The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-22
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY TO MAKE KANSAS
A SLAVE sTATE-TREATMENT OF THE IN
DAMS


resolution calling upon the Department of the
Interior to communicate to the House what
steps had been taken to carry out the stipula
tons of the treaty with the Delaware Indians
so far as relates to the lands ceded in trust to
the United States; evidence touching the un-
lawful occupation of portions of that cession, or
any other Indian lands in Kansas Territory /;
what participation any army officers at Fort
Leavenworth have had in making claims and
settlements on the Delaware cession, or any
other Indian lands; whether any officers ofthe
civil, military, or Indian service, in Kansas Ter
ritory, have been charged with specializing in
Indian lands; whether complaints have been
made that the military does not respond there
to the proper demands of the Interior Depart
ment; whether any charges of official delinquen-
| cy have been made against the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs and all the information in
the Interior Department connected with these
inquiries.
| February LIST, the Secretary Of the Interior, in
answer, communicated to the House full re-
port on all the points specified, which, on the
| Sd, was laid on the table and ordered to be
printed, and copy of which we have just ex-
amined.
1t consists of letters from the Secretary of the
Interior the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the
Indian Superintendent and the Indian Agent in
Kansas, the Commissioner of the Land Office,
| the Secretary of War, and the officers at Fort
Leayenworth, together with extracts from news
papers containing accounts of public meetings
in Missouri and Kansas memorials of Squatters
and Indians, and other papers.
The report contains no charge or suggestion
of official delinquency on the part of Colonel
Manypenny, the Commissioner of Indian AT:
fairs, but abundant evidence of his respect for
treaty obligations and the rights of the Indians,
and of the energy, courage, and fidelity, with
which he has discharged his duties In rela-
ton to the other inquiries embraced in the res
olution, it shows that the lands of the Della
wares and other Indians in Kansas have been
unlawfully occupied, chiefly by Squatters from
Missouri, and their rights generally disregard
ed that officers in the military service of the
United States at Fort Leavenworth have been
seriously implicated in the premises that they
have responded to the charges Of the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs in the language of de-
fiance and insult; that the Secretary of War has
shown no disposition to call them to an account
to restrain them; that the Secretary of the In
terror has exhausted his powers to protect the
Indians, but to no purpose that Gov Reeder
and certain judges of the Supreme Court of
ba, IN,
Indian lands; and that the President of the
United States has utterly failed to respond to
the repeated calls made upon him, by the De-
partment of the Interior and the Indians them
selves, to enforce the stipulations of solemn
treaties for their protection against fragrant out
RACES
The aggresions of the whites commenced last
summer. July 18th, Col. Manypenny wrote to
Mr. Cummings, Superintendent of Indian AT
fairs, Missouri, as follows:
"The articles of agreement and convention
made with the Delaware Indians on the 9th of
May last, having been confirmed and ratified
by which they ceded and relinquished to the
United States all their country except that
which, as therein stated, had been previously
sold to the Wyandotts, and except that therein
reserved as home for themselves, which is that
part of said country lying east and south of
line beginning at a point on the line between
the land of the Delawares and the Half Breed
Kansas, forty miles in a direct line west of
the boundary line between the Delawares and
WyandOtts thence north ten miles, thence in an
easterly course to point on the south bank of
Big Island creek, which shall also lie on the
bank OF the Missouri river, where the usual
high-water line of said creek intersects the high
water line of said river-you are instructed to
require agent Robinson to take all necessary
measures for the concentration of the Delawares
upon and within the limits of the above-speci-
he'd reservation, and to give the most effective
notice in his power that may prevent emigrants
from settling within said limits, and also to give
notice of the condition of the cession requiring
the lands ceded to be sold at public auction
The Superintendent and Agent promptly
attended to this instruction. Publicity was
everywhere given to it, and they did all that
lay in their power to protect the Indians. In
their efforts they were earnestly sustained by
Colonel Manypenny; but what could they all
do, unaided by the military, against the schemes
of spectators, who feared not God, nor re.
garded MANI
July 18th, Mr.. Robinson wrote, reporting the
unlawful occupation of lands belonging to the
Delawares and Shawnees, and from that time
onward, there is a series Of letters and papers,
from the Indian Agent, Superintendent, and
Commissioner Of Indian A fairs, accompanied
by overwhelming evidence, showing constant
trespasses upon the rights and lands of the
Indians, by squatters and by United States
officers. About three thousand claims were
located upon the Delaware reserve, town site
was laid out, and application was made to Col
Manypenny, to induce him to secure the forma-
ton of sub-treaty, in effect, multiplying the
provisions of that of May, 1854. To show the
dnimns of these aggressive movements, we
subjoin the following extract of letter to the
Colonel, from Committee appointed at meet
ing of the squatters on the Delaware lands,
dated Parkville, Aug. I'd:
1--WE are aware, by your letter to the Presi-
dent that the Delaware treaty has been ratified
| but we are led to believe that sub-treaty NAV
be made, as we well assured that the In
dams would be benefited as we'll as the citi.
zens of Missouri, and the settlers on the Della
ware lands. 1t such arrangements could be
made-settlements with the certainty of pro-
curing the lands at a stipulated price, or the
right of pre- emption granted all the country
that IS catuable ,could be Immediately taken Ly
Missourians and Kentuckians, ,cho ,could become
residents and o,cners of the soil, to the certain
protection Of the best interests of Missouri As
it at present remains, they are uncertain about
making company; not knowing the terms and
provisions of the treaty, they fear to be ulti-
nately subjected to tie bidding for their homes
against Northern spectators and n,oneyed mo
nopolists."