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CHAPTER XCII.

Indian Territory.

THIS part of the United States requires a special notice, because it differs widely from any other. While it is located within our own boundaries, it is in some respects like a foreign country, and its inhabitants like foreigners; yet it is not a foreign country, but a domestic dependency, and the various tribes inhabiting it are domestic dependent nations, if we dignify small tribes of savages by such a sounding title. The Indian Territory lies west of the Mississippi River, west of the State of Arkansas, and north of Texas, and is of large dimensions, containing no less than 71,127 square miles, or 45,521,250 acres. The United States Government, finding that there were frequent collsions, broils and difficulties, and sometimes wars between the whites and Indians, while in close proximity to each other, in some instances persuaded the Indians, and in some cases compelled them to leave their homes and lands, and remove to this Territory, where they could live more apart from the whites, and enjoy their own laws and customs without molestation from white neighbors. This Territory has thus become the residence of a number of tribes, each having its own section of country within the Territory, or Indian country. Here the

United States exercise no authority over them, excepting in certain crimes perpetrated by them against the whites. Of crimes committed by Indians against Indians, it takes no cognizance. For this purpose, the Indian Territory is annexed to the Judicial District of the adjoining States, (viz., to Arkansas and Missouri.) that they may be tried and punished by the United States Circuit and District Courts when sitting in these districts. They are allowed to live under their own laws, follow their own customs, and indulge in their own modes of life. The land has been ceded to the Indians, each tribe owning the portion allotted to it by the United States. It is quite probable that after the Indians have reached a higher grade of civilization, and become more assimilated to the customs and usages of the white people, that they will apply to Congress for admittance into the family of States, and become an integral part of the United States. But at present they occupy this semi-isolated condition, are under our protection and partially under our criminal laws. The United States would protect them against foreign invasion or harm, in case interference should be attempted. The Government protects them against our own people; for it will not allow them to trade with, nor even to go among them without permission. The provision made by the United States for the preservation and wellbeing of the Indians, by assigning them a location in the Indian Territory, does not however include all the Indian tribes; those now inhabiting this territory are principally from the tribes east of the Mississippi River; many tribes west of that river still remain in their orig

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inal homes, or have moved to certain localities which have been reserved for them, called Indian Reservations, where they are protected by Indian agents appointed by the Government for this purpose, and also to look after other Indian affairs.

The population of the Territory at the last census was 9,761; while the whole number of Indians in the United States amounts to about 300,000.

CHAPTER XCIII.

The Wars of the United States.

1. So many acts of the Government, and so many laws of Congress have had especial reference to the wars in which the country has been involved, that it will throw much light upon them to give a very brief historical sketch of the different wars in which the United States have been engaged.

2. The first in order of time, and in the results which followed, is the Revolutionary war, as it is called in our own country. This war was begun and consummated, however, before our Government existed; for it was fought for the express purpose of gaining the power to establish a Government for ourselves. This, the people could not do while they were under the power of the English Government, which oppressed them with bad laws, and with a corrupt and oppressive administration. Petitions for relief, and strong remonstrances against such oppression proved utterly abortive. The people resorted to arms with a firm determination to redress their wrongs by force, as all other means had failed.

3. This statement gives the reasons for this war. It commenced on the 19th of April, 1775-or rather, on that day the first blood was spilt. Some preparations had been previously made, since it had been seen for some time

that the stubborn acts of the English Government, and the determination of the people to redress their grievances, would pretty certainly lead to a contest.

4. This war lasted seven years, and was attended with varied success. The Colonies were poor, the population small, and to many it appeared preposterous to contend with the power of the mother country, which was rich in money and means to subdue the Rebellion, as she termed this uprising of the people to vindicate their rights. There were other causes which protracted the struggle, and which caused more blood to be shed than the battles with the British armies would have cost, had all the peo. ple in the Colonies been united, which was not the case. Numbers of them opposed the war, adhered to the old Government, even took up arms on the side of England, and did all in their power to assist her in her efforts to put the Colonies down. These men rendered material aid to the British during the whole period of the contest. They were then, and have ever since been called Tories; which meant, enemies to their own country. They made them. selves extremely odious to the people, and the name has been a term of reproach ever since.

5. But this was not all. Besides the power of England, against which the people had to contend, the English, by means of presents, induced the Indians, who were numerous at that time, to join them. This stratagem not only afforded much assistance to the English Government, but added the horrors of savage barbarity to the war. The Indians not only went into battle with the English, but laid in ambush, watching and shooting the people wherever they could find them.

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