PAPERS OF ~JIR.\BE.\U BUONAP.\RTE L.\MAR 85 language different from a large portion of their p·eople. I have no doubt but that a large portion of them are ready to remove to the Arkansaw at any moment. But many who are willing are deterred from openly expressing that willingnes , because they are upbraided by the other party and frequently abused by them when drunk. 'ruskinnehaw, a Chief of the Lower Creeks declares his readiness to r<'move, with all of hi people, and wi he to know who is to conduct them and furnish them with provi ion· . Thi is the feeling of a great many who are silent on the subject, or express themselves in secrecy to me, but waiting the opportunity to start. But I have another matter of a more serious nature to enquire into. I am induced to belie".e that some other letter besides the en- closed one has been forwarded to Washington, ,vhich its author-.s did not wish me to see. Tlii however is only conjecture. But if my conjecture is right, I beg leave to state that such letter is the f-ole production o.f the whitemen above alluded to, written by them- selves, at their own suggestion for some sini ter ends, without the instruction or consent of the Chiefs who attended at Fort Michell. I was constantly with them during their attendance there waitin~ for the Upper Creeks, and do know that no uch letter (as I appre- hend has been sent to ·washington) was ever read in public to the Chiefs, or written by their direction. These statements of mine can be te tined to by, several Indians pre ent, who could read & write the English language, & also by citizens of the first respectibility from the state of Georgia · The grounds which I have for believing that the letter alluded to, has been secretely fonvarded to your Government, are.so strong & ("Onviucing, that I will assume it as a fact, and anticipate its con· tents. The remark made hy the whitemen that if· something was not written, they were afraid that the Agent would be broke, in- <luce~ the belief that the object of the letter was to keep the present Agent in hi office. The whitemen were Thos. Crowell brother to the Agent & 1 • F.1 Collins a citizen of Georgia who acted as clerk & whose name appears on the letter publi hed in the Enquirer. Doubt- l1·ss the Indians are made to express great affection for the present Agent, and many arguments use.d in faYor of his retention in office: T will not controvert the matter, for I have ceased look upon his removal as a possible matter. It is true that he has heen a most calamitious foe to our family and to their friends; and at one time we flattered ourselves that when a change should take place in the Administration of your Govt. that we and the nation in general might be emancipated from him, but even that last hope we have ceased to cherish. Yet I will. state a few facts which may serve to disabu e yom· Govt. in relation to the affair of the Creek ation. First-But a short time ago the Indians had . o little confidence in the words o.f your Agent, that he was disbelieved when he presented n Talk to them from the President. He had poken to them so often falsely, that they considered the Talk as some private scheme of hi own. When Col. Brearley was the Agent to conduct the Emi- gration, Col. Crowell told the Indians that the Arkansaw was a had country: hut when he was to conduct them to the west he told
Powered by FlippingBook