John L. Allen to Department of War, 7 FEB 1830:
[M-234, Roll #136]
Washington City
February 7th 1830
Sir:
In conformity with your request of the 29th January, to give the
Dept of War, the information of which I may be in possession,
touching the condition of the Indians within the Chickasaw Agency.
I will do it with pleasure; but regret my inability to do the
Subject that Justice which its importance So Justly demands, and
on which the Genl Govt and the indian Nations in General -- are
so deeply inlisted.
Before I proceed in detail to answer the different Interogatories,
I presume that the situation of the Chickasaw will be better understood,
were I to give a brief, but, correct description of the Country
that they have inhabited ever since they have been known to the
whites as a Nation.
This may be decided intirely unnecessary by the officers of the
War Dept, as well as many of the members of Congress from the
circumstances of their being personally acquainted with the facts
hereafter states but as this information is not intended for them,
but for members of Congress who are seeking information on this
important Subject, I respectfully Submit the following .
The Chickasaw Nation is bounded as follows (towit) on the east
by Tennessee river, on the North by the State of Tennessee until
the line strikes the Mississippi, thence down Said River until
it strikes the Choctaw Line in the State of Mississippi for compliment,
So as to include a Small portion of North Alabama.
The Climate is temperate, the lands on the Tennessee, Mississippi,
and Tom Bigby rivers, are of a superior quallity; and a large
portion of the interior of the Nation is of the Second Quallityed
Land, the ballance is poor Sandy Soil wood Land, fit for nothing
but summer range except on the water courses, which is well grown
over with Cane or reed, and affords an excelent winter range for
Horses, Cattle &c all of which subsists well without any food
from their owners during the winter season or throughout the year.
The buffalow, and Bare are gone, and there are but few Deer, not
sufficient to satisfy and Indian to depend upon for support, more
particularly those that have family. Consequently the Chickasaws
are compeled to subsist by a different means than that of the
chase.
They (The Chickasaws) have a plenty of Horses of a superior quallity
as at least as well addapted to the use of Indians, they use them
on their farms with much less food that is gennerally given those
Animals that are raised and used by the whites, and when traveling
through their country, they travel from thirty to fifty miles
per day never feed them but let them subsist entirely on what
grass or Cane they can procure for themselves when hobeled out
at Night.
They have large herds of Cattle Swine Sheep and Goats, and poultry
of every description that are in use gennerally in that section
of the Country. The Country is well well watered; and is well
adapted to the Culture of Cotton, Corn, wheat oats peas potatoes
Beans &c.
Cotton Beff, and pork are the principal articles for exportation.
There will be Cotton exported from the Nation this year probably
to the amount of 1000 bales. Beef, and pork to no inconsiderable
amount.
The proceeds from the sales of Cotton, Horses, Beef Cattle, Hogs
&c after retaining a sufficiency for their home consumption
is Generally applied to the purchase ofnessaries and Luxuries
of life; (towit) Slaves, Shugar, and Coffee, as well as dry goods
of various descriptions, which are calculated to render them comfortable
and ornament their persons.
The time has come when they no longer depend on the rifle for
support, but it is used more for their recreation, and amusement
than for the means of sustainance.
Every family cultivates the earth more of less, as his thirst
for gain, or his imaginary or real wants increases.
Much to the honor of the Chickasaws, for the last eight years,
the practice of the men requiring the women to perform all the
labours in the field is much changed, the men now (with a few
exceptions) cultivate the earth themselves, while the female part
of the family is engaged in the hosehold affairs. They spin weave
make their own cloathing, Milch Cows make butter cheese &c.
They keep themselves decent and clean and in many instances particular
attention is paid to fashons that are in use by the whites. It
is their constant practice to appear in their best apparel at
their public meetings, also when they visit the country villages
in the white settlements.
Many of the Chickasaws profess Christianity. I attended a Camp
meeting in Nov. last at the Missionarys. Devine worship was performed
alternately by white, and red men, in the english and Indian Languages;
and for the first time I saw the Sacraments taken by the Indians.
Every thing was Conducted with the utmost good order, and decorum.
As a Nation the Men are brave, and honest, the women (the half
breeds in particular) are beautiful and virtuous; and I am of
the opinion that there has been greater advancement in Civiliseation
in the last eight years than there was in twenty previous.
I think the present state of education does not meet the wishes
or expectations of the Chiefs and head men of the Nation. The
evil I believe does exist, but I am not at this time prepared
to point it out and suggest to you the best plan to remove it.
Whether it be for the want of funds, or a improper application
of them or a remissness of duty of those persons to whom the education
of those children are intrusted is well worthy of the attention
of the Genl Govt.
