The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-02-21
[corykreHr sEcuRED.I
Written expressly for the Herald ef Freedom
A c ON MPLETE
HISTORY OF KANSAS
First Discovery by the French to
the Close of 1851.
by the Editors.
FROM ITS
CHAPTER

THE IspIAS TITLES AND ACTION OF CONGRESS o,
rHR ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY.
The Delawares form one OF the mos
distinguished Indian tribes in Kansas
Their history is one of thrilling inter
est It's details are too voluminou;
for our purpose, but its leading fea.
lures are common with that of Other
tribes. A century and half ago.
.hey owned large tract of country
living on the Delaware river, mostly
in New Jersey, and were a large and
prosperous tribe. Their location being
yery desirable to the whites, it was
obtained, partly by treaty and partly
by war.
They were intimately connected
with the Shawnees In their warlike
and political relations, and were par
ties to the treaty of William Penn.
Their veneration for him and the con
fdenee felt in his associates, ever aftei
produced the most sincere friendship
between them. No Quaker was evel
injured by an Indian.
But the conduct of the whites gen
eralIy, greatly enraged the Indians
and they sorely repented OF having be.
friended them. When too late, they
attempted their expulsion, but were
defeated. The systematic settlement
and cultivation of the soil, by the
whites, their knowledge of fortifica
tons and fire arms, and their cool and
resoIute courage, made them an over.
match for the natives, who were OBJ
liged to yield. This tribe retreated
from the Delaware river to the Ohio
from the Ohio to the Muskingum, from
the Muskingum to the Wabash, from
the Wabash to the Mississippi, from
the Mississippi to the Kansas, where
we now find them. Their struggle
mas been long and full of suffering
Savage once, but now verging upor
civilization, they occupy aposition, a
once interesting to the philanthropist
the christian and the political econo
mist. Their territory is the best il
Kansas, lying on the north side o
the Kansas river, and extending from
the Missouri, fifty miles long and tel
miles wide, after their trust lands ar,
sold.
Most of them follow agriculture
having comfortable dwellings, an,
good horses and cattle.
Their chiefs are four in number
not absolutely hereditary, for chic
must be of superior character; and
the son is so, he viii be more likel,
to succeed his father, by consent o
the nation, than any other person o
equal talents.
They have also a council of warrior
and chiefs, who conduct the busincs
Of the nation.
They are governed mostly by tradi
tion and custom, having no printet
language or laws.
They hold their lands in common
under the care of the chiefs, and ever,
member of the tribe is free to sleel
and eat wherever night overtakes him
They number about one thousant
souls, and have one school in the ma
ton. This is conducted by the Bap
: tist missionaries, and is in flourish
ins condition.
& Since the Indians were conquered
aud have made treaties with the Uni
Sed States, they have been most vigi
sanity protected by the general gov
frnmeat. Thousands of troops have
been employed to guard them, ant
millions of dollars expended in theil
removal and support.
The sacredness of treaties. th'
pledge of protection, and the bonds o
honor, all combine to secure them il
Kansas against molestation or iniurJ
OF any kind.
In 1850 Congress passed the follow
s. Ing act:
n Sac. l. Be it enacted by TIE Senate an,
i,oese 3. ef REPRESENTATIVES of tie United Stateso
-iH,eIea, Ia Congress assembled, That it shal
Sae may be lawful for the President of tn
@'ed States to cause so much of any terri
belonging te the United States west o
.a ae hyer Mississippi, and not included il
"a! y state or organized Territory. and I,
inch the Indian title has been extinguished
a. ne HAY adjndge necessary, to be dividee
. o.o = suitable number of districts for ia,
paon OF such tribes or nations Of Indian.
may choose to exchange the landslwher,
gov reside and remove there land Il
s.,;S e each Of said districts TO be so de.
h. eed, by natural or artificial marks, as t.
ssiy distinguished fran every dfher.''
Ii. se; ,. And Be Il further enacted. That in
eb.sluAk lAking OF any such exchange or ex,
Prss3S, Psss, 1t shall and may be Lawful for ths
tioa tiuent solemnly to assure the t,sbe or na.
the the ra!h Tlih which the exchange is made, thai
eu,,.led snled States win forever secure and
ers Sa'es - to them and their heirs or success.
aod Ie ;s., Country so exchanged with them
win sney prefer it, that the United States
esses.sss esuse patent or grant to be made and
GIss m r. 70 them for the same Prorided,
Eni,a5 sat q such lands shall. revert to- the
Of sbsaSss' sss'es U the hdisns become extinct