The New York herald., 1871-06-17
INDIAN LEGISLATION.
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Grand Council Of Delegates in the
Indian Territory.
Proposed Confederation Of All
the Civilized Tribes.
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General Sherman Gives Good Advice
to the Red Warriors.
Unity and Civilization the Only Defence
Against Annihilati0u.
CHICAGO. June Is, 1871.

CHICAGO, June I6, 1871
special correspondent reports from Okmugee,
Indian Territory, June 9. the assembling OF gen.
eral council OF Indian nations consider the pro-
posed constitution. Enocn Hoag, Indian Superln.
tendent, presided Soon after assembling General
Sherman General Marcy. Colonel Mccoy ana Colonel
Tourtelotte were introduced and received with
special honors.
ADDRESS BY GENERAL SHERMAN
In response to request of delegate General
Sherman MADE brief address. He compimented
the delegates on the intelligence and skill In
debate which had been exhibited by them IN
previous councils. He described the unsafe con-
dtlon OF the Arrapahoes, the Apaches, the Chey-
ennes. the Camanches anu the other uncivized
tribes. They were In the way Of the great thorough.
fare leading from the Mississippi to the Pacific Shore
and IN their wanderings they frequently caale into
collision with parties OF the American people. His
hearers clearly understood how Idle 1t 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-the
seminoes from Florida, the Cherokees from Geor
ga, the Shawnecs, the OsaRes, the Wyandotes
from Kansas-and still the American people, aided
with constant accesslons OF population from all parts
OF the world, were yet spreading out and forever
demanding fresh territory in which 10 found homes.
The delegates he was addressing represented tribes
who had country secured to them by treaties
with the United States; 1t was as fair and
as fine q county rs the foot OF man ever trod
The population OF that Territory did not exceed sixty
thousand persons, and it Vas fully capable OF sup.
porting In abundance population OF sixty millions.
1t was finer country than Kansas; u finer country
Mob
The speaker believed III the white race He knew
tue American people 10 be aggressive, ana, perhaps.
violent: but lie would have unders ood that they
vindcated their agsress,veness BY their INCREASING
industry ana energy aud the careful uses 10 winch
they applied all tnat they acquired. lie could see no
reason why the Indian should mol be the
EQUAL or TIE WHITE MAN.
His body was equally robust. and hts brain as
large. '.Now,n said the General. "wnat are you
going to dos You are met in council to ADOPT
constitution frame laws for the government OF your
territory, and narmonze your various tribes under
one confederation. You cannot do athis without
harmony, without mutual concession and q willing.
ness to yield corresponding Denent for every al.
vantage that is Conceded to you. You cannot al be
Creeks Ch0ctaws or CherokeeS. Each must sacrifice
something for the benefit OF the whole aud the ad
dItlonal security you would gain by the conlenera-
tion or your whole number would pay you tenfold
Tor whatever concession you may DC called upon
to lnaAen
IN honor OF the social visits OF these distinguished
white brethren the Council did not enter INTO the
consideration OF any business hut spent the
mainder Of the afternoon III pleasant conversation,
IN Which Mr. William Koss (Cher0kee,, Coleman
Cole (chocawl. fleasaat Porter (ausRokcey ana
Joseph i. Folsom tChoctaw bore prominent part.
General sherman ana party left Tor Fort Gibson.
TIE BUSINESS SESSION,
proper, opened to-day The delegates showed much
erning legislative bodIes. White men, delegates In
formally appointed or elected. were excluded.
DELEGATE wished 10 IN rire whether the Sec
reiiry had transmitted a copy OF the constitution
adopted at the Decemoer session. with the pro-
ceedngs OF the Council, To the various tribes rep
resented for Submission to popular vote.
A SEMINOLE DELEG ATE said the above document
had been read ia his nation anu reply had been
forwarded, answering hat Its submission had been
indefinitely deferred.
A CnIoTAsAw DELEGATE informs the Council that
the submission OF the constitution would take place
In his nation In August next Ihc Governor had been
requested TO convene the Legislature in extra ses-
sion but he declined, the ground that the matter
Is OF too much Importance TO oc decided by legis
latlve body.
tutiou had been transmitea to the Executive OF the
Cherokee Nation last February, but mad been with
held by some unauthorized individual ana not de-
livered until ten days ago, with the seal broken,
when 1t was too late to take action. According TO
the delegates belief his nation would readily ratiIy
the constitution on It's Submission 10 them.
REMARKS OF TIE CHAIRMAN.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that at the last session
great unanimty, which ne believed, and which they
all believed TO be good one. THERE'S no doubt that
that constitution would nave been confirmed and
approved by Congress- with POSSIBLY some few altera
ti0ns. He wished TO impress upon the minds OF the
delegates the necessity or harmony ana united ac-
tion. Many sincere friends OF the Indian race In
Washington. IN the United states, were anxlously
looking for the ratification OF the constitution. lie
supposed the delegates knew, and IL they did not
know IL was fully time they should know, that vast
INILUENCE ADVERSE 30 TIE INTERESTS
or their people were at work IN washington and else
where. ciaiiroad corporations and mOneyed monopo-
lies were casting u coyetous glance upon that rich
and beautiful territory aud II, by want OF concert OF
action and fair ad uslment OF interests, they failed
TO provide themselves with a confedcrated form OF
government which should give strength and sta.
bty 10 their political and social institutions, the
speaSer woald warn them that they were placing
themselves III great danger In addition to the pow.
erlul capital the whole rude border element was
STRIVING To CROWD THEM OUT,
and already their northern border oyerrun nv
that in union there was strength. and the utmost
need existed for their urging upon the people TO
take prompt action IN ratiyng constitutions hich
should bind their social fabrics together and give
strength and harmony to then relations as united
people. the Chairman concluded n very excellent
address by recommending the delegates to receive
the Osages to their friendship. These people,
he sald, are friendly, confidnR and hosptable.
They have been driven away from their homes in
Kansas by the white race, who settled upon their
lands by thousands; and when they found their
selves or their white neighDors had TO move they
consented TO leave their beautiful stream, their
pleasant valleys, their shady forests, ana more than
all, their treasured burylng ground, so that there
given un one home TO the white man, and are now
living srnong you In your territory II Is your duty
to make this secure from lntrusi0n
THE OSAGE DELEGATION,
consisting OF four splendid looking chiefs, with all
the bravery OF war, paint, bear claws ana brass
spangles, attract great attention. The leading men,
ber Joseph Pomlpashawe, Governor OF the nation,
Ia a man OF education and advanced ideas; but he
he were TO throw away his blanket ana adopt a CIV
ized life, he would lose all influence with his
people.