The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-10-10

Washington, ID. G..
My DEAR SIR:-I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your let
ter of the 2Ist inst, in which you in
vite my views in regard to the sug-
gested location of "certain Indians"
now in charge of the War Department
at Mount Vernon Barracks, Ala, upon
lands to be obtained from the Chero-
kee reservation in the Western part of
this State, or in that vicinity.
feel it my duty to say that, in my
opinion, the settlement of those In
dians at any point in this State would
not be advisable and would provoke
great dissatisfaction in any community
which might be brought in contact
with them; and particularly would
this be the case if they were located at
the places specially mentioned in your
letter. While that part of the State is
mountainous, and, in many sections,
at present, sparsely populated, in my
opinion it is the most attractive coun-
try within the broad limits of this
Union, and within a few years l be-
lieve it will possess as wealthy and re-
fined a community as may be found
on the continent. 1t is blessed by
climate of extraordinary salubrity, and
with great wealth in the fertility of its
soil and value of its minerals. Within
comparatively few years it has been
made more accessible by the construc-
ton of railways, and the population is
rapidly increasing in numbers and
prosperity. 1t has peculiar attractions
and advantages for the farmers from
the older and more crowded portions
of the State.
The vast region, within this State
west of the mountains, was acquired
from the Cherokee Indians by various
treaties, beginning in date about the
close of the Revolutionary War, and
ending with that of New Echota in
1885, the territory referred to in
your communication being embraced
in the provisions of the treaty last
named.
The extinguishment of the Indian
title and the removal of the aborigi
nees was tedious and vexatious pro-
cess, but having been accomplished
the people of the State would view
with great disfavor any proposition
seeming to look toward return to the
old order of things. The Cherokees
|
few and each year the number dimin-
ishes The lands to which you refer
as a Reservation" are not properly
such, but they were purchased by the
"Eastern Band of Cherokees" from
) the State of North Carolina, with
money due them from the National
Government, and they hold them by
patents as other purchasers. The
lands owned by them constitute quite
large habitable area, which, no doubt,
f will not at distant period, by wise
> laws, just alike to their present owners
r and the spirit of progress and civiliza-
ton, be occupied by thrifty popula
ton, and the existence of a SPECIAL
INDIAN COMMUNITY will disappear.
In the consideration of your sugges-
ton l have been impressed very
strongly with the fitness of certain por-
tions of the State of Vermont for the
l objects you have in view, and beg tc
direct your attention to the enclosed
clipping from a newspaper giving an
= extract from the recent report of the
Commissioners of Agriculture of that
State, from which it appears there are
J, extensive tracts of land abandoned by
the white population, and for which
other occupants are desired. l an
sure when the high character for NOR.
ality and good order Of the people O.
g Vermont, the stability of their institu
), tions, the healthfulness of the climate
4 the proximity of the locality to the
great centers of wealth, intelligence
and philanthropy, and the evident so
licitude of the State authorities to buile
# up their waste places are considered
st no happier spot could be chosen fo
q your purposes.
- contemplate visit to Washington
about the 1st proximo, when it woule
g give me great pleasure to meet you ant
!. discuss this matter more fully. / hav'
l. the honor to be,
81 Yours respectfully,
DANIC1 .C Four