RECORDS OF THE CHICKASAW NATION -- 17 MAR 1848

To the Chief and Capt. of the Chickasaw People

Your Committee appointed yesterday by your General Council and to whom was referred for their deliberation to take into consideration the propriety of sending a delegation respectfully representing our people to state our opinion & recommend a course for the proposed delegation to act in the name of our people, and also how many persons should compose the Delegation, as well as to ascertain what quantity of Funds would be required to defray their expenses &c, all of which we respectfully submit the following recommendation as expressed of our sentiments in behalf of our people relative to the proposed Delegation.

1^st We recommend a Delegation consisting of seven qualified persons be appointed to visit Washington City to transact business in behalf of our people.

2^nd We are of the opinion that our General fund now in the hands of the Government of the United States need examining and supervision on our part to be fully acquainted with the exact amt of Interest it yields a year. And also to know the true basis and condition of all of our funds in the hands of the Government.

3^rd That the proposed Delegation be fully authorized to adjudicate all unsettled claims or demands against the Government of the U. S. growing out of any Treaty stipulations between the said government of U. S. and the Chickasaws and all the Funds that may have been improperly applied under the supervision of the Government of the U. S.

4^th We would recommend that hereafter the whole of the Interest accruing on the principle should be under the control of and management of the qualified officers of our people agreeable to Treaty Stipulation. And that here after the claims against the Chickasaws should be never paid unless it be paid within the limits of our Country, except any contract or agreement that may have been or will be made for educational purposes on a large scale aside from contemplated neighborhood school which we heartily recommend, that the Delegation be requested to have the right of managing and any other arrangements that they may think expedient & prudent to make with the Department at Washington.

5^th There being some unsold Lands belonging to our people in the State of Miss., and no report has been made on the part of the Government as required by our Treaty, we would enjoin upon the Delegation to investigate the situation and consideration of those Lands yet unsold.

6^th Also the Delegation should endeavor to represent to the Government our just claims to a scope or section of a Country lying and bordering on the boundary line which separated the Choctaws & Chickasaws in the State of Mississippi and held in dispute between the said Choctaws & Chickasaws.

7^th The Chickasaw people are fully confident that in the event they can obtain a new Home or Country which would allow them to settle more compactly and unitedly they would undoubtedly be placed in a situation that would be conducive to their best welfare and protected to a greater satisfaction from any imposition than the situation under the "Yoke" of another tribe.

8^th We would recommend further that the proposed Delegation be fully authorized to act in the name and behalf of the Chickasaw Tribe of Indians any transaction, representation, of any object or negotiation that in their opinion and judgment seem proper to make for the general good of the whole Tribe and meeting the true wishes of our people, they shall have power to bring it about and use their best endeavors to effect same. But nothing shall be transacted and admitted which may be considered as injurious and prejudicial to the welfare of our people.

9^th Your committee would respectfully submit that they have fully considered the subject of expenses that would be incurred by this proposed Delegation and ascertained that a sum not exceeding Four Thousand and Two hundred dollars would be little enough to defray the expenses of the Delegation; And there being yet in the Hands of the District Treasury a sum little under of seventeen hundred dollars which we consider an amount enough to give them an outfit, And that the Delegation be authorized to draw on any funds belonging to the Chickasaws in the hands of the Government a sum not exceeding Twenty five hundred dollars to defray their expenses.
 
 

(Signed)

Capt Winchester Colbert

Sect. To the Committee
 
 

Names of Committee

James Gamble

Jackson Frazier

R. J. Humphrey

D. Colbert

Lemuel Colbert

Col. Isaac Albertson his X mark

Capt. Ish hic in ka tubby his X mark

" Ish kit ta ha his X mark

" John McGillvery his X mark
 
 
 
 

The above recommendation as rendered by the Committee relative to the subject of Delegation have been Considered by the Captains in General Council and adopt it as the basis of their motive in sending Delegation to Washington City.

Test (Signed)

James Gamble Isaac Albertson his X mark

Sect. Council Speaker of the Council

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