The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-10-12

! The ImA1au Trlbes-~rHeif 0eo'
! graphical and Political Position
Recent intelligence makes it probable
that almost the entire population Of tht
Indian territory has banded with the reb
| els against the Federal Government. On
2lst ultimo the Cherokee nation, assem-
bling in mass meeting resolved upon an
alliance with the rebel States, and that
fact was publicly proclaimed by their CHIEF
John Ross, az New Orleans. The import.
aacc of this acquisition to the strength Of
the rebel cause must not be moderated.
While the Cherokees appeared loyal, OF
at least preserved neutral attitude, the
warlike efforts Of the Choctaws and more
Southern tribes in the interest ofth Con-
federate Government were entirely paral-
yzed. But the attitude now taken by the
Chorokees arrays the Indian country as .
unit against US. The character, position
and resources Of our new enemies are
worth some attention.
The territory reserved to various Indian
tribes by the United States Government
lies between the Red river on the South
about the thirty fourth parallel-and the
thirty seventh parallel on the North, and
extends FROM Arkansas on the East to the
one. hundredth degree Of longitude on the
West. This magnificent territory, we'll
watered by numerous fine rivers and
streams, Of alternating prairie and timber
lano, possesses, by climate and soil, capac-
ity for the culture Of greater variety of
cereals, fruits, and other p; oducts Of CON-
mercial value, than any similar tract in
the United States. Wheat, corn, sugar
cane, cotton and indeed all products of our
country are here grown with great success.
The Choctaws occupy the Southwestern
portion of the territory. West of them
are the Chickasaws, with which tribe they
are closely assimilatcd by language and
government. The Northeastern portion
Of the territory bordering on Missouri and
Kansas is occupied by the Cherokees,
West Of whom are the Greeks, Seminoles,
Osages, and several smaller tribes.
Of all the Indian nations the Choctaws
are most advanced in the arts and appli-
apces Of civilization. They are by nature
better fitted for becoming an agricultural
people than any other Of the American
aborigines, as they possess fair mental
ability and peaceful disposition.
The Choctaws have never waged war
with their white neighbors 1t has been
the beast of the Choctaw that he never
shed the blood of white man in battle.
They have SO far advanced in enlighteu-
ment as to substitute Government simi-
lar to that of the United States for the
savage rule of chiefs. Still they are large.
ly under the influence of their leading
men, who, in addition to the influence
which the savage chief always exercises
over his adherents, possess the talismen
of civilization-wealth. Slavery has been
unfortunately woven into the fabric of the
Choctaw system, and has been the imme-
date cause Of the present attitude of the
tribe.
All along the Red river are large plant
ations, mostly owned by the half breeds,
whose influence with their people is great
er than that of the established govern
ment. The leading chief of the nation is
Colonel Pytchlyn, half-breed, an extern
sive slave-owner, and man of mind and
enlarged information. His residence, but
five miles from the Arkansas line, has
subjected him to tho immediate influence
of Secession, and it is not to be wondered
at that he fell easily into the plans of the
couspirators. Soon after the Secession of
Texas and Arkansaw, Pytchlyn's influence
with the tribe, backed by the rifles of a
large body of Texan rangers, forced the
acting president and council of Choctaws
and Chickasaws into an immediate coali-
ton with the rebels.
The first fruit of this movement should
have shown the deluded Indians the ma
ture of their new enterprise. Thirteen
schools, established by the aid Of the Gov
eminent, the American Board of Foreign
Missions, and the Presbyterian Board of
Missions, in which nearly one thousand
youth of both sexes were being educated,
were at once broken up, and the teachers,
nearly all of whom were from the North,
forced to fee, to save their lives. Some
of them were placed in the most distress
sing condition from want of money and
means of travel All the missionaries, of
various denominations, whose labors for
years had earned them the love and graft
tude of their people, were also driven out
by the Texan desperadeos, who hate
christianity only less than abolitio nism.-
Recruiting for the Southern army at once
commenced, but with narrow results, ow-
ing to the neutral attitude assumed by
some of the adjoining tribes.
The Greeks less civilized than the Choc.
taws, live more by the chase than by ag-
riculture. Their government is an i'm
proved form Of chleftainship, slavery being
recognised, although there are not many
slaves held by the nation. The leading
Creek chieftain is General Roley McIn-
tosh, u half-breed of Scotch origin. Nc
lntosh is IA strong minded and determined
man, a thorough Indian in his instincts
aud habits, scarcely speaking the English
language even. He was captain in the
United States army during the Creek war
in Florida, and served the Government
faithfully. His power over the move
ments Of his people Is absolute, and his
word with them is law. The willy Albert
Pike, of Arkansas, who has long been
McIntosh's personal friend, succeeded
without difficulty in bringing the Greek
nation into the Southern conspiracy. A
treaty of alliance was at the same time ef-
fected with the Seminoles. Here as among
the Choctaws. several aourishing schools
were broken up, and the teachers shame
lsssly driven from the Territory. Still the
designs of the Secessionists were made
futile by the attitude of the Cherokees