The evening times., 1898-11-25
LANDS FOR THE USE
OF THE SEMINOLES
Embarrassing Problem Con.
fronts the Indian Bureau. %
CONDITION OF THE TRIBE
Their Principal Means of Livelihood
Is Hunting the Alligator.
CONDITION OF THE TRIBE
Have Never Asked the Support of
the Government, and Are Free
and Happy.

In the report or the secretary OF the IN
terror to the Seminole Indians of Florida.
These historic savages have heretofore
been given little notice by the bureau of
Indian Affairs, principally because infor-
nation concerning them have been mea-
ger and difficult to get.
Exhibit G in the report of Secretary
Bliss is devoted to the report of A. J.
Duncan, United States Indian inspector,
concerning the reservation of lands for
the use of the Seminoles.
Mr.. Duncan declares that the disposition
of the Seminoles is one of the most en-
barrassing problems which has confronted
the Indian Bureau within the last half
century. He says that the question of
late has become more important and le-
gally complicated from the fact that with
the march of Improvement in the State of
Florida the Government and State lands,
in many cases the homes Of these IN
dans, even in the impenetrable sWamps
and Everglades, his last haLnt and hunt
ing ground, which he supposed would af-
ford him a natural defense against the
white man, he Is now fast being deprived
of, leaving him without a place upon
which he can rest or subsist. HIS natu
raj support-the hunting of game, the al
ligator, the otter, and the plume birds-is
fast disappearing; they in a few years
will have become extinct, and he Will be
left in most deplorable condition, with
out even lands which he can cultivate, or
other means Of obtaining a living. They
have an extreme dislike toward the Ma
tional and State Governments and their
officers, and have resisted all their efforts
and the efforts of individuals, in the past
made TO educate and civIIize them.
There Seminoles living today who
remember and transmit 10 their children
the perfidy, the horrors and the inhu-
manity of the war waged against them
upon the preteXt of the forced treaty of
1892. They recall to their children that
price was set upon their wives and
their children for their capture, their
homes burned, and how they were hunt
ed by boodhounds and driven into the in
nermost recesSes OF the Everglades
There are still living among them men
whose wives and children were captured
and exiled TO a distant country, never
more TO be seen by them.
BY the treaty of 1880 the Seminole In
dians alienated all their right and title
to their lands in Florida. That this tred-
~ was obtained by gross fraud and with
out the approval of a large majority of
these Indians Is well known. II has re-
mained a blot upon the national honor
since that time but as a treaty ii can
not at this time be rectihed.
That this act or so-called treaty was
forced treaty-not made in good faith
or with the consent of the Seminole In
dians-can not be denied. The whole
Seminole Nation arose. A bloody war
followed, lasting seven years, and with
the sacrifice of thousands of lives and at
cost of over 80, ,G00090.
Overwhelmed by superior numbers. they
were driven within the Everglades-upon
its hammOcks and islands. Eight militia
ry expeditions We're organized, following
them in every direction through the Ev
ergIades and driving them finally, but
temporarily, TO the more impenetrable
cypress swamps. They were permitted
to return TO these hammocks and islands,
but again in 1855 hostilities were resumed
and continued three years. A reward was
offered for their capture. a number, va
riouSly estimated at from l to 800, re-
sisted all efforts To conquer or capture
them. when truce was declared and
they were again permitted TO return to
the hammocks ani other settlements, and
there they remain today in possession of
them The treaty of 1882 was the spoil
of the conqueror in an unequal and un-
holy war.
Agent Duncan narrates his inspection
of the fiatwoods surrounding the Ever
glades. parts of the glades and the ham
mOcks situated on them.
He tells OF the laws of the Seminoies
as follows:
''They are governed among themselves
by d Draconian system of laws, from
| which there is no appeal There are few
| instances of crime; neither do their laws
exist for restraint They are honest in
| their dealings and are truthful; crimes OF
| a serious nature such as theft or murder
do not exist among them. This govern.
| ment extends to the protection of the In
! dian from the influences of civilization
| Intercourse with the whites in relation
| to all civil, educational and legal matters
| is forbidden. Too much familiarity ol
| talk with white men will meet witt
| punishment, such cropping the ears
| No Seminole Indian dare marry outsid,
of his race, under penalty of death II
| one case coming under my observation
member of the tribe was exiled for fv.
years for beating his wife. Another wht
| desired TO attain an education. and whC
| had removed to the agency for that pur
pose. was induced TO return by threats
| These failing. he was promised the gift o
| the most beautiful maiden in the tribe
! The last effective in inducing tn,
| wanderer to return. In another case {
member was eXiled for two years for tn.
reason that he had been induced by {
| white man to attend the State Agricultu
raj Exhibition of Florida. / have beer