Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-16

HIS ADDRESS 10 Ne General Indian Council a.
Oemglgee-Pidia Tux 10 Lo.
NEW YORK June ia special correspondent
Of the Tunes epoTts from Ocmulgee, Indian Ter
ritory, june 9th, the assembling OF general
council OF the Indian nations 70 consider the
proposed constitution. Enoch Hoag, Indian
Superintendent, presided. Soon after the Assem-
bling, General Sherman, General Marcy, Colo
mel Mccoy and Colonel Tourtelotte were intro
duced and received with special honors. In
response TO a request OF the delegates General
Sherman made a brief address. He oompli-
mented the delegates on their intelligence and
skill in debate which has been exhibited I'm
previous councils. He described the unsafe
condition Of the Arrahoes, Apaches, Chey-
ennes, Comanches and other uncivilized tribes.
They were in the way of the great thOrOughfar
leading from the Mississippi 70 the Pacifcshore
and in their wanderings they frequently cam
into collision with parties OF American people
His hearers clearly understood how idle Il wa
or any power to seek TO stand in the way of { b
expansion and growth OF the white race. Thei
brethren had been crowded out of one Stat
after another The Seminoles from Florida, tn
Cherokees from Georgia, Shawnees, Osages and
WyandOttes from Kansas, and still the American
people, aided with constant accessions Of pOpu
latiOn from all parts Of the world, were We
spreading OuI and forever demanding fresh ter
TitOTy in which TO found homes. The delegate
he was addressing represented tribes who had
country secured to them by treaties with tn
United States. II was as fair and as fine
The population of that Territory did not
exceed &C, 900 persons, and il was fully capable OF
supporting IN abundance a IOlUlatlOn OF sixty
millions. 1t was finer country than kansas; a
finer country than Nebraska Ii was equal i'm
fertility TO Illinois. The speaker believed in the
white lace. He knew the American people were
aggressive and perhaps violent, but he would
have it understood they indicated their aggres-
siOns by their increasing industry and energy,
and the useful ends TO which they applied all
they acquired. He saw no reason why the In
dian should not be the equal Of the white man,
has body was equally robust and his brain large.
Now, saidthe General, '.what are you going to DO?
You are met in council to adopt constitution,
frame laws for the government OF your territory
and harmonic your various tribes under one
confederation. You cannot do this without har-
mOny, without mutual concession and a willing
ness to yield a corresponding benefit for every
advantage that is conceded TO you. You cannot
all be Creeks, Choctaws or Cherokees. Each must
sacrifice something for the benefit Of the whole,
and the additional security they would gain by
the confederation of the whole number, would
pay them tenf0ld for whatever concession they
might be called upon TO make"
In honor of the social visit of these distin-
guished white brethren the council did not enter
into the consideration of any business but spent
the remainder OF the afternoon in pleasant con-
yersation, in which Mr.. VIM. Ross, Cherokee
cogee; and Joseph 7. Folsom, Choctaw, bore a
prominent part.
Gen. Sherman and party have left for Fort
Gibson.
The business session proper opened to-day.
Thu delegates showed much ability and faml-
iarity with parliamentary Law governing legisla-
The chairman, in his remarks favoring har-
mOny and united action, said vast influence ad-
to the interests Of their people at work
in Washington and elsewhere. Railroad cOrpo-
ratiOns, the mOnied monopOlies, were casting a
coYetOus glance upon that rich and beautiful
Territory, and if by want Of concert Of action
and fair adjustment of interests they failed 10
provide themselves with a confederated form of
government, which should give strength and
stability 10 their political and social institutions
the speaker would warn them that they were
placing danger.
TO the power of capital, the whole rude border
element was striving TO crowd them out, and al
ready their northern border was oyerrun by un-
scrupulous intruders. He would remind them
that in union there was strength, and the utmost
need existed for their urging upon the people to
take prompt action in ratifying a constitution
which should bind their social fabric together
and give strength and harmony 70 their rela-
tons az an united people.