The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-30
The Indians.
Important Conference at the Cherokee Capital
Our Relations With PeaceabIe TriBes-Ad-
dress TO ths American People,

-OuF Aeiati0AS WIN Peacea1le TribeS-Ad-
dress TO tn American People.
From the Chicago Post.
The representatives of the Cherokee. Creek,
Seminole, and Usage Indians. inhabit;ng the
Indian Territory, held a council at Okmulgee,
the capital of the Creek nation, on June to
consider the Territorial bills, railroad and
other schemes affecting the welfare Of the
indians, and after full discussion issued an
address to the President, Congress, and the
people OF the United States, in which they
earnestly aflirm their determination to pre-
serve relations of amity to the government,
and place themselves squarely upon their
treaties, and upon the line of progress and
general Improvements. They are opposed to
Territorial government, to the survey and
allotment OF their lands, and to the donation
Of their lands to the railroads, present or
contingent not because they are enemies of
improvements but because they see in them
the loss of their homes and INDEPENDENCE if
not extinction itself. They say:
" In the lapse of time, the increase of the
white population and the march of events
have removed US from the wilderness in
which we were. plunged uhwillngly, and
placed us nthe way Of our neighbors. The
| fault is not ours nor do they invalidate any
existing obligations. We ask nothing from
the people and authorities of the United
States, aside from their respect and good
fellowship, but what they have promised
the vicissitudes of our history, and the
terrible ordeal Of war by which we have been
scou;ged with fire and sword, through no
fault of ours but through weakness and
inability to sustain ourselves, we feel we are
even now progressing in knowledge and i'm
| provement in the arts and customs Of civliza
ton. We desire no change for purposes of
experiment in the policy Of the government
in its dealings toward our people and Terri
tory. We have no fault to find with
their policy US provided for by our treaties
All that we crave is simple and honest ad-
ministration of that policy by competent
and honest means.
9 We have been charged with opposition
to progress and Improvement but in refuta-
tation of that charge, however humble they
may seem, we confidently appeal to our
houses, our farms, our stocks of horses our
regularly organized governments. We are
not opposed to progress, to improvements
to civilization, to the Christian regligion.
On the contrary. we acknowledge the con
viction that rests upou our minds that oul
highest interests and self-preservation itsel
depend upon progress and improvement
We feel that we cannot safely step back
ward, but must press forward, inspired By
the spirit of the age in which we live, in The
arts, pursuits, and achievements of the sur
rounding civilization. We desire only moi
to be overwhelmed by the influences brought
TO bear upon US through the ambition .
aspiring men, the cupidity of soulless cor
porations and combinations of whatever
name, or the mistaken philanthropy of the
uninformed. Our forms of government are
those Of our choice, modelled after your own
and are such as are adapted to our condition
Under them we have prospered, when allow
ed quiet and rest. The tenures of which VIZ
hold our land are such as we prefer, anC
such as we believe to be for the best for the
majority OF our people. Observation and
reflection lead US to believe that no change
can be made in these respects that will not
be fraught with mischief and ruin. We wish
no change in regard to either, and confident
~ appeal to you to arrest all attempts to en-
force them upon us, except to the extent
and In the manner authorized by our treaties
now in force, or that may be hereafter con-
Guided. By them we are bound upon
them WEI rely. and we appeal to you as the
stronger and more enlightened party to
these compacts, to honestly and firmly OBJ
serve their stipuations. We don't wish any
material changes ia our relations TO the gov
eminent, but we do wish quiet and security.
/ The constant agitation of questions which
vitality affect our welfare are full Of evil in
huences upon our progress. We want q con
seriousness of protection and security. 1t is
in your power to give both. You have
promised them. Grant these, and we shall
fear no evil. We shall apprehend for our
race neither extinction nor degradation, but
progress and civilization will follow, and q
brighter page in Indian affairs will be found
in the history Of thc United States than has
yet been recorded.n
There was more harmony in council, and
there will be continued good feeling
among the tribes and toward the govern.
ment. The Chickasaw delegation did not
reach Okmulgee during the sitting OF the
council, and the Choctaws failed to appoint