Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-11
11A1 DEFIANT 7z0vs EETT 81 TIE zN-
DIAN TERRITORY
HAe's@ke 81 Gov. Harris, Of the ChickasGW
NATION, 10 The legislature.
10 ne honorable Members of the Senate and House n
RePTeSentdttrss Of tae (hicEasn,n Lenialntrre

q rences among the States forrosri5 ,;; ~
Q United States of America and in our own con5t-v
= growing out Of existing hostilities amouz those
States
You are aware that the process Of disinteoration
has been going for some time past in the dersl
Government at Washington, and has 80 rapidly adj
vanced of late that it may be safely assumed that
= | q permanent dissolution Of the American Un;no
rreeoncilable in its nature. and past al hope Of re-
construction, has taken place; IN fact It has teen
asserted by some of the ablest Constitutional law
yers OF the States that the action Of the Executive
Department of the Government at Wash ngton. has
been such that the Federal Union has been destroy
ed, and the parties to toe constitutional compact,
under which that government existed, have been
released from all allegiance or obligation 90 it.
Be this as it may, the deplorable and distracted
condition Of the States, the war existing among
; them, the usurpation of the Government at Wash
ington, insnuting military rule for constitutional
government the cartridge box instead of the ballot
box. and the formation Of new confederacy among
the Southern States under Constitution modelled
after that of the old government but greatly i'm
proved, with such checks and safeguards as give
reasonable assurance Of permaneucy7 and constitu-
ting now the only repository Of constitutional free
; dom. All vitality affect the Chickasaw nation as
well ls other Indian nations, between whom and
the United States of America treaties existed and
make it imperatiyeiy necessary that they should
take speedy action for their own security. M
} BY the treaties made between the Chickasaws
and the United States, occupied the position of
nation under their proteetorate but with .full iu.
risdction,s over personal property withla our lin
its, far as compatible with the Constitution and
laws Of the United States made in pursuance there
Of for the regulation of trade and intercourse with
the indians tribes; wert also guaranteed proec-
ton from domestic strife, from hostile invasons and
from aggressions by other Indians" The proceeds
of cur land sold in Mississippi were invested in
State and federal stocks and the Federal Govern
ment was constituted trustee, pledged to collect the
interest thereon and apply the for the benefit
Of the Chckasaw peoples and, together with the
Choctaws, we held under that government the absO-
lutte Ownership of the Choctaw and Chickasaw
eountry-a reyersionary interest only being secured
to the United States in the event became extinct
| or abandoned the lants The Government with
which those treaties we're concluded was composed
Of States now discovered, and hostile TO each other
II certainly cannot be maintained that the present
! Government at Washington is the Government OF
| the United States, or that the Confederate States
| (the Government st Montgomery the Government
/ with which we entered into treaties The fact il
/ patent and notorious. that dissolution Of the
! United States of North America has taken place.
and that fact leaves the Chckasaw Nation i1ldepen-
dent.
The Chiekssaw can no longer look for protection,
or the performance of treaty stipulations by the
/ United States there being no such government It
is true there is a government at Washington which
claims to be the United States Government, but
cent events have demonstrated that we cannot look
to it for protection, for any beneficial execution
| of the treaties made between rs and the United
States. Recently the troops of the Government.
| Washington were Withdrawn from our country, |
/ leaving it without protection from foreign a1d dO>
nestle foes: and, the commanding officer not only
refused when called upon to do so by myself TO |
| furnish the Chekasaws with arms and ammunition |
for sefdefense, but permitted the WsntOn destruc-
ton of such as he could not remove. Under this |
state of things troops from Texas commanded BY |
Gen. W. C. Youngl took possession Of the deserted
forts; and also captured considerable quantity Of
public property IN the name of the Confederate /
States, and now holds Forts Wasdita, Arbuckle and
| perhaps Cobb.
| The Lincoln Government has also failed 20 pay /
over, or in any way to provide for the payment Of
the annuities so essential to the preservation Of
own government and the continuance OF our schools,
and learn that delegation from our neighbors,
the ChoctaWs while at Washington, were told thar
no more money should be sent South until the ter
mination of the war" Thus we have been aban-
doned by the Lincoln Government TO the tender
mercies of the lavless savages our western /
borders and consigned to the danger of anarchy /
for the want of means to pay our officers; and 1
our children to hopeless ignorance for want Of /
| funds TO educate them.
