Important movement among the Indian Nations.
The Memphis Appeal publishes the message of
Governor Cyrus Harris, of the
Chickasaw Nation, to the Legislature.
We have read it with much interest.
Its design is to set on foot a project which will eventuate in the formal transfer of the allegiance of the most influential Indian tribes from the
Lincoln Government to that of the
Confederate States.--The Appeal says:
‘
The message very properly assumes a permanent dissolution of the old Federal Union as an accomplished fact, and acknowledges the futility of all hopes looking to a future reconstruction.
The
United States being disintegrated into two Governments, with conflicting claims and in a state of declared hostilities, it is asserted that the treaties made between them and the Chickasaws are annulled, and the latter virtually a sovereign and independent nation.
In consideration of this fact, the
Governor urges "that delegates on the part of the Chickasaws, be appointed to meet delegates from the Choctaws, Cherokees, Creeks, Seminoles, and other neighboring tribes, to assemble in Convention for the purpose of confederating together for mutual safety, and the defence of their country against invasion, to secure the independence of the
Indian nations, severally or collectively, as may be deemed best."
The further suggestion is made that five commissioners be appointed with full powers to enter into new treaties with the
Confederate States, whereby all tribal rights, landed and monied, under old treaties with the
United States, may be recognized and secured.
It will be the duty of these functionaries to take such steps as may be necessary to secure all the funds belonging to the Chickasaws, now unlawfully detained by the
Lincoln Government.
The formation of a regular army is also recommended, together with the formation of a treaty stipulation with the Camanches, Kloways and other roving bands, with the view of securing their friendship, if not their active aid in the proposed movement.
We are not surprised at this foreshadowed manifestation of a spirit of resistance among the
Indian tribes, but on the other hand have been a long time anticipating its outbreak. --Were they not infected with a notorious sympathy for the
Southern people in the issue of war now joined between the two sections, the treatment which they have recently received at the hands of the
Lincoln Government would be amply sufficient to goad them into a state of revolution.
The troops have been withdrawn from their frontier, leaving them exposed to attack from the guerilla bands that infest their territory, and they have been refused arms for the purpose of self-defence.
In addition to the perpetration of these wrongs, the
Black Republican authorities, calling themselves the
United States, have failed to pay them the annuities guaranteed by the laws of the land, doubtless using the same in the prosecution on the war. This money the
Indian tribes are entitled to as the interest on State and Federal bonds, purchased with the proceeds of Indian lands sold in the
Mississippi Valley, and for the faithful custody of which the old Government was a self-appointed trust.
The speedy separation of the
Indian Territory from the
North, and its union with the
South, under such favorable auspices, may, we think, be regarded as a foregone conclusion.
Nor can the recognition, and even the encouragement, of such action by the
Confederate States be properly considered either wrong in itself, nor beneath their national dignity.
In the eyes of
Mr. Lincoln, a territory, or even a county, have as much right to secede as a State--a species of logic which precludes himself and advisers from urging any objection against this Indian scheme of secession, which is not equally applicable to the conduct of the eleven sovereign States that have already acted.
In the successful termination of this movement, the
South will gain a large amount of fertile territory, well adapted to slave labor, which, in the progress of western emigration, is destined some day to become one of the most powerful States of the new Confederacy.
’