Education is confined generally to the half breeds and youths
generally of the first promise. There are at this time several
whitemen that have identified themselves with the Indians by Marriage,
and Several half breeds that have sufficient education to enable
them to transact a considerable portion of the business of the
Nation.
The Municpal laws of the Chickasaws consists in written Laws,
or resolutions Commanding that which is right; and prohibiting
that which they Conceive to be wrong. Their laws are few, easily
understood; and rigedly inforced; and are highly calculated to
promote peace, and good order among themselves.
As I have already mentioned the state of agriculture I have only
now to say something on the Subject of the Mechanic arts, the
knowledge of which are Generally confined to white men that have
identified themselves with the Indians, particularly of the highest
grade proposed among them (towit) House Carpenter wheel right
Mill rights Blacksmiths &c All the arts necessary for farming
use, Stacking plows helving axes hoes making Slides, Truck wheels,
draw bars Gates &c is generally confined to the common Indians,
and Slaves. As it has been the wish of the Genl Govt, many years
to promote the interest, and better the suttuation of the Chickasaw
Nation, I am sorry to have it to say that the Indians and the
Genl Govt have been greatly disappointed, from the unfortunate
Circumstances of their having made two bad appointments of Agents
in succession for the Chickasaws, who have ruled the Nation with
Despotism for the last eight or ten years, they have not stoped
at the meanest acts of depravity that the human mind is capable
of conceiving. They have oppressed, they have Slandered, and they
have Cheated both them and the Genl Govt, throughly weakining
their faith towards Civilized man in general; and any other Agent
that may preside over their future destiney.
The Chickasaws being surrounded by the white inhabitants, I have
found it a difficult matter to restrain the whites from violating
the Intercourse Law, by driving their Stock over line upon the
Indian Land, making settlements, tradeing with the Indians in
a manner that is prohibited by Law as well as Stealing their Negroes,
Horses, Cattle &c but I am proud to have it in my power to
say that those white persons who are So trouble Some to the Indians
are Generally men of the lowest grade and dregs of Society. Such
men as are always unwilling to conforme to the Laws that govern
the Civilised World.
I have had a conversation with the principal Chiefs and head men
of the Nation, at a Council that I called, on the 10th of November
last; After the business was settled for which they were convened,
they conversed freely with me on the subject of the States of
Mississippi, and Alabama extending their Laws over them, of which
they were awfully affraid.
They all stated that they were much attached to their Country,
they were the first that occupied it, and had always been faithful
to Genl Govt of the United State and on them grounds they bottomed
a strong hope that they would be spechally favored by the present
men in power.
They (the Principal Chiefs) also stated that if the Laws were
extended over them, they had no belief that they would be placed
upon an equal footing with the whites; and if they made so by
Law, all the officers of the Law would be composed of white men,
and as they were unskilled in Lawsuits; and the whites would be
partial to each other, they had no belief that they would be able
to with stand the incroachments of the whites upon them, and if
they did attempt it, that in a few years they would not have a
vistage of property left. Consequently they would exchange their
country for any they could get rather than as they conceived,
loose their native freedom.
I have the honor to be Sir
Very respectfully Your Obet Sevt
John L Allen
Sub Agent for the Chickasaws
Benjamin Reynolds to Thomas L McKinney, 1 APR 1830:
[M-234 Roll #136]
Columbia Tennessee 1st April 1830
Sir
Your favour of the 12th ultimo is this day received notifying
my of my appointment as Agent to the Chickasaw Indians. Which
appointment I accept and shall hold myself in readiness to repair
to the station assigned me and enter upon the duties of the appointment
upon the receipt of your instructions.
I am sir
Very Respectful
Your Obt. Servt.
Benjamin Reynolds
Thos. L. McKinney Esqr.
N.B. I would refer the Department to the Honl. Felix Grundy and James K. Polk members of Congress for the solvency and respectability of my securitys.
Benj. Reynolds
Thomas L. McKinney to Benjamin Reynolds, 7 JUN 1830:
[M-234 Roll #136]
Department of War
Office of Indian Affairs
7th June, 1830.
Sir
Your letter of the 25th ultimo, enclosing your bond is received,
and the bond submitted to the Secretary of War and approved by
him.
You will repair with as little delay as possible to the Chickasaw
agency, and receive from Mr. Allen the Sub-agent, (who
has for some time previous to and since the resignation of your
predecessor, had charge of the agency,) all the books, papers
and other public property belonging to the same and report to
the Department a statement of the public property so received
by you, and for which you will be held responsible: You will also
report the situation of the agency generally.
Your compensation will be as fixed by law, at the rate of 1300$,
per annum, in full for your services, to commence from the time
of your arrival at the agency.