Can we expect the recognition protection OF /
our landed rights from Government processing TO /
act as the Government of the United States, thus /
unmindful of its obligations TO US? Il behooves u.s.
then to assume independence, and to take such
steps, separately or In concert with other Indian
nations as will ensale to obtain recognition Of
it. and to assume our rights in lands and moneys.
In order to accomplish these objects, would re-
spectfully recommend as have heretofore done:
First, That the delegates the part of the Chick
ssaws be appointed to meet delegates from the
ChoctaWs, Cherokees. Creeks, Seminoles, and such |
other neighboring Indian tribes may desire to be
represented in 8 Convention TO assemble for the
purpose of confederating together for mutual
safety and the defense of country against inva-
sion and to secure the independence OF the Indian
nations severally or collectively as may be deemed
best.
Second That five commissioners be appointed
with full powers to enter into new treaties with
= ,1lN
our tribal rights landed and monied under former
treaties with the United States msy be recognized
and secured aud to take all necessary steps TO Sc
cure the funds belonging TO the Chlckasaws, now
unlawfully in the hands Of portion Of the States
formerly constituting the government OF the United
States to demand and receive them, and to receipt
for the same; and to give all necessary notices 70
the States in whose stocks the Chickasaw money
was invested, not to pay the principal OF interest
thereon to any other psrty than the Chlckasaws or
their duly authorized agent attorney. And fur
Their if necessary to enter into arrangements with
the States whose stocks are held by tue Chlcka-
saws, to Obtai supply Of arms and ammunition
for the defense of the ChlckasaY country and
sufieiency of money 10 carry on the CnlckasaW
government and schools.
Third. That law be framed authorizing the
Governor of the Chickasaw nation to accept the
services of such volunteer companies, native or
white, as may offer themselves for the defense OF
the country, to organize the same rs battahons or
regiments according TO the number. with the priv
ege of electing their company and field officers, the
whole TO be under the orders of such commanding
officers the Governor may appoint to take charge
of the defense of the country IN concert with the
neighbering States of Texas and Arkansas, and the
Indian nation west of the latter State.
Fourth That law be passed, providing for COM
missioners to enter into convention with the rowing
bands such as Camanches and KiOwsys. Of the
plains, whereby the friendship, if not the actual
aid, of these bands may be secured
Filth. That suitable laws be passed for the pun
ishmens of all crime committed within the Chicka-
saw district whether by white men or others
S,slh, To provide for the occupation of the forts
within the Cbckasaw nation. and have the same
oarrisoned udder authority, either by Chickasaw
or other troops acting in TIE name Of the Chickasaw
nation and under the orders of the commanding Of
cer of the Chickasaw forces until such time as by
treaty arrangements they may be conferred to the
Confederate States.
Se,,esrh. That resolutions be passed by the legs-
lature decaratory of the rights Of the nation de-
fniug Its position clearly in reference to the war
batween the north aud South, and inviting the CO
operation of the neighDorng indian NATIONS and the
States of Arkansas and Texas in the defense of the
Indian country against invasion By the wild Indian
tribes or BY northern troops.
E5obt That Douglas II. Cooper, who has for many
wears. until recently, resided among US as L. S.
agent and is fully conversant with all our business
he amounted By your honorable body agent for
the Cbickasaw people to assist their commissioners
in the negotiation of such treaties may become
necessary, and in all the arrangements proper 10 be
entered into for the recovery and safety of the Chick
asaw lands and TO concert measures with the neigh
boring States of Arkansas and Texas for the tempo
rary protection and defence of the Indian Territory
against invasion by hostile forces and generally 20
conduct all intercourse and correspondence OF the
Chickasaws with othaHnatlons and to perform such
other duties civil military, as may be authorized
by the governor of the Chickasaw nation, and that
the Chocktaws whose business and interests are so
closely interviewer and identified with our own, IN
many respects be also invited TO invest MN win
similar powers in their behalf And further, m
order 10 secure independent and efficient action on
his part, and proper Accountability TO the Chicka-
saw nation. that he be adopted into our tribe as
Chick9saw. |
of ,yorronts on the treasury Of the Cbickasaw ma
ton for the pay Of all officers Of the Government,
and srcb other expenses ss necessarily incurred