of our labors and shall rejoice over its consumation, as one of the most important movements for the good of the Indian that has ever been made by the people of this Union.
 The great fear of the Indian in becoming with the whites, has been that the whites would take their lands and cast them off; but no such fear can now be urged, as the bill secures the lands and their exclusive occupan- cy to the Indians, and they can only be settled upon and disposed of, by an act of the legisla- ture of the nation or territory to which they be- long. Thus the lands of the Indians will be as exclusively their own, and as completely un- der their control, as were the lands of Texas when she came into the Union. The general government is to pay all of the expenses of the territories and they will then have all of their funds which they now expend in keeping up their present governments, to appropriate to the education of their children, and making such of their public propertv as will