Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-24

We and in q late number Of the New Orleans PIC
sgune g. article with reference to the Indian Teri
tories west Of the States, which we confess opens
new question for the consideration Of the people Of
this country While publie attention has been
directed to the growth, development and increase Of
such Of our Territories are populated With settlers
from the States or emigrants from the Old World,
these Indian reservations have been filing up with
tbeir peculiar inhabitants, forming and adopting
Constitutions, organizing territorial governments,
establishing Courts Of Law, and thus assuming all
the attributes Of legally and lawfully constituted
Territories But their Indian Inhabitants are not
etzeas Of the Uaiiea States under the Constitution
What is 70 be done with these Indian territories?
We shall have more to say upon this subject In the
mean time the interesting article from the Pseesuns
will afford wide field for thought and investigation
1t erTes the attention of every man 10 the Republic
who wishes to from the path Of our progress
all imPsdimenls Of exciting and i1itstiOg char
aeter. These Indian territories lie South Of Kansas
West Of Missouri and Arkansas, and North Of Texas
and therefore in the direct track Of emgrsntB,
and in position to work incaleulable Injury upon
the population Of the States specified if these semi
savages be once aroused to armed sctisD, by what
they may consider an attack upon their rights, BY
the authority Of the United States. But read the
article from the Picaguas:
The progress in civilization Of several ofthe Indian
tribes occupying Territories vest Of the States will
soon bring up 3 new question for the decision Of
Congress. What shall be done with the Indian
Governments or States that fully organized?
Are they 20 be finally admitted into the Union Is
q new removal at some future time, 10 be made Of
the tribes civilized and ehrisiiaRized 70 make room
for the Cauc asian wave rolling west? On are foreign
governments TO grow mp in the very heart Of the
territory of The United States!
The Cherokees organized q regular government
as early as 1885, copying the peCuEr features Of the
Constitution Of the United States The forms Of
legislation and the arrangement OF the counts Of
justice nearly resemble those Of the States thst
but for the tawny skins around him, the traveller
into the Cherokee territory would scarcely End any
indication Of having passed its boundaries.
This tribe has improved in all the arts Of
civilization to such degree that many Of ts prinoi
pal men would grace the refined society Of any ma
zion. In respect for the law, regard for popular
education, and public morality, and the adoption Of
al the eleganees and advantages Of civilization,
the Cherokees have taken q position which fOrbids
any forcibe interference with their rights 70 the
territory they occupy, to suit the c0nvsniences or
ObViste the anomaly which the existence Of their
State ROW presents.
The ChOctaWs formed their governments, taking
the institutions Of the United States for their model
neighbors last year they revised their constitution
and adopted even the most minute forms Of govern
ment and names Of ofieers which prevail in each Of
the States in our ConfederaCy.
The ChiekssaWs, lately separated from The ChOe-
tsWs have alec followed the example Of thstWO tribes
mentioned, and thus the third government, with [
institutions identical with own exists on the
borders # the South western States occupying ter
ritory ceded to &hem by the General Government.
The Creeks taking steps to create the fourth /
independent organization of State form Of govern
ment, and viii soon present an example Of the in /
Huencs Of civilization, in subvering the customs
and traditions Of the Indigenous TO the cons
tinent
These Indian States are 8 strange snOmaly. |
They srs not part Of the Union, they known
in law to exist. The white cannot pass through
their territory without permit nor can he take 4
with him, when he is allowed to enter the Indian |
domain, certain Erticles Of merchandise, even /
though the packages are unbrOken snd are simply I
designed for the New Mexican market This singu- |
lsr state Of things cannot exist for many years
without forcing itself upon the attention Of Congress-
The tide Of population is steadily rolling West. /
In less than two years it will beat against the bar
riers ROW thrsWn up against its invasion Of the
treat Of these civilized aborigines. Even now the |
emigration must cross these territories The Indian
States cannot exist when the Caucasian race presses
upon them as independent governments. The peO-
pie civilized Sttsehed 10 the soil they have i'm
proved, cannot be removed to remOer wilde, nor
without serious discontents lie il likely the United
States can subject them to the condition OF ether
territorial organizations, BY abrogation Of the
constitutions they have established for themselves
What is then TO be done with these Indian Stafes
It cannot fail to give greater interest to this ques
tion that each of these Indian States has adopted
the social Institutions Of the South. The fadisns
are shareholders.