M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-01-06
The Indian Territories.

These Territories lie south of Kan
sas, westof Missouri and Arkansas,
and north of Texas. They are III the
direct track of our emigrants. They
are inhabited by persons who are not
citizens of the United States, and
who have formed governments of their
own similar in character to those OF
the States. The N. o. Picayuns de-
sires to know what is to be done with
theml "Are they to be finally ad-
mitted into the Unionl Or, are for
eign governments to grow up in the
very heart of the territory of the u
nited Statesl"
"The Cherokees organized a regu-
lar government as early as 1889, copy
ing the peculiar features of the Con.
stitution of the United States. The
forms of legislation and the arrange.
ment of the courts Of justice SO near.
ly resemble those of the States that,
but for the tawny skins around him,
the traveller into the Cherokees' terri
tory would scarcely find any indica-
ton of having passed its boundaries.
This tribe has improved in all the
arts of civilization to such a degree
thatmany OF its principal men would
grace the refined society of any ma
tion. In respect for the law, regard
for popular education and public NOR
ality, and the adoption Of all the ele-
gancies and advantages of civiliLa-
tion, the Cherokees have taken q po-
sition which forbids any forciLle in.
reference with their rights to the ter
ritory they occupy, to suit the conven-
fences or obviate the anomaly which
the existence of their State now pre-
sents.
The Choctaws formed their gov.
ernment, taking the institutions Of the
United States for their model, in 1884.
Initiating their more progressive white
neighbors, last year they revised their
constitution and adopted even the
most minute forms of government and
names of officers which prevail in
each of the States of our Confcdera.
cy.
The Chickasaws, lately separated
from the Choctaws have also follow.
ed the example of the two tribes men.
toned, and thus the third government
with institutions identical with our
own, exist OIL the borders of the South.
western States, occupying territory
ceded to them by the General Gov.
ernment.
The Creeks are taking steps to ere.
ate the fourth independent Organiza-
tion of q State form of government,
aud will soon present an example oI
the influence OF civilization, in sub.
verting the customs and conditions Of
the race indigenous to the continent.
The Indian States are n strapgo
anomaly. They are not a part of the
Union, nor are they known in law to
exist. The white man cannot pass
through their territory without a per-
NIT, nor can he take with him, when
he is allowed to enter the Indian do
main, certain articles of merchandise
even though the packages are unbrok.
en- and are simply designed for the
New Mexican market. This singular
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 ten year;
it will beat against the barriers now
thrown up against its invasion of the
retreat Of these civilized aborigines
Even now tho emigration must eros;
these territories. These Indian States
cannot exist when the Caucasian race
presses Upon them as independent gov
ernmentS. The people civilized, ant
attached to the soil they have i'm
proved, cannot be removed to remotcl
wilds, nor without serious discontents
is it likely the United States can sub
Iject them to the condition Of other ter
ritorial organizations, by an abroga'
ton of the constitutions they have es
tablished for themselves. What then
is to be done with these Indian Statest
1t cannot fail to give greater interest
to this question that each Of these In.
dian States have adopted the social
institutions of the South. The Indi
ans are Shareholders"
x-rr0c a 70,