Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-10-30

"a
against our settlements, and for tnat
reason were sensitive in an extraordi-
nary degree, upon every subject come
ted with either theirs or our behavior,
towards their Indian allies. In these
negotiations the United States suffered
much for patience sake, and made it
plain to the world that true diplo.
matte politician must be deeply versed
in the book of Job.
The Spaniards even went SO far to be
displeased, because, in the treaty of
Hopewell, the United States had taken
the Creeks under their protection, so
far as they were within their limits.
that being incompatible with a former
treaty of 1884, which they had made
with the same people. What right
had they to intermeddle with inhabi-
tants who lived in the United States
territory? But the Americana fore
bore to ask the question. The Creeks
fell upon them in 1902, after coming
directly from the Spaniards at Pensa
cola. They then complained that the
United States had stirred up the Chicka-
saws to war against their allies. The
Spaniards by indulgence had become
childish, and did not perceive that the
United States could ask the question,
what right had you to meddle either
with the Greeks or Cherokees? From
our long forbearance they had conceiv-
ed the extravagant notion that we
were not to make opposition in any
event Ry this brief statement we
shall be the better able to trace to
its proper SOURCE the greater part of
those facts which are about to be un-
folded.
On the 23rd of February, 1901, the
President signed a commission, ap-
pointining Col. Sewer to be a Briga-
dier General of the militia Of Washing
ton district, in the territory of the
United States south of the River Ohio.
On the 2Sth of April, Gen. Sewer in
formed the secretary of war that the
recruits called for should be raised and
sent forward by the lst of June,
Before the month of June, in the year
1901, Zachariah Cox, with his brother
William Cox, James Hubbard, Peter
Bryant, John Ruddle, and several
others, went down to the Muscle
Shoals; and returned on the end of
June to Knoxville. They were imme.
diately arrested by warrant from Judge
| Campbell, to answer for the offense.
A short history of their transactions
is this: Gilbert, Strother & Co., pro.
ceeded down the Tennessee to an island
in that part called the Muscle Shoals,
on which they landed, built block
house, and erected other works of de-
fense. Shortly afterwards appeared the
Glass, with about sixty Indians, and
formed them that if they did not de-
part in peace the Indians would put
them to death. After some conversa-
tion upon the subject, was agreed, that
the company would and might, move
off in peace and without injury, and
accordingly did so. The Indians burnt
the works. But Cox aud his party
were still determined to make another
attempt at the same place in the en-
suing autumn.
AT the next term of the Superior
Court for the district of Washington,
bill of indictment was twice sent to
the grand jury against Cox and his as
sociates, and was returned at both
times not true bill. Cox and twenty
young men from Georgia, seemed on
this event to triumph over the govern
ment, and were encouraged to per-
severe in the prospect of settling the
Muscle Shoals. They Immediately
found purchasers for many thousands
of acres of land, and made public dec.
larations of their intentions to make
another attempt, and that they would
do so in great force, to be drawn from
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina and Georgia; and that
they would make the attempt in Nov
ember 1891, as soon as their forces
could be collected, or as soon after
wards as might be. Many of the grand
jurors it was supposed, had been them
selves trespassers on the Cherokee
lands, under grants from North Caro-
lima. Strother went to the Chickasaws
and they at the block house, assured
him of their friendship; but he did no
mention to them that he intended t
settle in the country; when truly in
formed of his objects, they very strong
ly objected to them.
Gov, Blount, by the first of July ,hat
, ascertained the whole population O
the territory; it amouted to 36,048, in
cluding 3,4l7 slaves. The whole popu
, lation of Cumberland was 7.042; he re
pealed by proclamation the license
of several Indian traders, for trans
' crossing the regulations made for tn
government of trade.
Continued next week.
I Statesmen Wanted