Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-01-06
Chr Anti- 5laprrp Bualc.
Salem. Ohio, january o, 1855.
INDIAN SLAvEHOLDERS-THE MISSION
ARIES.

The Cherokees and Choctaws are the most en-
lightcned, wealthy and civilized of all the Indian
tribes of the Southwest. On them the American
Board of Commissioner has bestowed most mis-
sionary labor. And among them, too, slavery has
a more stable and organized character than among
any other tribes. Among them it is sustained as
with us, by the forms of law. And among them,
as civilization and American religion have advance
ed and obtained a tirmer footing, in the same pro-
portion has slavery increased in rigor, and in its
more outrageous Developments. 1t was our for
tune, some twenty years ago. to spend a year
among the Cherokces, and we were acquainted also
with the state of affairs among the Greeks and
Chickasaws. Slavery then existed in their tribes,
but so far as the treatment Of slaves was concerned
in a milder form than in the surrounding region
of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, and among
the Indians themselves, the "diScipline" of their
neighbOrs was introduced in about the same ratio
with the success Of the Missionaries in their civil
ization and discrimination The slaves were gen.
orally held by half-breeds and the more enlighten-
ed, but when they were claimed by the ruder
portions of the tribes, whom the influence Of the
whites had failed essentially to effect, there was
small difference observable between master and
slave. They worked, sported. hu ltcd aud fshed
together, and a stranger would hardly have recog-
nized the existence Of the relation from their ordi-
nary department towards each ether.
But time has wrought a change, and among the
Indians as among the whites, the possession of the
power stimulated them to fortify their iniquitous
system by the forms and sanctions of law; and the
laws of these Indians prove them excellent copy
lists of their instructors. That the missionaries
and mission churches have helped to bring
about this more perfect establishment and organ
ization of slavery among the Indians, is manifest
from the fact that those churches were ever open
to Shareholders as members. They were elected
to Offices in the church, and the missionaries hired
of masters slaves to aid in the laborss of the mis-
sion stations. Thus, from the first introduction of
churches among them, those churches gave the
sanction of their religion to the system. And if
the heather Indians received the missionary Chris
tian ity as Divine, they must of necessity receive
slavery as sanctioned by the same high author
ity.
The number of slaves now held by Choctaws
and Cherokces is probably near four thousand.
That our readers may know what is the character
of the laws those Indians have enacted for the reg
ulation of slavery, we copy the following from
the report of Rev. Mr.. Treat, the Secretary of the
American Board. Mr.. Treat visited the Indians
in lS4S, making the question of slavery, as con,
nected with the mission churches, a subject of
} special Investigation. We have heretofore given a
statement of the recent legislative efforts of the
y Choctaws to prevent their slaves from learning to
read. Here is what Mr.. Treat says of the like eff
e forts of the Cherokees
n There is another statute which debars alike
the free negro and the slave from all direct access
to the lively oracles.' 1t is as follows BE ii en-.
$ acted by the National Council, That from ana after
' the passage of this act, it shall not be lawful for
= any person or persons whatever to teach any free
f negro or negroes, not of Cherokee blood, or any
. slave belonging to any citizen or citizens of the
!, Nation, to read or write The penalty annexed
to n violation of this enactment is u fine of SlOC
q to $500, at the discretion Of the court trying the
o offence"
The Indians, too, like their white neighbors
have learned to fear, hate and Cypress their FREE
E colored population. Mr.. Treat says:
1.-THE restrictions upon the right of property. n.
applicable to to the colored race, are as follows
No free negro or mulatto, not of Cherokee blood
!! may hold or own any improvement in the nation
.. Slaves are prohibited from holding horses. cat
tie, hogs or firearms; and it is made the duty OF
y the sheriff to sell at public auction, all such prop
y erty when found in his district the proceeds o.
IS the sale, however, are to be paid to the offender
e after deducting eigh. per cent. for sherif's fees,
The reason assigned for so much of the law as re-
IS lates to horses, cattle, and hogs, is that the owner
ship of such property by the slaves has become Il
!, nuisance to the master, at the same time that it
was a temptation to theft, &c. 1t is the opinion of
e one missionary, at least, that this statute is not
very rigidly enforced.
1t is also enacted that patrol companies may
take up and bring to punishment any negro not
having u legal pass, that may be strolling about,
away from the premises of his master. And any
negro, rot entitled to Cherokee privileges, who
may be found carrying guns, pistols, bowie knives,
n ~infictian, by the patrol companies, of forty stripes
q save one.
The legislation of the Choctaws has been less
. enlightened and humane than that of the Chcro
KEGS. So long ago as October, 1885, the following
law was passed:
&c BE il enacted. &c., That from and after tn,
passage of this act, if any citizen of the Unite,
States, acting as a missionary, or a preacher. o
~ whatever his occupation may be, is found to tax
~ an active part in favoring the principles and notion
; of the most fatal and destructive doctrines of abb
", litionisin, he shall be compelled to leave the natio
and forever stay out of it.
OF "And be ii farther enacted, That teaching slave
~ how to read, to write, or to sing in Westinghouse
ne or schools, or any open place, without the conser
'n IF the owner, or allowing them to sit at table wit
VI them, shall be sufficient grounds to convict person
Of favoring the principles and notions Of abol
ch tionism."
$50
Of At the same session it was provided that T
We slave should "be in possession of any property
re arms" The only penalty, however, was the 70
%reiture Of the prohibited articles, and ''any got
nut honest slave" might ''car y a gun by showing
m written pass from his master or MISTRESS" An
Isl it was further provided that il any slave infringe
nd any Choctaw rights, he should "be driun out
company, to behave himself" And ncase Of h
is. return and further intrusion, he should receive t.
er lashes.
ct Four years later II was enacted that all free n
lgross in the NATHAN. disconnected with Chostsw