The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-10-04
A SCATHING REBUKE
GIVEN RY GOVERNOR FOWLE TO
VE' MONT NEGROPHOLISTS.


GIVEN RY GOVERNOR FOWLE TC
VE' HCNT NEGROPHOLISTS.
Our Governor Tells the Government tha,
Nor Carolina Does Not Want GerO.
nimD and His Band.
The best piece of letter writing we have
seen lately is from the pen of our Cover.
nor. He received letter from SECRETARY
PROCTOR asking his views touching the
suggested location in this State of Geroni-
mo and his band Of Indians who are under
the control of the War Department. SEC.
RETARY PROCTOR is Vermonter, let it not
be forgotten. The following was COVER.
NOR FOWLES answer:
Hon. REDFIELD PROCTOR, SECRETARY OF
WAR, WASHINGTON, ID. G:
Ny DEAR SIR: have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the
21st inst, in which you invite my views
IN regard to the suggested location of
"certain Indians" now in charge of the
War Department at Mount Vernon Bar
racks, Ala, upon lands to be obtain, d
from the Cherokee reservation in the
western part of This State, or in that vi
cinity.
feel it my duty to say that, in my
opinion, the settle ment of those Indians
at any point in this State would not be
advisable and would provoke great dlSsat
lstaotlon IN any community which might
b brought in contact wit them; and par
ticularly would this be the case if they
were located at the places specially men
toned 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
country within the broad limits Of this
Union, and within a few years beieve it
will possess as wealthy ard refined a com
munity as may be found on the continent
1t is blessed by a climate of extraordinary
salubrlty, and with great wealth in the
fertility of its soil and value of it's mine
rails. Within a comparatively few years
it has been made more accessible by the
construction Of railways, and the popula-
ton 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 tbs State west
Of the mountains, was acquired from the
Cherokee Indians by various treaties, be-
ginning in date about the close of the Rev
outionary War, and ending with that of
New Echota in 1S33-35, the territory re-
ferred to in yonr communica ion being
embraced in the provisions of the treaty
last named.
The extinguishment of the Indian title
and the removal of the aboriginees was
tedious and vexations process, but hav-
ing been accomplished the people of the
State would view with great disfavor any
,ty,Cy lcCly
turn to the old order Of things The
Cherokees who remain in Western Carroll
Ma are few and each year the number di-
minIshes. The lands to which you refer
as 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
a large habitabe area, which, no doubt
will not at distant period, by wise laws.
just alike to their present owners and the
spirit of progress and civilization, be oc-
cupled by thrifty popn alton. and the
existence of a SEPARATE / y DIAN COMMUNITY
viii disappear.
IN the oOnslde ration of your suggestion
| have been impressed very strongly with
Ltlt htdSS vi CSI poItlOIS vi tuc STATE
of Vermont for the objects you have in
view, and beg to direct your attention to
the enclosed clipping from newspaper
giving an extract from the recent report
of the Commissioners of Agriculture of
that State, from which it appears there
are extensive tracts of land abandoned by
the white population, and for which other
occupants are desired. | am sure when
the high charNci er for morality and good
order of the people of Vermont, the sta
biiity of their institutions, the healthful-
ness of the climate, the proximity
of the locality to the great cente1s
of wealth, intelligence and philanthropy,
and the evident soIicitude of the State au
thori'ies to build up their waste places are
considered, 10 happier spot could be chos-
en- for your purposes.
L contemplate visit to Washington
about the 1st proximo, when it would
give me great pleasure to meet you and
honor to be,
Very respectfully,
DANIEL CT FOwLE,
Governor
This letter has been widely circulated
and not few of the leading journals
have commented on it and praised our
Governor for getting the best of the
Vermonter- The following editorial from
the Richmond Dispatch is about like the
other editorial comments:
Gov. Fowle's letter is as sharp and bright
as a Damascus blade. 1t contains not
one word to which Secretary Proctor can
take exception. 1t replies directly and
unambiguously to questions which had
been propounded by the Secretary in his
official character. Gov. Fowle answered
them officially and conclusively. His let
ter reminds us of the japanese sword
which, handled by Japanese swords
rapidly and unresistingly that he has to
shake his head before he knows that it
has been separated from his body. We
advise Secretary Proctor not to attempt
to shake his head.