The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-05
Correspondence Of he Nesc York Herald.
The Indian Territory.

4Ho &A@S-4da 4c&HAtoSls
After leaving Neosho, We strike the In-
dian Territory at distance of about six
teen miles. Although there is no promi-
nent landmark dividing the Territory from
Missouri, yet the traveller can instantly
observe the change. We soon discover
that we have left the smiling farms and
neat cottages of the white man, for the
hunting grounds and the wigwams of the
Indian
The first tribe we come to after entering
the Territory is the Senecas. This tribe
formerly lived in the central part of the
State of New York, from whence they en-
igrated some thirty years ago. They do
not now number more than two hundred
souls. The Territory which they occupy
sontains some of the finest agricultural
land to be found in the world The soil
is excellent for corn, hemp, cotton, tobac-
CO, &C., and many of the farmers frequent
ly raise large crops of these productions.
We leave the Senecas at Grand River,
and cross over into the Cherokee Nation.
We cross the river at the Gilstrep ferry by
ford. 1t is a beautiful stream, of about a
hundred yards in width, and some three
feet IN depth, with an excellent gravel and
rock bottom. 1t is the opinion of good
judges that this river might easily be
made navigable for nearly hundred miles
from its mouth, which enters into the Ar
kansas at Fort Gibson. If this could be
done, it would open an excellent market
for the produce which is and could be
raised along the river.
The Cherokee Nation numbers about
eighteen thousand souls. There are but
few full -blooded Indians now among the
Cherokees, so great has amalgamation
been going on among them for the past
fifteen or twenty years. In fact, full
blooded Cherokee is almost curiosity
among the Cherokees themselves. They
own fine farms, with coal mines and salt
works, at the latter of which there is an
average of hundred bushels of salt man.
ufactured every day. Along the main
thoroughfares the settlements are very
sparse, the greater portion of them being
near the streams. Their soil is capable of
producing most abundant crops of corn,
fax, hemp, tobacco, &c. They are rapid
" improving in comfort and civilization,
and have excellent farms. well stocked and
furnished with many of the most approved
farming implements. Their form of gov
ernInent is very much like that of the
United States, their Constitution being
very similar. They have several fine
schools, where the children are taught the
common English branches. Their per-
manent school fund is about $500 Co.,
A large number of the half-breeds and
mixed Cherokees are agitating the subject
of joining with the other nations, forming
State Government, and applying for ad-
mission into the Union. This step, / am
informed, meets with considerable favor
from John Ross, the chief of the Cherokee
| nation, who is himself nearly fuIl-bIood-
ed Scotchman. But the proposition is
secuted at by the full blooded Indians
They have no idea of giving up their pres
ent form of government for that of a State
government. The more intelligent look
upon the movement as being the military
step towards driving them from the Terri
tory. They say, that if State govern
ment should be formed, the white popu-
lation would pour in upon them in such
numbers, that in few years they would
drive the red man from the country, and
assume the entire control of the affairs OF
| the Government.
The country through which we passed
from Neosho to Fort Gibson presents some
| of the finest scenery the eye ever beheld
The road runs the whole distance through
mountainous prairie, with occasional
groves of fine timber. About midway be.
tween these two points, we cross a small
mountain, about forty feet in height
From its summit, the sight was most sub.
lime and beautiful. All around grand
panorama spread before us valleys herb
aged with green, veined with brooks and
besprinkled with forests of oak, looking
like islands in a sea. All hands paused
| awhile, gazing on the scene of beauty, and
then passed on.
The roads over which we have Travelled
are some of the finest natural roads / have
ever seen. The soil is sandy loan, and
absorbs the water to such an extent, that
| in twelve hours after a drenching rain
with a warm sun, the roads are entirely
free from mud. At most seasons of the
year, these roads are equal to the besI
macadamized roads in the East
We crossed the Arkansas river at For
Gibson. Next to the Missouri, this stream
is the largest tributary of the Mississippi
though not the most important. Il j,
navigable as far up as Fort Gibson by
small boats. The land along the river j.
very productive and we'll timbered. Th'
amount of Territory drained by this rive
and its tributaries is estimated TO contain
176, 600 square miles.
/ This correspondent thinks that the for
nation of a State government in the TeE
ritory which would open the country Il
settlement, would bring on a new SLAYER,
agitation" He says:
@The greater portion of the wealthy in
habitants Of the Territory own more o
less slaves, and would consent to no form
of government, that would deprive then
Of this right" But the number of slave
and SHAREHOLDERS in the Territory is so In
significant, that no agitation" upon tn
subject is likely to be either formidable o
long lived.
The Herald correspondent reduces tn
estimate of slaves among the Cherokee
to one thousand. There are not probabl
four times that number among all the In
L. T.--s