The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-07
lNKLlNGS FROM THE FRONTIER;
LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD
Fort WAsHITA, CHICKAsAw NATION,

LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD
FoRT WAsHITA, CHIcKAsAw NATION,
June 10, 1859.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
In an address to the Wing Central Commit
tee of the State of New York, last winter, En-
Governor Hunt took occasion to remark that
| there was no further necessity to agitate the
Slavery questions and as to the subject of Sla-
very extension, that might be ignored alto
gether, because there is no more territory to
contend for, except the barren wastes of New
Mexico. 1t is strange to me that some of our
public men will occasionally display such pro-
found ignorance in relation to the geography
of our Western domain.
Is the great mass of the American people
ignorant of the fact that there is a vast scope
Of Indian territory lying between the thirty
seventh parallel of north latitude and the Red
river of Louisiana? / opine not. Do they
intend to quietly surrender all our great West
to the Slavery propaganda, or do they intend
to devote portion of it to the interests of free
labor? This question, of vital importance to
tics. 1t must come upon the people, sooner or
later. And why not meet it at once, meet it in
the impending campaign of 1860, before
scheming demagogues get the upper hand Of
right and justice?
True, this portion of the county has been
coded to the civilized nations Of Indians, by
whom it is almost exclusively governed, and is
not open TO settlement by the white citizens of
any country, except by special permission of the
respective Indian authorities, and even then
only on certain conditions. But who supposes
that this state of affairs is going to exist long?
Many of the most intelligent Indians are them
selves in favor of change, whereby the enter
prise, industry, and more advanced civilization
of their white brothers may be brought to bear
upon the development of their people and the
resources of their country. Their present pop
ulation, as well as their available stock of in
dustry and enterprise, is entirely inadequate to
the development of their great natural resources
And they are fully aware that a more liberal
intermixture of the white element would greatly
conduce to their prosperity and happiness. And
then, our Government is not going to permit
such an extensive scope of rich agricultural
and stock-raising country to remain in unprof
liable idleness If, by new treaty and judicOus
arrangement with the Indian nations, it can be
opened to emigration and the industry of pro-
gressive civilization.
| have within the last few years travelled
over most of this country and am perhaps
able to give a succnct description Of it, its in
habitants, and their manners, customs, and
politics, with few remarks on their progress
in the process of civilization and improvement,
and their future prospects.
In 1857, travelled along the northern por-
ton of the Cherokee Nation, nearly as far west
as the base of the Rocky Mountains, returning
by the valley Of the Canadian river, which the
ButterGeld overland mail route should have
traversed, had not the whims of certain IN
teTeSf clamored for route further south, and
over more desolate and nhospitable country.
Last winter | travelled across this country,
from Kansas to Texas. At divers other times
have | visited various other portions of the
country.
The Territory is bounded on the east by the
State of Arkansas, a portion of Missouri on the
north by the thrty-seyenth parallel of north
latitude or Kansas, on the west for the most
part by the hundredth meridian west longitude.
Ia slip, however, runs as far west as the Rocky
Mountains,) and on the south by the Red river
of Louisiana, or Texas. 1t embraces an area of
near two hundred thousand square miles, and is
divided into four separate and distinct Govern
ments or Indian principalities. These little
Governments might almost be said to be indie
pendent republics within the borders of the
United States, and under the protectorate of
the Federal Government They belong to the
proprety as it would be of ours Ere we sheer
Cherokee, Creek and Seminole, Choctaw, and
Chickasaw nations. Each nation has a Con-
stitution and code of laws of its own, and elects
its own federal, executive, judicial, and legis-
lative officers. They have their capitals coun-
ty sites, court houses, colleges, seminaries, and
common schools publish newspapers, and re-
joice in public and private libraries.
Many of them reside in fine Enthusiastically
mansions, beautiful and tasty to behold; own
large plantations, and vast herds of horses,
mules, horned cattle, sheep, goats, &c, to say
nothing of certain species of twolegged chat
ties with woolly heads. With some of them are
to be found an abundance of the comforts of
life, many Of the Injuries, and evidences Of re-
inement-all bespeaking an advanced state Of
civilization.
Some of those wealthy and substantial men
of the nations are pure-blooded aborigines, but
the majority are Of mixed blood, ranging from
the half breed to the creole, with the merest
tinge of color and the least drop of Indian
blood coursing their veins. This mixed race
originated from sturdy mountainers, daring
hunters and trappers, French voyageurs, and
Southern Adventures. Their manners and
customs resemble those of the Southern
States in many respects, yet they have many
peculiarities of their own. They are generally
kind and hospitable, and the stranger among
hem soon feels himself at home and at ease
They are great lovers of outdoor exercise
and athletic sports. Fox and stag chasing,
norse-racing, target shooting &c, are practiced
10 considerable extent. But gambling is
strictly forbidden by their laws, and is only in
lulged in clandestinely.
Their young women are hoydenish, full of
7ivacity, overAowing with fun and frolic, and
ire never better satisfied than when mounted
On fleet and mettlesome steeds, and flying at a
breakneck speed over bitches and hedges. 1t
IS really delightful to take morning gallop
over the prairies with one of those charming