The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-24

Duildings ana resumlng their school.
They established themselves at
beautiful place, FIVE miles from West
port. Missouri, where they have erect
ed large building three stories high,
for a boarding house and school
house. In this building, for twenty
years, have the Friends, without ex-
pense to the Indians or the Govern
ment, kept a free school for all who
were willing to attend. By their
sincerity and good judgment they
have won the esteem of both Indians
and whites; and no right-minded man
could say word against them.
But Notwithstanding all the evil
dence of usefulness, goodness and inno-
cence which is accorded to the Qua
kers by the whole civilized world, yet
during the summer of 1856, preda-
tory. pro-slavery party from Missouri
and other slave States fell upon their
Mission. and plundered it of horses
and cattle, and other property, so as
to compel them to discontinue their
school.
The Shawnees, who were once
roaming savages, have become, under
ths peaceful influence of the Friends,
tillers of the soil and citizens of the
United States. Their dwellings, fields
and orchards can be seen by the trav-
eler as he passes through their settle
ment, and marks the progress of the
race.
Other denominations of christians
have also been in the field, laboring for
their civilization and advancement.
The Baptists have for several years
kept up school for them, and also
taught the children to labor as we'll as
to read and write. They hold relig-
ious worship on Sunday, and have a
church organization.
The Methodists also have Mission
and Manual Labor School, but the
labor is principally performed by
slaves. The Rev. Thomas johnson,
who is the general superintendent
and conductor of the establishment,
has become a wealthy man and a
STAKEHOLDER. This Mission has sew
eral large brick buildings, and five
hundred acres under cultivation. The
expenses are paid by the United
States, out of the annuities belonging
to the Shawnee nation.
| Under the influence of this Mission
a few Of the more wealthy of the
Shawnees have become Shareholders.
Notwithstanding the ordinance of
1857, and the Missouri Compromise
of 1920, it has been the purpose of
Shareholders to forestal the question
and brow beat the government into a
surrender of its most cherished prin-
iples. There is no doubt, however, but
that under an independent Judiciary ev-
Iery slave in Kansas Territory would
be set free by writ of habeas corpus.
And not only the slaves of Kansas,
but also every slave now living on the
Platte Purchase in Missouri.
After long series of years, extend
ing through nearly two centuries
of wars and struggles and sufferings,
and being reduced from large and
powerful tribe to small handful of
between eight and nine hundred souls,
the Shawnees have finally given up
their nationality, and become citizens
of the United States. By treaty male
at Washington in 1854. they ceded to
the United States one million of acres
of land at sixty cents per acre. Out
of the remaining tract, bordering On
the State of Missouri and the Kansas
river, they select for each individual
man, woman and child-two hundred
acres wherever they may choose; and
the United States gives patent to
each one, for the same. After the
Shawnees have made their selection,
the remainder is to be sold, and the
proceeds go to the individuals who
once composed this tribe.
/ If fthey are allowed to live in peace,
this has been a most favorable and
wise movement on the part of the
Indians. 1t has probably saved them
from the horrors of another removal,
and secured them q home and friends
in this beautiful and fertile country.
For some time they may be awkward
citizens, and find it difficult to con-
/ form their customs to American law;
but these difficulties can be easily
lovercome by the counsel of kind
friends. 1t is probable the missions
viii remain as they are, and the mis-
sionaries viii, as heretofore, teach and
instruct them in morality and religion,
so as to avoid all collision with the
law of the State. In few years they
IwiIl have Indian lawyers, justices of
the peace and legislators; and if this
iexperiment works well the other tribes
living in Kansas may be induced to
follow their example.
| The Shawnees have produced many
/ L.