Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-17
The INDIANS.
Sherman, Marcy, Cox and the Red Man have
a Great POW-W0W-The Speeches
and Terms of Peace.

the lndiSn nations, to consider the
proposed constitution. EnOch HOag,
Superintendent of Indian Affairs, pre-
sided.
Soon after assembling, Generals
Sherman and Marcy, Colonel Mccoy
and Colonel TOurtalOtte were intro
duced and received with especial
honOrs.
In response to the request Of a dele
gate, General Sherman made brief
address. He cOmplimented the dele
gates on their intelligence and skill in
debate, which had been exhibited by
them in previous councils. He de-
scribed the unsafe condition Of the
Sioux, ArapahOes, Apaches, Chey-
ennes. Camanches, and other uncivil-
lied tribes. They were in the way of
the great thorOughfare leading from
the Mississippi to the Pacific shore,
and in their Wanderings they fre-
quently came in collision with parties
Of American people. His hearers
clearly understand how idle it was for
any power to seek to stand in the
way of the expansion and growth of
the white race. Their brethren had
been crowded out of one State after
anOther-SeminOles, from Florida;
CherOkees, from Georgia; ShaWnees,
Osages, WyandOttes, from Kansas, and
still the American people, aided with
constant aCcessiOns Of population from
all parts of the world, were yet spread
ing out and forever demanding fresh
territory in which to find homes. The
delegates he was addressing represent
ed tribes who had country secured
them by treaty with US, and it was as
fair and fine q country as the foot of
man ever trOd upon. The population
of that territory did not exceed $4,000
persons, and it was fully capable of
supporting in abundance a population
of 6,000,0 600; it was a finer country than
Kansas, a finer country than Ne
braska, and it was equal in fertility to
Illinois. The speaker believed in the
white race. He knew the Americans
to be aggressive, and perhaps violent,
but he would have it understood that
they vindicated their aggressiveness
by their unceasing industry and ener-
gy, and the careful ends to which they
applied all they acquired. He could
see no reason why the Indian should
not be equal to the white man; his
body was equally robust and his brain
as large. Now, said the General, what
are you going to do? You are met
in council to adopt a constitution and
frame laws for the government of
your territory and to harmonic your
various tribes under one cOnfedera-
ton. You cannot do this without
harmony, without mutual concession,
and a willingness to yield to a cor
benefit for every advan-
tage conceded to you. You cannot
all be Creeks or Ch0ctaws or CherO-
KEGS: each must sacrifice something
for the benefit of the whole, and the
additional security they would gain
by the confederation, their whole
would pay them ten-fOld for
whatever concession they might be
called upon to make.
In honor of the social visits of
these distinguished white braves,
the council did not enter into |
the consideration of any business, |
but spent the remainder Of the
afternoon in pleasant conversation,
in which Mr.. William P. Ross, |
Coleman Cole, ChOCtaw, |
Pleasant Porter, Muskakee, and |
Joseph p. Folsom, ChOctaW, bore a |
prominent part. General Sherman |
and party left for Fort Gibson on busi- |
ness. The session proper opened to- |
lay. The delegates showed a good |
deal of ability and familiarity with |
the parliamentary laws governing the |
legislative bodies of white men.
The delegates informally appointed /
Ir elected were excluded.
A delegate wished to inquire wheth-
9r the secretary had transmitted a
copy of the constitution adopted at /
the December session, with the pro-
ceedings Of the Council, to the vaTi-
Gus tribes Represented, for sub.
mission to popular vote.
a Seminole delegate said the above |
documents had been received in his /
section and the reply had been for
Warded announcing that its submis- /
sion had been indefinitely deferred.
A Chickasaw delegate informed the |
Council that the submission of the +.
would take place in his /
nation in August next. The Cover /
nor declined to convene the Legisla
ture in extra session, on the ground |
that the matter was of too great i'm
pOrtance to be decided by legislative
body.
A Cherokee delegate reported that |
the constitution had been transmitted |
10 the Executive of the Cherokee ma
tiOu last February, but had been /
withheld by some unauthorized indi- |
vidual, and was not delivered until a
lew days ago, with the seal broken,
when il was too latO to take any &C.
lion. According to the delegates be-
lief his nation would readily ratiify |
the constitution on Its submission to
hem.
The chair remarked that at the |
last session the constitution had been |
framed and adopted with great una |
1imity, and he believed and |
thought they all believed it |
to be good one. There was no
1Jubt that the consultation would
nave been confirmed and approved
Oy Congress, with a possibility of
some alterations. He wished to i'm
press upon the minds Of the delegates
he necessity of harmony and united
action. Many sincere friends of the
Indian race in Washington were anX-
ously looking forward to the ratiflca.
ion OF their constitution. He sup
posed that the delegates knew, and if
hey did not it was fully time they
hOuld know, that the vast influences
diverse to the interests of their peO-
de were at work in Washington and
elsewhere. Railroad corporations
md moneyed monOpolies were casting
,ovetous glances upon that rich and
beautiful territory, and if by want of
concert of action and fair adjustment
# their interests they failed to pro-
,ide themselves with a cOnfederated
Orm OF government, which should |
i've strength and stability to their
political and social institutions, the
peaker would warn them that they
we're placing themselves in great
LANCER. In addition to the power of
apit8l the whole rude border element
vas striving to crowd them out, and
.lready their northern border was
,verrUn with these INSCRIPTIONS
ntruders, and he would remind
hem that in union there is strength,
nd the utmost need existed for them
n urging upon their people to take
DrOmpt action in ratifying the COnsti-
utiOn, which should bind their social
abrics together and give strength and
Iarm0ny to their relations as a united
,eOple. The Chair concluded by an
Xcellent address, earnestly recon-
nending the delegates to receive
be Osages to their friendship. These
'eeple, he said, are friendly, cOnfding
nd hOspitable; they have been driven
way from their homes in Kansas by
he white race, who settled upon their
ands by thousands; and when they
Opnd that their hunting grounds were
uined, and that either themselves or
heir white neighhnrs had 10 move.