Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-19
NO HOME OR COUNTRY.
The Seminole Negro Indians Are in
Queer Predicasp

The Seminole Negro Indians re in a
Queer Predicaw-nt.
According to reports received at the
war department. says the Washington
Post. the so-called Seminole Negro In
dams. sequestrated on Fort Clark mill
tary reservation in Texas. have neith-
er country, home nor citizenship. The
peculiar situation of these mongrel
people has been under consideration at
the war department for many years.
with a view to more clearly defining
their legal and political status. but so
far nothing has been done for their
relief There are about 100 of these
Indians. They all reside at Fort Clark.
by permission of the war department.
and are under the control of the most
commander. They are reputed to be
peaceable and honest, live in huts and
houses, cultivate some ground, raise
little stock and support themselves
by their own labor. Twenty of them
are listed scouts, eight Mt Fort Clark
and twelve at Fort Ringgold, Texas.
and as such, it is reported, render ex-
cellent service. Their history in brieg
appears as follows:
They We're originally with the Semi
mole Indians in Florida. About 1S49
their ancestors emigrated to Mexico.
Corporal Tibbits, Il survivor of these
movements. the oldest man among
them, and who claims to have been
born in the Indian Territory. says:
we remained in Mexico until 1870.
then recrossed into the United States
at Eagle Pass, Tex, told Fort Dun
CAM. 4 number of us then enlisted as
scouts. About forty of these scouts.
with their families, came to Fort Clark
In 1876" He claims that some kind
of "a treaty paper" which was ac-
cidentally burned, promised them
homes back in the Indian nation I'm
dian Territory
1t seems that by a ruling of the
Interior department they are not bene-
ficiaries in any respect under the Semi
mole treaty of 1866.
General McKibben, in his annual
report for 1900, said regarding these
people,:
Having forfeited their rights to re-
sidence and citizenship in Mexico. and
being neither citizefs of the United
States nor recognized by the Seminoles
as part of their people. some action
should be taken whereby the status of
these people may be defined 1t is re-
spectfully recommended THAT the at
tention of Congress be called to these
people"
General Grant stated in his annual
Nf 81
of the male adults hav-C been at one
time or another, enlisted in the army
as scouts. so that at the present time
the entire adult male popul, ton may
be regarded more or less Az ischarg-
ed veterans; in some instant IS the
grandfather, father and son in fam
lily having all served as scouts IL the
regular army As it is, l. wv
ever. they are an interesting tribe of
mongrel Americans, and dependent as
they are upon the mercy and man.
agement of the military at Fort Clark,
they are nothing more than wards of
the military department.
TN the fimrT consideration of the
status of these people with the view to
determine what shall be done with
them" said General Grant, Il recon-
mend that the government purchase
or secure in the Indian Territory Il
tract of land sufficient and suitable for
the support of these so-calIed Seminole
negroes, and that they be located
thereon. with full permanent title and
some immediate help to start them as
farmers"
General Lee, the present commander
of the Department of Texas. has just
made a special report to the war de-
partment regarding these Indians in
which he indorses the recommends
tions Of General Mckibben and Grant,
that suitable provision be made for
them. General Lee speaks of the III.
dams as deserving people" and says
that they have rendered most faith
full and efficient service as scouts and
merit generous treatment" He con-
ours in the recommendation that they
may be given a home in the Indian
Territory. IF this should be imprac-
ticable." says he, 1T is suggested that
they be permitted to remain on the
Fort Clark military reservation as
now; and in the event of the aban-
donment of the reservation a suitable
portion of the same be allotted to them
for homes. In recognition of their
past excellent services and their pres
ent usefulness along the border q e-
CURED, it is recommended that ,heir
enlistment and re-enlistment as scoG,s
be continued without reduction"