Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-10-18
rhe Indian TerrItory..A Slave state.


Tho next move Of the Slave prOpagandists
will be to form a Slave State out Of the Indian
Territory south of Kansas This has already
been foreshadowed by the Southern press, and
letter to the Charleston Mercury indicates the
measures to be used When the Indians were
located there, mostly scmi-cviiEed and remoy-
ed from the Southern States, those who order
ed the matter had new Slave State in view
Every effort has since been made to strengthen
and increase the pro.slavery spirit there The
federal officials ,connocted with the different
tribes, have been carefully selected pro slavery
men, and on several occasions, Missionaries
have been removed or driven out, on account Of
supposed anti slavery teachings. The Indians
Of means hold slaves to considerable extent,
but the tenure is regarded as more frail than
among white masters.
The Indian Territory the South now has an
eye upon, is fine tract of country lying between
Kansas and Texas, and west of Arkansas. The
principal nations arc the Cherokoes Greeks,
Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles. There
are several small remnants of tribes in addition.
The CherckesI are the most civilized, and have
the largest infusion Of white blood among them.
They are the most extensive slave holiers, and
cultivate large plantations. Their chief town.
Tahlequash, is handsome, well built village
OF 1000 inhabitants, located on the Arkansas
river, fifty miles from the line Of that State
The Cherokoes have Constitution, which pro-
vides representative form of government
John Ross, so long their President, is the son Of
Scotch trader, and quarter blood Cherokee
Ito is large STAKEHOLDER, and many Of the
slaves in the Cherokee nation have Indian
blood in their veins
TIE Creeks and Seminoles inhabit section
called Museogee. The Creeks arc the most
nrmerous and wealthy, and bold many slaves.
Numerous Maroons, reputed fugitive slaves
from Georgia TO Florida, and there reduced TO
slavery by the Creeks at the instigation OF
Federal officials are still held as slaves in the
Indian Territory. Tho pro-slavery spirit is
strong in the Creek nation, and is fostered by
Government agents The Creek form of gov
eminent is representative, consisting of Coun-
Gil anu Cnleli OF IIesluenL
The Caoctaws are wealthy and civilized own
a large number of slaves, and produce much
cotton. Doaksville, their chieftown, is situated
on branch of the Red River and the Ohoctaw
country is known as Chah-Ta.
The whole Indian Territory sought to be
made a Slave State, is about 200 miles north
and South, by 300 east and west, except toward
the north, where there is strip of about 80
miles wide, running west to New Mexico. The
whole Territory lies in the "cotton belt" a
term used to indicate that portion of the CONT
nent favorable TO slave labor During the Kan
sas struggle it was the convenient refuge of the
Border Rufiians, and it was there that Hamil-
ton and his gang sought security.
by the census of 1850, these Indian nations
numbered II 1877 persons, and the population
of the Territory is now perhaps 100000, as
large numbers Of white men from Missouri and
Arkansas have settled among the Indians, the
government agents having cOnnived at it pre-
vided the settlers were pro~slavery.
The Leavenworth Times, from which we
have condensed the above account Of the In
dian Territory, declares that it cannot be made
Slave Territory or SIavo State, without a
struggle more fierce than that which is closing
in Kansas. The Free State men will have a
great advantage in such contest. Kansas has
thousands of adventurous young men, who
have been educated into Free Labor senti-
ment, similar to that spirit which led the
chivalrg OF the Middle Ages to undertake the
crusades Open the Indian Territory, throw
down tue challenge, and it will be taken up in
Kansas unhesitatingly. Says the Times:
The fiat has gone out, and the people have
written their will 30 plain that he who runs
may read, not another foot of slave territory
shall be allowed uncOntested, with all energy
aud strength, to remain portion Of tho Ma
tiOnal DOmrin.