The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-13
Sunday Nights Dispatches.
Council of Indians in In
dian Territory.
Address Issued to Congre SIS
and the People.
Great Preparations for the
SBngerfest st Gin
oinnati.
General Telegraphic Mis-
cellany.
Council OF Indians In Indian Terrific
ry--Address issued to Congress and
the Public.

FY--AddreSS lSsued to Congress and
the Public.
ST. LOUIS. june 12.-The repre-
sentatives of the Cherokee. Creek.
Seminole and Ossge Indians. inhabit-
ing the Indian Territory, held a coun-
Gil at Okamulgee, the capital Of the
Greek nation. on the 4th of June, to
consider the Territorial bills, railroad
and other schemes, affecting the we'll
fare of the Indians, aud after a full
discussion, issued an address to the
President, Congress and people of
United States, in which they earnest
ly affirm their determination to pre.
serve relations Of amity TO the Gov
ernment, aud place themselves square
ly upon their treaties, and upon the
line of progress and general improve
ment.
"They oppose territorial government
the survey aud allotment of their
lands, and the donation of their
lands to railroads, present or contin-
gent, not because they are enemies of
improvement, but because they see
in them the loss of their homes aud
independence, IF not extinction.
The increase Of the white popula-
ton, and the march Of events, have
removed us from the wilderness in
which we were plunged ungillingly,
and placed us in the wsU of our
neighbors. The fault is not ours, nor
do they invalidate any existing obi
CATION.
We ask nothing from the people
and authorities of the United States
aside from respect and good fellowship
but what they have promised-an OBJ
servance of their treaties. Despite all
the vicissitudes of our history and
the terrible ordeal of war by which
we have been scourged with FIRE and
sword, through no fault of ours but
weakness and inability to sustain our
selves, we feel we are even now
progressing In knowledge and i'm
provement in arts and customs of
civilization.
I'VE desire no change for the pur-
pose of an experiment in the policy
of the Government, in lite dealings
toward our people aud territory. We
have no fault to find with th cir policy,
as provided for by oar treaties. All
that we want is simple aud honest
administration of that policy, by com
petent and honest means. We have
been charged with opposition TO pro-
gress and improvement; but In refu
tatiou of that charge, however hum
bic they may seem, we confidently
appeal to our houses, our farms, our
stocks of horses and cattle, our
schools. our churches, and our reg
ularly organized governments.
We are not opposed to progress,
to improvements, to civilization or to
the Christian religion. On the con
trary, we acknowledge the conviction
that rests upon our minds, that our
highest interests and self preservation
itself depend upon their progress and
Improvement We feel that we can
not safely go backward. but must
press forward. Inspired By the spirit
of the age Ia which we live, 10 the
arts, pursuits aud achievements of the
surrounding civilization.
We desire only not to be so over
whelmingly under the influences
brought TO bear upon us through the
ambition of aspiring men, the cupid
ity Of soulless corporations and COM
binations or whatever name. or the
mistaken philanthropy of the unin-
formed. Our forms OF g3vernm
are those of our choice, modelled
after your own. and such as are
adapted to our condition. Under
them we have prospered when allow
ed quiet and rest.
The tenures by which we hold our
land, is such as we prefer, and such
as we believe to be for the best for
the majority of our people Obser.
walton and reflection lead US to be-
lieve 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 con-
fdently appeal to you to arrest all at
tempts to enforce them upon the
United States, except to the extent
and in the manner authorized by our
/ treaties.