The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-26
TIE FoUR LNDLAN STATES.

The progress OF CIVILIZATION IN several
of the Indian tribes occupying Territories
west of the States will soon bring up
new question for the decision of Congress:
What shall be done with the Indian gov
ernments or States that are now fully or
ganized! Are they finally to be admit
ted to the Union9 Is new removal at
some future time to be made Of the tribes
civilized and christianized, to make room
for the Caucasian wave rolling west? Or
are foreign governments to grow up in the
very heart of the territory Of the U. States.
The Chcrokees organized n regular gov
ernment as early as 1889, copying the pc
culiar features of the constitution of the
United States. The forms of legislation
and the arrangement Of tho courts of JUS
tice so nearly resemble those of the States,
that, but for the tawny skins around him,
the traveller into the Cherokee territory
would scarcely find any indication of hav-
ing passed its boundaries.
This tribe has improved in all the arts
of civilization to such a degree that many
of its principal men would grace the re-
fined society of any nation. In respect
for the law, regard for popular education
and public morality, and the adoption of
all the elegancies and advantages of civ
ilization, the Cherokees have taken q po-
sition which forbids any forcible interfer-
encc with their rights to the territory they
occupy, to suit the conveniences or obyi-
ate the anomaly which the existence of
their State now presents.
The Choctaws formed theirgovernment,
taking the institutions of the United
States for their model, in 1884. Imita-
ting their more progressive white neigh
bors, last year they revised their constitu-
ton, and adopted even the most minute
forms of government and the names of
officers which prevail in each of the States
of our Conlederacy.
The Chickasaws, lately separated from
the Choetews, have also followed the ex-
ample of the two tribes mentioned, and
thus the third government, with institu-
tions identical with our own, exists on the
borders of the southwestern States, oe-
cupying territory coded TO them 10y the
general government.
The Greeks are taking steps TO create
the fourth Independent organization of a
State form of government, and will soon
present an example of the influence of civ
ilization in subvcrting the customs and
traditions of the race Indigenous TO the
continent.
These Indian States are n strange
anomaly. They are not n part of the
Union, nor are they known in law to ex-
ist. The white man can not pass thro'
their territory without n permit, nor can
he take with him, when he is allowed to
enter the Indian domain, certain articles
of merchandise, oven though the packa-
ges are unbroken and are simply designed
for tho Mexican market. This singular
state of things can not exist for many
years without forcing itself upon the at
tention of Congress.
The tide of population is steadily roll
ing west. In less than ten years it will
beat against the barriers now thrown up
against its invasion of the retreat of those
civilized aborigines. Even now the emf
igration must cross these territories. These
Indian States can not exist, when the
Caucasian race presses upon them, rs in
dependent governments. The people, civ
ilized and attached to the soil they have
| imDroyed. cannot be removed To remote
wilds, nor, without serious discontents, is
it likely tho United States can subject
them to the condition of other Territorial
organizations, by an abrogation of the
constitutions they have established for
themselves. What, then, is TO be done
with these Indian States! Il can not
fail to give greater interest to this ques-
ton that each of these Indian States have
adopted the social institutions of the
South. The Indians are shareholders.
New Orleans Picayune.