The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-15
HOW TIE INDIANs LOOK At 1T.


ceeded in negotiating with a part of the
chiefs of the Sioux tribes, by which they
| gave up the Black Hills country, previous
| ly confirmed to them by solemn treaty, is
| likely to. be the cause of further troubles
with these savages.
40. 600 in all, to the Indian Territory. AL
ready there are 25, OCO wild savages there,
TO which plumber add the Sioux, and the
total will be 65, COO, at ieast 10000 more
than the civilized Indians. OF the 45 OOO,-
600 acres in the Indian Territory, about
80 600, 900 are parcelled out to the tribes al
ready there. What il left ID 10 600 900 acres
next to Texas, the poorest country OF the
whole Territory, only a half of it being tit
for cultivation. For this the Sioux are ex-
pected to give up 10000 600 acres Of fine
lands in the Black Hills.
The Sioux will zee the swind g and re-
sent it, Furnishing both whites aud the
neighboriDg Indian tribes, among them
their hereditary enemies, the PawBees, for
the deception. 1t is not surprising that
the tribes already settled in the Indian
Territory and the white inhabitants OF the
adjacent States look with alarm at the
prospect of having brought into their
vicinity 900 of the tiercest, most un-
tamable, and most relen tless savages Oh the
| continent, who will be enraged at the
poverty of their lands, and hence melted
to barbarous vengeance. If this treaty ia
CdIIitu OUT, We budIl Ube Iish VI SiFaISi
atrocities on the borders of Texss and IAN
sas than any of which we have record.
b. F. OvertOn, the Governor of the civ
iiized Chickasaw Indians of the Indian
Territory, in his last message to the Chick
asaw Legislature, uses these solemn words
of protest and warning:
Fellop Countrymen-In the name and be-
half of our prosecuted brothers of the Black
Hills, appeal to you this day to raise your
voice of protestation against the prosecution
of such an unjust, unholy. and nnchrlstian
warfare upon race. God forbid that you,
the representatives of our ono common Indian
interest, should be nnmindful of this great and
important crisis. Your political and material
interests as Chickaeaws are hinged upon the
termination of the Sioux question. We have
no better rights to territory than they, and are
no better able to defend them, although we
have bought and paid for oUr country which
has it's metes and bounds. They hold theirs
by solemn compact with the United States
Government by the right of discovery aud by
original occupancy, which is and must he con-
sidered good titles by the people of the United
States, or they would have no shadow or right
under heaven to the lands they now claim and
occupy Aud if you stand aloof and use no
influence in checking this upj just and brutal
war, by Your prayers and memorials, and by
enlisting the help and sympathy of our white
friends who have ever been our safeguard, we,
too, will be called upon at no distant day to make
a surrender of those rights that the Sioux are
now wasting their hearts blood in defence of,
and we will have but of two things to
consider; either make a shameful and dis
graceful surrender of national pride, to-
gether with all rights, privileges, and immuni-
ties acquired by such, or perish like brutes in
a war of determination.
Who shall cay that this warning against
the possible and even probable bad faith of
the Government is not timely ] Who can
wonder that these peaceful and industrious
Chickasaws send out their sympathies to
the outraged and deceived Sioux, our treaty
with whom we have wantonly violated
Nor need there be any surprise that Gov.
Ove:ton, taking warning from our bad
faith regarding the Sioux treaty, should
forecast the day when the treaty with the
Chickasaws will likewise be broken aud
their lands invaded. Suppose gold was
found on TIE lands of the Chick sdws, how
much would their treaty be worth, Judging
by the example of the Black Hills outrages9
1t is we'll for us to look at this matter
from the Indian side, as also from the side
of justice and good faith