Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-02-24

| SOhSiCso iOi Iie puIpOScOl SAIiDSuloA-
ing the Indian National Government,
opening emigration to that Territory
without our consent and in violation
of Indian Treaties. These are the
very men strongly against the Indians
right and who boldly came up to the
Halls of Congress and made speeches
in favor of abolishing all the Indian
treaties and all national government
for the benefit of the white speculatOr.
The majority of the members of Con-
gress from the western States have no
desire to do any justice towards the
Indian race. At the beginning of the
session of Congress, President Grant
recommended to Congress that Ter
ritOrial form of Government should be
established in the Indian Territory
during this session. The Territorial
schemes which are now pending in
| Congress are like most others that
have for several years been defeated im
Congress. 1t appears President Grant
pretends to do justice and yet carry
the treaty stipulation with the Indian
race. But we do not agree with Presi-
dent Grants view on that point. We
know too well by the experience of
past years. Whenever the Territorial,
| Government is organized in the Indian
country the next step is to extinguish
| the Indian rights. Let us take for
| instance the State of Kansas when
| Congress established the Territorial
| GoTetnnent, that country belonged to
the Indians; itfst the moment the
Government was organized in that
country the Indians living there were
so encroached upon, so robbed, that
| they were forced to give up all their
| reservation and removed to the Indian
| Territory, which they occupy now
The tribes in the Indian Territory
demonstrate against the Territorial
Bill, because it proposes to establish
a thing totally and radically different
from q confederation, for limited puf-
poses provided for by the said Treaty
with its council of Cancellation and
narrow POWERS Of legislation. And the
| Indian can plainly fOre5ee that when
such government has once been es-
tablished their country will be filled
up with white spectators, to defraud
and rob the Indians of their land as
they have done before, with the con-
nivance of their officers of government,
that the jurisdiction of their local legis-
| lature and iudiciaries will be encroach-
| ed on, and the people be soon swept
| away. and at no distant day the In
dian race will have disappeared and
all the Indian tongues will be dead
languages
And another question, propose to
give some explanation in regard To the
Indian citizenship, as it seems that the
people generally believe that the In
dian has a right to become citizen of
this government. In regard to that
matter, l Will remind the intelligence
of the people all over the country that
the Indian cannot become a citizen
Of this government in accordance with
The Treaty and laws of Congress of
the Uitite1 States that is the govern
rlent ctniioG make citizens with
out their consent, unless they are will
ing III to,Ie under the laws of the
United Stjttes und not till then has
Congress right to citizenize us of this
Government. This question has been
argued in Cttgress, that the indian
cannot becbihe a citizen and hold their
tribal relation at the same time. The
Indians are rot citizens but distinct
tribes or nati6iIs, living Under the
protection of this Government. Tho
English Crown considered them as
competent to niaihtdifi the relations
of peace and war and govern them
selves under her projections: When
the United States succeeded the British
Crown, in respect TO the Indians, did
the same stipulation protect the In
dinns in their right as dependent al
lies? Why is it President Grant is
so anxious and that he recommends
Congress to pass the bill and establish
the Territorial Government and L1ace
the white officers over us without our
consent? The broken down politi-
clan will come amOug our people, ig-
norant of our history OF wants, prOba-
bly, the tools of Railroad companies
whose only interest is making what
they can off of us. Where is the
Treaty in which can be found pro-
vision surrendering our National In
dependence and consenting to the
abolition of our local government?
The tribes in the Indian Territory are
not troublesome, expensive or danger
Gus to the government of the United
States, only they asked them for what
the government owes them for their
lands. Why don't President Grant
recommend the Congress to make
some appropriation for those tribes
and settle his old debts before he re
commend the Territorial bill? I ask
the honest people in the United States
whether we are interfering with the
government of the United States by
having our own Institutional self-gov-
eminent? 1t is the opinion of our
race and experience that the only
practical self-government will be car
ried out in the realities of a govern
ment which united to our people and
concord, peace and the eminent degree
of National prosperity. Can the Red
people have right to have their own
Independent Government just as well
as any other nation upon the face of
Gods EARTH And 1 ask the honest
people in the UEited States, whether
this great Republican Government in
tends TO strike down the only hope f5r
the Indians on this continent? Not
for the interest of Indians, but for the
interest of SPECTATORS. Is the Govern
ment going to push these tribes to
hurried destruction, when they know
that they are weak? Why not let the
Red people have their own national
government as they have had it for
nearly half century now2 The Uni
tGu ENpS
the Indian and whites who surround
ed them Separate: In order to extin
guisfI our Institutional self-govern
mant and all the Indian rights, the
spectators from the Western States,
year after year, gathered about tire
Capitol of the u, S. falsely in the name
of civilization plotting the violation of
the nations good faith, pledged as it is
by pa,ent under the great seal of the
nation given by law, and treaties un-
der, and expressed by authority of the
GOVERNMENT The SPECTATORS gather
ed about the Capit0l of the U. S. and
brought false reports and charges
against us that the tribes in the In
dian Territory were not making any
progress in civilization, atd urged the
members of Congress to pass the Ter
ritorial bill and extinguish the In
dian Government and all the Indian |
rights. If President Grant thinks
that a new government established in |
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