The sun., 1897-06-20
STORY OF THE SEMINOLES.
rHEIR LoT LINKED WITH THAT OF
TIE FxILES OF FLORIDA.


ernnaont and Their OriGin-
Tho effort being made to remove tho 500
a.minoles who arc scattered over tho extreme
,or,ion Of south Florida, occupying In several
counties, It is estimated, about 5000 acres OF
land. revives interest In ono Of the most heroic
A the many tribes Of Indians who have fought
nth The United States. Tho last Of these In
dlans TO be deported to tho Western country,
IN 1853 left behind them In tho fastnesses Of
the Everglades about 100 souls, who have
rncc multiplied to about 500. Those who rc-
mained behind while their brothers turned
their faces to tho setting sun could not be
reached by the military arm of the Govern
ment because Of tho newness Of the country
and the marshy nature Of tho islands In south
Florida in which they took refuge to escape ro-
lentless persecution. The fact that they have
Raincd in numbers and In the ways Of civiliza-
ton Is not enough to shield them from the
rapacity Of those who desire to avail them
sslyes Of tho lands on which tho Indians have
settled. and which science has demonstrated to
b valuable In the highest degree for sugar,
truck, and tropical fruit culture. 1t Is
easy enough for tho Government OF tho United
States and tho people Of Florida to do Justice
b the Indiana now living in south Florida, q
remnant Of the race that once controlled the
vast territory from the Everglades to the Mis-
sisdppi River, an area out Of which Eve SOW
ereign States have been carved. for which the
Creek and the Seminole Indians received prao-
tically no consideration whatever.
The story of the Seminole Indians Is one of
The most pathetic In American annals. 1t
,sems Incredible that, considering tho provo
cation, the entire national authority for SO long
4 time should have been exorted against this
small band, whose supreme crime was that
they refused to surrender to the slave owners
Of South Carolina and Georgia tho black men
who had escaped from bondage and had be-
come Incorporated by residence and other
wise In the Seminole nation.
Florida was settled by the Spaniards in 1858.
They were the first people to engage in the
African slave trade and to supply other ma
lions with slaves The Spanish colonies held
many slaves. Carolina, by her first and sec
ond charters. claimed jurisdiction over Florida,
which naturally led to misunderstanding be-
tween the Spanish and British colonies. The
Carollnians also had many slaves, and sought
10 multiply them by enslaving the Indians.
When the boundaries were finally established
South Carolina was divided from Florida by
what is known now as Georgia, then mostly
occupied by the Greek and Cherokee Indians,
frum which the Seminole Indians are an Off.
shoot Tho Indians who had been enslaved by
tho Carolinians naturally escaped into the terri
tory Of Florida, and their example was soon
followed by great many African slaves. 1t
b not easy to hx date when tho Seminoles
first became considerable in Florida, but as
early as 1876 they and other small Florida
tribes were relied upon by the Floridians as
allies to help in the defence Of the territory, and
for this purpose were organized into companies.
They were allowed to occupy lands and to
enjoy other privileges accorded subjects OF
Spain. The Spanish policy favored the col
onisation OF these exiles OF both tho Indian and
African races.
It may be observed hero that the Creek
term Seminole means "a runaway" 1t is IN
nate African fugitives before 1t was finally
hIed As designation OF those Creek Indians
who went from their tribe and settled in Florida.
These Florida runaways were reinforced in
1850 by large number OF Greek Indians, under
The leadership OF Chief seacqtiec, who had a
Indians. and left Georgia and Alabama for
ever. ever They we're welcomed By, tie spaniards,
could fnd it. and extended p to them the pro- pro.
lection OF the Spanish laws,
Slavery was first introduced into Georgia
eSht years atter 1t became colony, and this
GOught the Slaves In close touch With the In.
dams and free negroes of the Florida country.
~ became SO great that soon after the begin
ming OF the Revolutionary war Congress was
ION, This was among the Grst appeals made made
ey the slave power TO the central authority for
Of Savs But dIa
African allies In Florida continued to multiply.
snd 70 enjoy the protection OF spain, despite
hniAns for the restoration of their slave prop
Sty. The Indians settled for the most part IN
end the suwanee. They engaged In as:ricGi-
ture and cattle raising.
A the persistence Of the Georstans in inter.
iering with the Creek Indians and in demand
ing restoration Of their slave property neces-
STATED the interference OF the Continental Con-
Investigate the matter. The State OF Geor-
Sc Sc, pGSompty ,Ss appointed three Others to super
S %STs OF These q hs
srs In = high handed manner, and in the alb;
% ssnce Of the Commissioners for the Continental
congress, forced upon few OF the Indians
What has become known as the Galphln ton
Epsay; This treaty became in after times a
tss and all the Indian tribes In Gsorgta. Ala
,Si. rama, and Florida. Among the provisions Of
5 nd.6. esfy Sys was yss,o one that the
other property that are or may hereafter be
among among them belonging to the citizens OF this
such person as the Governor shall appoint" A
ess .su9n On, was ~ ad9gtsd By the Continental Con
sioners to Be wich nDdsT stfiGteq H t Tom
ueaty with the Creek Indians for the return or
The 'EgSs gnitsS slaves be9ngtng to the citizens Of
,SLy Important because it Is in the nature OF
Ae nrst fugitive slave law enacted by the Fed
" the thpsd ass ,a,as tSs s sssnts sss
seSrg1a made haste to enter into treaty with
lew Sreek Indians at Shoulderbone. Having
zone al that they could to create friction be-
sneen themselves and the Indians, the Geor-
sians made haste, as soon they became a
Pert5on OF the Federal Government Aug. 2s
Ios. 10 appeal TO the central authority for
RHrnYVectlon against the storm they had raised
an me Treaties entered into by The Geor1ians
IN the Federal authority with the Creek In
Shs Sahs were supposed to include In their stipula-
noh the seminoes, although the Seminoes re-
UGaieted D, the right Of the Creek tribe to repre-
,SSnl shem in treaty relations or otherwise In
e enort to force the Seminoles to live up TO the
GGIay provisions made with the Creeks at
1pah 1~phhint9n, Shoulderbone, and Co!erain is 10 be
gaoed al the subsequent trouble that arose he
M"ss rmesh me ne seminoles and the Federal Govern.
WMeht Mhat lhe Creeks were unable to live up to
.isr Sier treaty obligation to return fugitive
nv The semin0les would not allow 1t, and
tsctsd 'hese fugitiyes were in large part pro-
''sed ny the span ish authority and law.
som IN lsO2 the Creeks, the Cherokees, and other
Soinhern Indian tribes, other than the Semi
sinss-, aiSiss had gradually adopted the system OF
so,Gery. The difficulty with tho Indians was
Whsn Whshuous 10 and perplexing from 1902 TO 1872
I'M Iaea me State Of Georgia declared war against
trs s sgrmfn9le rf Indians and Invaded their conn-
Sss,,n, ~, me Creek Indians took sides with the
tn to'es' The expedition TO reduce st. Angus
ne ended in practical failure as not a rum