In the discharge of your duties, you will be governed generally
by the Act of Congress of 1802, to regulate trade and intercourse
with the Indians; and the amendatory Act of May 6th, 1822, both
of which, with the other laws relating to Indian Affairs, are
to be found in the volume of Indian Treaties &c, furnished
for the use of the agency to your predecessor, and which, it is
presummed, you will find among the books beloging to the same.
You will take for your government such of the instructions given
to your predecessor as may be applicable to any cases which may
be presented for your action upon them. Such further and special
instructions will be given to you from time to time, as from your
reports to and corespondence with the Department in relation to
the business of your agency may be considered necessary. You will
keep the Department well informed of all your proceedings.
The enclosed Circular of 25th March 1828, indicates the course
to be persued in relation to all claims for Spoilations, under
th Act of 1802, and of every other description growing out of
the intercourse of our Citizens and the Indians.
The annuity due the Chickasaw nation for the present year is 20,000$.
The permanent annuity of 3000$, has been appropriated by the Nation
to the support of Schools and a blacksmith. That portion of it,
which is 500$, appropriated for the latter object will, with the
annuity of 20,000$, be immediately remitted to you at the agency,
with instructions as to its application. A remittance will also,
at the same time be made for the expenses of your agency for the
two first quarters of the present year with similar instructions.
The sums alloted to you for those expenses for the whole year
are as follows, to wit:
| For your own pay at the rate of 1300$, for the year 1830 | $1300:00 |
| For your Sub-agents pay for " " " " | 500:00 |
| For Interpreters pay " " " " " | 400:00 |
| For Blacksmiths pay for do, in addition to the one provided for by the Indians | 840:00 |
| For expense of Iron, Steel &c, for the year 1830 | 240:00 |
| For expense of Transportation of Annuities &c, for do | 500:00 |
| For expense of provisions, at the distribution of the
Annuity &c, &c, for the year 1830 | 250:00 |
| For Contingencies for do | 150:00 |
Making the amount for one year under the existing appropreations
4,180$, which you will be careful to distribute and account for
under the proper heads, and in no event to exceed the amount placed
in your hands under any particular head. Your returns for disbursements
are required to be rendered, punctionally, quarter yearly, with
the proper vouchers.
The great object of an Indian Agency is to see to, and minister,
as far as possible to the wants of the Indians, and to attend
faithfully to redress, as the laws direct, their grievances --
in protecting them from the trespass of the Whites, and in admonishing
and counselling them not to infringe on their part, any of the
privileges of the Whites; and settle differences among themselves,
and harmonize any jarring collisions that may arise between them.
To accomplish all this, a first step, is by kindness and Justice
to get their confidence; and then to act as to preserve it.
I am &c &c
Thos. L. McKinney
To Major
Benjamin Reynolds
Chickasaw Agent,
Columbia, Tennessee
Thomas L. McKinney to Benjamin Reynolds, 9 JUN 1830:
[M-234 Roll #136]
Department of War
Office of Indian Affairs
9th June, 1830
Sir,
A requisition is issued in your favor for 22,760$ which sum will
be remitted to you from the Treasury and is to be applied as follows,
to wit:
| For the Annuity of the Chickasaws due for the present year | $20,000.00 |
| For the support of the Blacksmith provided for by the Chickasaws out of their annuity of 3,000 | $ 500.00 |
| For your own pay for one quarter | 325.00 |
| For Sub-agents pay for two quarters | 250.00 |
| For Interpreter's pay for do do | 200.00 |
| For Blacksmiths pay, provided by the public, for do | 420.00 |
| For purchashing Iron, Steel, Coal &c, for Smiths Shop for whole year | 240.00 |
| For expense of Transportation of Annuity, &c, &c, for do | 500.00 |
| For expense of provisions at the distribution of Annuity &c, &c, for do | 250.00 |
| For contingent expenses, for two quarters | 75.00 |
| $22,760.00 |
You will be very particular in taking the receipts of the Indians
for their annuities; and also in taking those for your other disbursements,
and not to disburse more under any head that the amount placed
in your hands applicable to it. You will so make out your returns
as to show the precise amount, disbursed under each head, and
the unexpended balances, if any, which may remain in your hands
under each, at the time your returns are made out to be forwarded.
Your accounts rendered in this way will be easily understood and
prevent all difficulty in their settlement; which it is desirable
both on your own and the public account to avoid.
I am &c, &c,
Thos. L. McKinney
To Major
Benjamin Reynolds, Chickasaw Agent, &c.
