The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-01-13
New Territories-Indian Citizens-and an In
dian Slave State.

There is notable scheme afoot for the man.
ufacture of three new slavehOlding Territories
and future States, in the region set apart for
and occupied by the Greeks, Cherokecs, Choc-
taws, and other semi-civilized Indians, west of
Arkansas and south Of Kansas It is we'll
known that a bill was introduced in Congress,
at the last session, by Senator johnson of Ar
kansas, for the establishment of such Territory
and that it will come up for early action at the
present session, having been assigned. in fact,
for the 18th of December.
The region above described is, according TO
Mr.. Johnson's bill, to be organized at once into
three Territories to be governed by the Indi-
ans. as at present.
One of it's sections provides that no white
men or Indians, other than present residents,
shall be allowed to settle or trespass on any of
said lands, ,Uithout the consent of the LeeisIa:
ture of the proper Territory, and in pursuance
OF laws enacted by it. Another provision is,
that all the free citizens of the tribes named,
being of Indian or Indian and ,rAite blood,
shall become and be citizens of the United
States Another section interleres with the
doctrine of squatter sOveleignty--it prohibits
polygamy. The 4Sth section enacts that wht n
ever the people of the said three Territories
shall consent, they shall be entitled to he erect
ed into Territory, to be called the Territory
Of .Neosho; and whenever Congress shall be
satisfied as to their capacity for selfgovern-
medt, and whenever they open their country to
| emigration and settlement they may he erect
ed into the State of Neosha.
The whole bill is cunningly devised plan tC
open these territories to immigration from
slaveholding regions, and close them, so long
as 1t is thought necessary, against immigrant:
from the North or fom Europe The Indians
now occupying this Indian Territory" sc
called, are well known to have introduced the
system of Negro slavery among them, and to
be under the influence of Southern men-an
influence which was sufficiently manifested in
the action of the ChOctaw Legislature in eX
GLIDING so-called abolitionists'' from theil
schools, as noticed in the proceedings of the
recent meeting of the American Board of Fo
reign Missions, at Hartford, and upon which il
was determined to withdraw all missionarie:
from the schools there established, unless they
could be permitted to preach the whole GOSPEL
The bill for the establishment of three new
Territories among these Indians, is speciously
brought forward as a measure of Justice to
the tribes thus located-that they may be en-
dowed more fully with the privileges of self 90
vernmcnt, and prospectively admitted as ar
independent portion of the American Union.-
10 accomplish the purpose of the southern mo
vers In the scheme, it gives the Indians power
TO exclude, for certain period, all immigrants
ercept such as they may see fttoreceire, which
|
will operate to colonze the Territory with
shareholders. and to exclude freeman from the
North. 1t further provides, in substance, thai
when the Indians are ready for the organiza
ton of a Territorial government the President
shall issue his proclamation establishing such
government, without further action by Con
gress. Thus, if the bill passed at the present
session. as calculated upon--a new slavehold
ing Territory, may be organized by stroke O
the Presidents pen, without any power to pre-
vent it on the part of the next or any future
Congress-. We're the question on the passage O
this bill, to be decided by the 34th Congress
just elected, it would be undoubtedly thrown
Out-hence the asserted determination of the
shareholders to secure its passage by the 33d
Congress now on its last session. Having i'm
mortalized itself by the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, the present Congress will scarce
ly hesitate to accede to this new demand of the
slave power. If the Territory of Neosho i:
thus established under the patronage and con
troll ofslaveholders, there is no remedy, except
to deny it admission as State, so long as sla
very exists and is legalizsd therein. A major
ity offreemen in the House of Representatives
will always possess that power.-Ba Bangor me J
Wing.