New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-08
FROM NEBRASKA.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SLAVERY.
CORRESPONDENCE Of The n. Y. Tribune.

Our town has been hlled with rumOrs lOr tue
past few days in relation to alleged robberies of
emigrant trains on the plains by the lodians.
Some of these rumors will doubtless reach
readers at the East in greatly exaggerated forms,
and it seems therefore no more than an act Of
Justice TO caution the public against lending
too willing ear to them. After all that has
been said, do not believe that it can be shown
on credible authority thst a single white man
has been murdered or killed By the Indians the
present year. A few cattle have, however,
been stolen by isolated bands of the Puncas and
SIOUX, but beyond these no overt acts have been
committed by the red men upon the persons or
property Of the whites. Many Of the Indians are
in starving condition, and their necessities
sometmes induce them to lsy violent hands
upon cattle trains. The numerous emgrant
trains of the last three or four years
have driven off the buffalo and other game
upon which the Indians formerly lived to
the remote regions about the Rocky Mountains
and thus they are left to great extent to suher
for want of food. Were the Government to ex-
pend for their subsistence and support small
part of the amount which the military foray under
Gen. Harvey into the Sioux country will cost, all
difficulties would be avoided, and peace and quiet
would reign on tho plains As it is the Indians
are in an exceedingly unsettled state in several
instances they have stolen cattle and horses from
the whites, and it is greatly to be feared that the
course Of the Government will force them INTO
still more decided acts Of hostility. The killing OF
the first Indian by the troops will be the signal
for bloody retaliation on the whites, and thus an
Indian war will be lighted up which will inundate
| the plains with blood.
Tie remnant of the once large and important
tribe of the Omahas have been recently removed
TO the lands selected by and reserved for them on
Blackbird Hills, thirty or forty miles north OF THIS
| place on the west side of the Missouri. They have
| been heretofore residing at their village eleven
| miles south of here and ON taking leave OF the
place, where lay buried the bones of their ances
| tore they manifested good deal of feeling, and
the old men and squaws wept bitterly. On their
| arrival at their new home their annuities were
| paid them by the Government, amounting to about
| $40. OCU in gold This tribe now numbers only
| eight hundred and five, men, women and children,
| and they can only muster about two hundred war
riors. Their numbers have been greatly reduced
within the past ten years by contact with the
whites; disease and whisky will soon sweep the last
of the race from the land. The lands ceded by
them to the Government are among the most fer
tile in Nebraska, and the Capital OIL the Territory
takes its name from them.
TIE settlement of Nebraska is going forward
with considerable rapidity, and many families who
had set out for California will probably make their
homes in the Territory ON account OF the Indian
troubles The most fertile parts OF the country
lying along the rivers and streams have been
already claimed and improvements upon these
claims commenced A number Of town sites have
been marked out and wonderful spirit OF rivalry
and competition is manifested among their respect
i've projectors. Omaha, north of the Platte, and
Nebraska City, south OF the same river are the
largest towns in the Territory. Belleview and
Flattsmouth on the Missouri, and Fontaneile ON
the Elkhorn, are the other towns of principal i'm
porfance and are said to be growing quite rapidly.
All the portions of the Territory lying north OF
the Platte River have been settled chiefly by emf
grants from the Northern States and it is to DO
expected and may be set down as almost certain,
that they will carry with them that love OF liberty
and free Institutions which are supposed TO attach
TO the people of those States. South of the Platte
a different class of emigrants is found. Large
numbers of Missourians, Kentuckians and Virgin
ians have here taken up their residence, and the
question of Slavery, so far as Southern Nebraska
is concerned is beginning to be mooted. The sue
cess which has thus far attended the labors OF the
Pro-Slayery party in Kansas aided BY the barbarian
invasion of the Missourians will no doubt embolden
the advocates of the peculiar institution to attempt
TO eDgraft the curse OF Slavery upon southern
Nebraska also; and thus we shall have, not one,
but fro additional Slave States the result Of the
Nebraska Kansas iniquity. Some people may
imagine such resut TO be impossible. They have
set down as certain that Nebraska would be free,
but they may wake up some day not far distant
ard find themselves to have been sadly mistaken.
II is certain that there noc stdr's held south 81
the Plate in Nebraska; and it is certain that there
are men there who intend to hold them. 1t is cer-
tain that Mark w. lizard, the Governor Of the Ter
ritory, is a STAKEHOLDER, and would be entirely
willing to see Slavery introduced into the whole OF
Nebraska II is certain that the late Territorial
Legislature entirely ignored the question OF Slay-
cry and refused altogether to pass any act devotng
the soil of Nebraska to Freedom, and that this
result was brought about in great measure
through the personal influence and eIertlons OF
Gov. lard Ii is also certain that nearly one
ii iTd of the members of that body, including
all those elected from the south OF the
Platte were in favor Of permitting Slavery to come
into the Territory, and would have so voted bad
the question been presented to them. Added to
these facts, which are indisputable, is the further
che that Tie Nebraska CITY Nens, the only paper
published south Of the Platte, comes out this
week with fierce onslaught upon the opponents
OF Slavery, denouncing them in the btterest terms
and pointing plainly enough to the introduction oil
human bondage into that portion OF the Territory.
/ ct the people then of the North who have been
fordly cberishiDg the idea that Nebraska was GER
tain TO be Free Territory wake up to the consdera
ton of the actual state Of things In Nebraska;
Let them not allow Missourians, kcntuckians anu
Nireinians to Oyerrun and get possession oi snc
fairest portion Of Nebraska before they are awao
Of the danger which threatens, or my worn ~. y
they will awake too late, and not 9n'u ai:s' 'Io