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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 39 and their conditionmusthethat of extreme destitutionuntilthey can again realize the fruits of their labor upon their own soil. The Cherokees own a tract df 800,000 acres in the southeast corner of Kansas, which should he made avaiti able for their benefit; and have, besides, a vast tract of land below the Kansas line, very largely beyond their possible wants. All beyond those wants should be purchased by government, and the avails used for &he benefit of the whole people. Superintendent Sells loubt,s whether the loyaland disloyal Cherokees can ever live in friendship together, and suggests that in case this proves to he impossible, the latter can easily make terms with the Ohickasaws to join with them. I have already alluded to the condition in which this southern portion of the nation is left by the action of the party in power, and will only add here, that the sweeping act of confiscation passed by the co~~nctialk es from them every acre of land, and all their improvements; and that by the basty action taken under the law, everything has been sold for the most trivial considerntion, improvements which were worth thousands selling often as low as five dollars ; and when the repenlaut rebel party, no more guilty at first than the Ross party, came hack and proposed to submit and live in peace and harmony with them again, they were told that they might all return, except their leaders, and go upon new lands and begin the world again; but no hope was held out to them of any restoration of property. They are thus left entirely dependent, being stripped of everything by the act relbrred to. 3 TheCreeks werenearly divided in sentiment at the opening of the war; about 6,500 having gone with the rebellion, while the remainder, underthe lead of the brave old chief Opothleyoholo, resisted all temptationa of the rebel agents and of leading men, like John Ross, among the Indians, and fought their way out of the country northward, in the winter, tracked by their bloody feet upon the frozen ground. They lost everything-houses, homes, stock, everything that they possessed. Many joined the United States army. A large number have been constantly subsisted, often with scanty rations, by goyernment. A part having gone this year to the Indian country, haveraised some crops under many difficulties, and about one half of those who thus went south again will have enough corn to carry them through the winter ; the others must be subsisted by government, while 5,000 are now receiving rationn. A large number of the southern Creeks are in the same deplorable state. The aggregate number of the tribe is now stated at 14,396. Agent Dunn eays that the buildings of the old Creek agency are in ruins, but the val~iahle mission buildings are standing, though badly injured. He thinks that a new locationshould he selected for the agency, at a point where there is water and timber; bnt as there may be other arrangements made as to the final settlement of the tribe, he suggests that , -) such temporary shelter for the agency as is necessary should now be provided. The Choctaws and Chickasaws, who now number respectively about 12,500 and 4,500, or 17.000 io all, are supposed to have had a population of 25,000 at ized governments and legislatures, w~.ittenla ws, and a regular judiciary system. They possessed admirable schools, and education had made great progress among i the beginning of the war, including 5,000 slaves. They have regularly organ-them. Nearly the whole of these tribes proved disloyal, under the various in- j fluences brought to hear upon them. Agent Coleman ascribes their disloyalty, in a great degree, to the influence of the whites liring among them, some of! whom have had the assuranee to anolv for licenees to remain in the conntrv as\ : .. . ~ ~ traders; but I am elltirely satisfied, as t l ~ re sult of my inquiries wlreu lately in / the Indian rountry, thor the disloyal action of these tribes iamostly, if nnt al- j tocether, to be asrribed to rhe i~lflueaceo l'tl~rth en sunerirtredrnr. MI.. Rcrtor. J the agents appointed by the United States gov&ument. The tribes ari ' educated to respect the authority and he guided by the directions of these rep- %, reseutatives of the government ; and when, in the spring.of 1861, these men, appointed under President Buchauan, came back from Washington and told the |
