WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1830
168
only visited the Cherokees twice since their removal, and neither visit did he spend more than fifteen days in the nation. But if an Indian wished to see the Agent upon_business, he was com- pelled to trav€1 from 100 to 150 miles, and the greater part of the way through a white population. Did not Col. McKenney connive at these facts? Did he not permit the Agent to withhold his accounts for fourteen months, when he knew that the law required semi-annual returns? Did not the Colonel well know that the Agent was a merchant, and that his bond was forfeited thereby? Or has the Colonel taken a bond of him or any other Agent? and if so, how many? Or has he instituted any suits against Agents who have forfeited their bonds? and if so, how many? If these questions are answered negatively I shall think the Colonel has acted "rnala fides." The Colonel says, in his letter, "before I recommend a remittance to fulfil the provisions of the treaty, &c. &c. that he must know that the Indians did comply with their part of the obligation." Now who is to Exact of the U. States a compliance with the 3d Article of the treaty, the basis of the 5th Article, and upon which the spirit of the whole compact and its conditions rest? But the Colonel's peremptory "I" may be opposed to the fu!filment of all stipulations, when "I" will not essentially be benefitted, if it should even be "sub-rasee." I would be sorry if the Colonel should become impatient either at the length of this letter or its contents, as he will shortly re- ceive a most special notice from a friend of mine up the Arkansas, but one who knows nothing of the "Arkansa" letter writer. The Colonel and myself agree upon our subject-that of emigration- but differ as to th3 "modu.s operamdi." The Colonel is in favor of getting the Indians to Arkansas by any means possible, and then to sv,,indle, starve, defraud, and oppress them. The rules of his policy are these: He talks to Indians as though they were chil- <fren; he treats with them as men and nations; speaks of them as tyrants; and writes to them as slaves. The plan I would suggest, would be, to prepare a country upon Arkansas; mark it off by lines defining the limits of each tribe or nation, so that it will not be necessary to disturb their repose by making way for other tribes. Two nations now occupy and claim the same lands; one of which must hereafter remove to other lands. Again, my plan would be, to advertise contracts, and let them out to persons who would furnish good provisions, and let the Agents be responsible to the Government and the Indians, and see that they are well L
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