Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-29
10! THE POOR INDIAN.
The PIaintiYe Protest. Of a Dying Race
Radical I.ant1 Grabbers-Happines
of the OIden Time, under Demo
eruaEc VvrIa

mulgee, Indian Territory, says that the
General Council adjourned on the 18th,
, after the adoption Of the following memo
rial to the President:
To His Excellency U. S. Grant, President
of the United States Your memorialists,
Cherokees, Choctaws, Muscogees, Shaw
nees, Sses and Foxes, Senecas and other
Tribes; owning. land in Indian Territory,
and represented in general cOjtncil of the
same, assembled IN Okmulgee, June Is,
1872, would respectfully show that the
country known as the Indian Territory was
set apart COR permanent homes for the red
people, where they might live in peace with
each other and with all men, by act Of Con-
gress, approved May Is, 1880; that their
right and title to this country were per-
fecteG By treaties with the United States.
by acts Of Congress, and patents in fee
simple from the Unlted States, twelve
treaties are cited In the memorial;1 hat the
| Cherokees, ChOctaws, Muskogees, Chicka-
saws and Seminoles, but few years since
lived east Of the Mississippi river, from
! whence they were expelled by superior
force and in disregard Of their earnest pro-
tests; thSt under the plea of necessity they
were transferred to the country they now
| own, then a wilderness, under solemn
| guarantees that here at least they might
rest their weary feet, rekindle theft council
fires, build anew their houses, open farms,
school theft children, worship God and or
| gaAiZe governments Of their own, and that
these privileges should be secured to them
and TO their children for all time TO come.
contingent only on their extinction or vol
untary abandonment of their domain.
Relying upon such solemn guarantees,
/ Nr.- IL, Id \ Z.
rity, and up TO 1860 made rapid strides in
! civilized arts and industry. Half century
had transformed them from half nomads TO
well clothed, well fed, intelligent men and
women, with many of the comforts and
some approach 10 the luxury and wealth of
commercial nations. They were the undis-
puted owners OF vast domain, progressive
and highly hopeful of the future. But the
civil war broke out and involved them
against their will in its fearful vortex. Du-
ring the conflict they were despoiled of ev-
erything, save the soil beneath their feet,
with sons and brothers slain, homes desc
lated, Their herds and cattle driven off and
property destroyed. 1t is no wonder that
they sank down in utter despair. But the
treaties negotiated between the United
States Government and the Clserokees.
noles, guaranteeing to these nations the
right Of domain aud self-government, re-
kindled their spirits and hopes, and again
they are on the road TO prosperity. Good
homes, cheerful schools and ccmmodious
churches are springing up in many places.
Farms are being opened or extended.
Grains and fruits are cultivated. Our herds
and fOcks are on the increase, and will soon
again dot our prairies.
Still the truth must be told. Our pro-
gress is retarded by the evil omen and dark
fOrebOdings Of the future. The charters Of
certain railroads projected through the In
dian territory contain provisions for extern |
sive land grants contingent upon the ex-
tinctiOn of the Indian titles. These grants |
contemplate the spoliation of the Indians |
to the extent of some 24000,000 acres Of |
their best land. They furnish an incentive |
to wealthy men TO combine into corpora |
tions TO press upon Congress the perfecting |
Of their titles to these lands. To this END |
the Oklaham2 and other bills of Similar /
PurpOrt have been pressed upon Congress |
under the plea that the Indian stands |
in the way Of advancing civilization. We |
pray you, Mr. PresiCeu', to interpose your
authority and your humane will in our be-
hail. The ameliOratiOD, the salvation Of |
the Indian race depends upon the security
and progress Of the five nations. Our des-
tiny with theirs is one. We are doomed TO
stand or fall together. The spot We oc-
cupy is sacred to us as our home. We
have receded before the approach of the
white man until this is the last
desirable spot we can occupy. We have
spent long years of labor in improving it. 1t
is cOnsecrated by years of cruel suffering.
We have raised the Indian II his present
condition by the example Of our industry
and what good we have achieved in reclaim
ing the wild tribe may be taken as an earn
est Of greater good we shall still seek TO aC-
cOmplish. In time we may attain to such
skill in commerce and the mechanic arts
that we may feel able to cope with Onr
white brethren. But to this condition we
have not yet arrived. We do not ask for.
anything but our country. We strongly
protest against measures looking to the ex-
tinguishment Of our natiOnalities. The
lessons Of the past should not be forgotten.
A mixed occupancy Of our land could but
result in white sscendanCy, the aggrandize-
ment Of the stronger race, the degradation |
and ultimate extension of the weaker.
Past experience declares the truth of this.
The million of red men who first peopled
this continent are now reduced to pitiful
remnant by contact with the advanced race.
We come to you, Mr.. President, as the sur.
vivors of once pOpulOus people. We plead
with you that you will interpose your Off
cial position in our behalf We entreat you
to withhold your sanction from all railroad,
territorial or other measures affecting our
status as recognized by existing treaties,
and that you will approve all measures cal
culated to inspire a sense of security in the
breasts Of our people. OF this they stand |
most in need. With such just and friendly |
aid, their advance will be assured and their |
influence for good will reach every Red man /
of the plains. The bugle call will no longer
be sounded to assemble your armies for the |
Chastisement Of the Indian for his misdeeds. |
We shall have taught him to live in peace |
with his race. Humanity, national econo- |
my and wise craftsmanship pronounce in |
favor of justice to the Indian race.
j. p. FOLSOM,
Delegate from ChoctSw Nation, Chm'n. |
The report says matters around Fort Sill |
are not promising. While the ComanChes |
and ArapahOes give promise of peace, the |
KiOwss are lawless and comparatively ire |
claimable. This laWlessness cannot be en- !
dured much longer. Either they must |
oCCh JLlC sOOu lOtSI, Vi ILlC llltltCtl UuSb NC
called in to teach them a severe lesson.
The subject was debated with earnest |
ness in the council. Lone Wolf and Kick |
ing Bird are said to be in favor Of peace,
but they are unable TO restrain their war |
riOrs from following the war path. The |
plan proposed is for several influential of |
the civilized tribes, WarlOopi, Black Beaver, |
George Washington, Tashowa, and one or |
two more, to seek out the Kiowas and in |
Yite them to a peace council with a delega- |
ton from the Indian territory who will lay |
before them the evil consequences that will |
result from their pursuing life Of violence, |
and also set before them in attractive |
cOlors, the advantages that viii flow from |
their entering upon the path of peace. The |
commission will consist Of number of the |
most influential citizens of the territory and |
most sagaciOUs councillors, and the meet |
ing is appointed for July p.
90 REDUCTION OF DUTIES.-An official |
statement from the Treasury Department |
gives detailed information concerning the |
reduction in duties under the new tariff. |
The largest items are those which relate to |