Chickasaw Chiefs to Treaty Commissioners, 25 AUG 1830:
[M-234 Roll#136]
Franklin Tennessee
August 25th 1830
Friends & Brothers
We the chiefs and head men of the chickasaw nation of Indians,
have, by the Request of our Father the President of the U. States,
met him at this place shoke hands with him and our hearts was
glad, & that we were permitted once more by the great spirit
to see his face and shake him by the hands, The kind reception
that we met with from our Father the President, and hospitable
treatment that we have received from the Secretary of War (Majr
Eaton) and the Citizens of Franklin generally a wakined in
our bosomes a lively sense of gratitude which never can be arraced
only by a termination of our existance.
Friends & Brothers
Our Father the President have communicated to us through you,
Majr Eaton & Genl. Coffee his earnest desire to make
us a prosperous and happy people and to accomplish this great
object that is so desirable to us he proposes to give us a country
west of the Mississippi in exchange for the country we now possess
in fee simple (or to use his own words) as long as the grass grows
and water runs.
This subject is of the greatest importance to us as a nation,
we approach it with fear & trembling, for on this occasion
our fate will be seealed; We will be either a Happy and Prosperous
People, or a poor miserable race of beings, but we trust in the
great Spirit that he will continue to bless and comfort us, as
he has done from the earliest period of our existance.
Friends & Brothers
We the Chickasaws have occupied the country not only where we
now live from time immorial, but a large portion of the rich and
fertile lands of Tennessee and Alabama where is now covered with
large farms, Flourshing Citys and Villiages, we have from time
to time sold piece after piece of our Country to our white brothers
to such their views and Interest; Until we have but a small home
left that is barely sufficient to subsist upon while living and
to bury our bones when we are dead.
It is acknowledged that we were the first to build fires upon
the land we now occupy -- yes, our Fire sides has been sought
for by our white brothers they saw it, we saw them approach with
timidity, we met them, took them into our wigwams, warmed them,
fed them, and treated them like brothers, and now we think it
extremely heard, at this advanced period of our lives, to be informed
that we must from necessity, if we wish to preserve ourselves
as a nation that we must seek a home in an unknown region of the
west.
Friends & Brothers
We are informed by our Father the President of the U. States,
that states have been formed a round us and now claim the right
of extending her laws through out her teritorial limits consequently
subject us to her civil and criminal laws. Should we find it expediant
to remain where we are & the States of Mississippi and Alabama
extend their laws over us, we would view it an act of usurpation
on their part, unwarranted by the the constitution of the U. States
and treaties that now exist, unpareled in history, and in many
instance the greatest grivances and hardships would be imposed
upon us.
Our Father the President informed us that we will be subjected
only to such laws as govern the whites, and that courts will be
open for the redress of wrongs that will be done to us, as well
as for wrongs that the Indians may do to the white man. This may
at the first view appear fare and Just and in Fact would be provided
that our people possessed an equal education and intellegence
that is difused amongst our white brothers.
Father
Your red children view this state of thing with feeling of the
deepest respect, and are strongly impressed with the belief that
you sincerly feel a desire to make us happy. Also that the citizens
of the State of Mississippi and Alabama, are perfectly aware that
by the extention of their laws over us it would not Benefit them
one cent, but to affect an object so desirable to themselves,
that is to drive use from our homes and take possession of our
lands.
Father
You call us your children whom you profess to have the highest
regard for, we know you are sincere in your profession and it
creates in our bosoms the warmest feelings of affection towards
you as the great Father & protector of your white & red
children, but we humbly beg leave to represent to you that we
now conceive that we have now arrived to the age of maturity and
that we may continue to act in this important occasion as will
be best calculated to obtain as desirable an object, Peace, Quietness,
and a perpetual home -- and at the same time, we feel a disposition
to accomodate the views of our Father in exchange of country as
you have propossed if you will let us examine your country and
we can find one that you have not already disposed of that will
be equal to the one we now occupy, we will then talk in fairness
about exchange, [candidve?] towards you, and Justice to
our selves commpells us to say to you that we cannot consent to
exchange the country where we now live for one that we never have
seen.
| J McLish Secretary for the Nation | Colo. George Colbert his X mark |
| Majr. Levi Colbert his X mark | |
| Capt Wm McGilviery his X mark | |
| Capt Jas. Brown his X mark | |
| Capt Isaac Alberson his X mark | |
| To-pul-ka his X mark | |
| Ish-te-ya-tubbe his X mark | |
| Ah-to-ka-wa his X mark | |
| Hush-ta-ta-ba his X mark | |
| In-ne-wa-ka-che his X mark | |
| O-he-ka-ubbe his X mark | |
| Im-mo-la-subbe his X mark | |
| Im-mo-houl-le-tubbe his X mark | |
| Ish-te-he-che his X mark | |
| In-he-yo-che-tubbee his X mark | |
| Kin-hi-che his X mark | |
| James Colbert |
Return To Home Page