New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-30
KANSAS.
ADVENTURE OF A FUGITIVE
From Our Special Correspondent.

10 Inc south-westo OF US, new phase Of patrarchal
life presented Itself, in which Slavery of the most
orthodox pattern has attained an extent that is
startling, when the slender population is consd.
cred. There the semi civilized Greek and Cherokee
Indians have fixed their quarters. There would
certainly be nothing startling in the idea that the
iDdolent ard warlike aborgines should take to
slayeowning but in this instance the spread Of the
peculiar institution" has originated more from
the cOOniZDg efforts OF the slavery tensiOnists in
the slave States, than from the natural impulse
For many years has this effort to plant slavery
amor the Indian tribes Of the Territories been most
sedulously followed. Long before the repeal Of the
Missouri Restriction was supposed to have thrown
Kansas open to Slavery, slaves were introduced
among the different tribes of this Territory few
Indians among the WyandOts, Shawnees, and
several other tribes became slave owners, but the
institution never iOurished, and very vigorous ef-
forts to plant it were attended with but slender
success. Among the Creeks and Cher0kees, the
care is different. Some of the chiefs and head men,
own from one to two hundred. One oftbe ROSES has
one hundred and forty-and poor is that Indian who
has not at least FIVE "niggers.'
Among these Creeks and CherOkees there can
scarcely be said to be an aristocracy of color The
distinctions between tawDy brown and black are
DO great deal at BEST and even these nice shades
have been lost by an intermxture of races, which
come lost. Not only has a hybrid race sprung
from the prostitution Of the negro women by their
Indian masters, but Indian women do not consider
it beneath them to marry or live with negro men.
This state OF affairs, together with the wild region
where they are located, and the less than half civil
lied character of the Indians themselves, has given
very peculiar character to this phase of the "do
mestic institution The slaves of these tribes
would hardly do to sell into the cane or cotton
fields of Louisiana or Alabama They have got a
little sniff Of the free air from the mountains, are
more bold and restless, and but for two things
the fact that they are generally we'll treated and
the difficulty of finding way of escape from this
widerness-grt regiOn-this Cherokee Slavery
would not last long
/ have just had a conversation with one of these
who made his escape last Summer. He is bold
MISUNDERSTANDING specimen. His father was a
negro and his mother an Indian woman and he
says he was by right free According to the theory
of negro descent by the mother, suppose this is
strictly correct; but interest, when it enters into
conflict with even wr-established opinion, will
overthrow it, and even more powerful obstacles
And so WilliamsOn-that was the name OF the man
was the slave of somebody.
Last Summer, some of the Greek Indians found
it necessary or made it suit their convenience, TO
60 to war with their neigbbOrs, the Camanches.
As the Camanches are not to be trifed with, an
old Creek Chief who with handful of men was
beng sorely pressed, sent to the Creek and CherO
bee Nation for assist The result will illustrate
Cherokee Slavery. The Indians persuaded their
slaves that the Creek Chief in question preferred
them as warriors; and accordingly force OF nearly
eight hundred, most of them slaves was according
to my informant) mustered for the service Glad,
doubtless, to exchange the pillow and hoe for
weapons of war, this terrible army marched north
ward to fight for their masters. With poor ar
engagements for ambulance and miserable commits
saIiat, they made but slow progress. A few days
after they started, one or two slaves, who had not
volunteered at first, followed and overlook the
tege. These latter were in turn followed as fugl-
tive slaves, and were forcbly taken back-it being
explained that they could not go, as they had not
volunteered at first. While this army of slaves
was thus slowly marching nOrthward civil war
was raging among the white belligerents in Kansas.
Whether from this fact or general desire to guard
the interests of Slavery, some white residents
among or near the Cherokeee who were sound
on the goose" used their efforts to stop the exPe-
ditiOn. They told the Indian shareholders of the
danger of permitting their slaves to acquire such
warlike character, and they finally succeeded In
hardening the hearts of these second Phara0hs, 80
that they would not let the people CO. After
having gone some distance the expedition was
Overtaben and ordered home.
Among those who went with this expedition was
this man Williamson. Having come go far to Obige
his master he concluded to journey farther to ac-
himself He escaped from the party
and succeeded in making his way to Osawatamle
at which place he presented himself shortly before
the battle and burning of that place in August Al
Though be can speak the English language 1uently
he would not betray bis knowledge OF 1t, or talk 10
ANYTHING but the Indian, until he was satisfied
that he was among friends. asked him what In
duced him TO seek the white settlements IN THIS
quarter.
{. heard of the difficulties, he sait, land that
-, tor.
then added with quiet manner The whole Pa7ty
would have come had they known they were SO
near and matters here were as they are.
Only think of such hybrid addition to Slavery
rnled and "black-a protected Free-Sollsm that
would rule Kansas. But must briefly state his
adventure, which occurred about a week ago;
A few weeks ago, Williamson crossed the Kansas
River To the north side, and hired himself to
Free. State maa near the Stranger Creek. There
his nr;ncipal duty was taking care Of number OF
horses. Eigh. days ago two Pro-Siavery men
(rufiians. rather) passed that way. aud notlng
Williamson, concluded that he would make hhe
prize. As they we're riding past they stopped aid
sspoke 10 him. and told him they were going to LIE
compton. shortly afterward they returned, when
he Was at the stable, and rode up to him; Alter
some conversation one of them eyed W ltiamsoh
very sharply, and sad; :. p,... Connty ~
.;You belong to old Mr.. - In Platte COUNTY
"No, don't; never was in Platte County,
said Williamson. =. w , ron
"Oh, you need not deny it, We kno" you
n;obtv well. and know all about it. You've seen
,he hsr5. hill; offering a reward for and describing
his H man. said Ruian number one to Ruifian mum
Der two in familiar tome .s ,bs
Yes, and he s just the description was the
response. l.. .-;asd with
Williamson, who is not man ." Dc trined VIII
hereupon began to talk very sharp TO the TWO lnen
ard, rs he said, "told them what he 'nousr. man y,
"A Iaal nf
nnllcd out their reyolyers ard pointed them AZ
tTII;smso, who stood in the stable door. Inc