The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-01-06
The Four Indian States.
From tie Neso- Orleans Picayatne

FROM tie IftI-OTteUnS IIC0yuRe.
The progress of civilization in several
of the Indian tribes occupying Terrific
ries west of the States will soon bring up
a pew question for tue decision of Con-
gress. What shall be done With the In
dian Governments or States that are now
fully organized! Are they to be finally
admitted inlo the Union? Is new re-
moval at some future time to be made of
the tribes civilized and Christianized to
make room for the Caucasian wave roll
ing West! Or are foreign governments
to grow up in the very heart Of the ter
rtory of the United States?
The Cherokces organized regular
government as early as 1899, copying the
peculiar features of the Constitution of the
United States. The forms of legislation
and the arrangement of the courts of JUS
tice SO nearly resemble those of the
States that, but for the tawny skins a,
round him, the traveller into Cherokees
territory would scarcely find any indca-
tion of having passed its boundaries.
This tribe has improved in all the arts
of civilization, to such degree that u a
ny of its principal men would grace the
refined society of any nation. In re-
spect for the law, regard for popular ed
ucatisn and public morality, aud the a,
doption of all the elegances and advan-
tages of civilization, the Cherokees have
taken position which forbids interfer-
euce with their rights to the territory
they occupy, to suit the conveniences or
obviate the anomaly which the existence
of their state now presents.
The Cboctaws formed their Govern
ment. taking the institutions of the Uni
ted States for their model, in 1884. I'm
itating their more progressive white
neighbors, last year they revised their
Constitution, and adopted even the most
minute forms of goSeromert and the
names of the officers which prevail in
each of the States of our Confederacy.
The Chickasaws, lately separated from
the Cboctaws, have also followed the ex-
ample of the two tribes mentioned, and
thus the third government with institu-
tions identical with our own, exist on the
borders of the South Western States, oc-
cupyipg territory ceded so them by 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
civilization in subverting the customs and
traditions of the race indigenous to the
continent.
These Indian States are strange an-
omaly. They are not part of the Uni
on, nor are they known in law to exist
The white man cannot pass through their
territory without a permit, nor can be
take with him, when he is allowed to eu-
ter the Indian domain, certain articles OF
merchandise, even though the packages
are unbroken and are simply de,igDed for
the New Mexican market The singular
state Of things cannot exist for many
years without forcing itself upon the at
ten,ion 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 em
lgration must cross these Territories
These Indian States cannot exist when the |
Caucassian race presses upon them as inde.
pendent governments. TIE people civilized
aDd attached to the soil they have i'm
proved, cannot be removed to remote
wilds, nor, without serious discontents, is |
it likely the 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 StateSl It cannot fail
to give greater interest to this question
that these Indian States have adopted the
social institutions Of the South. The In
dams arc Shareholders.