in urging that the trans-Missouri region be closed to white settlement forever, whether he did, as some of his abolitionist enemies have charged, plan thus to block free-state expansion and so frustrate the natural operations of the Missouri Compromise, certain it is, that southern politicians, after his time, became the chief advocates of Indian territorial integrity, the ones that pleaded most often and most noisily that guaranties to Indians be faithfully respected. They had in mind the northern part of the Indian country and that alone; but, no doubt, the circumstance was purely accidental, since at that time, the early fifties, the northern[1] was the only part likely to be encroached upon.[2] Their interest in the southern part took an entirely different direction
- ↑ This was as it appeared to N. G. Taylor, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, as he looked back, in 1867, upon events of the past few years. He was then of the opinion that the very existence of slavery among the southern tribes had most probably saved their country from being coveted by emigrants going westward.
- ↑ One agency under the Southern Superintendency, the Neosho River Agency, was, however, included in the scheme preliminary to the organization of Kansas and Nebraska. See the following letters found in Thomas S. Drew's Letter Press Book:
(a) Office Supt. Ind. Affairs Fort Smith, Arks. Dec. 21, 1853.
Sir: Inclosed herewith you will receive letters from Agent Dorn, dated the 1st and 2nd instant; the former in relation to the disposition of the Indians within his agency to meet Commissioners on the subject of selling their lands, or having a Territorial form of Government extend over them by the United States: and the latter nominating John Finch as Blacksmith to the Great and Little Osages. Very respectfully
Your obt. servt. A. H. Rutherford, Clerk for Supt.
Hon. Geo. W. Manypenny, Comr Ind. Affairs
Washington City.
(b) Office Supt. Indian Affairs Fort Smith, Arks. Dec. 29, 1853.
Sir: . . . I have also to acknowledge the receipt of letters from you of the 2nd instant to the Commissioner of Ind. Affrs. upon the subject of the Indians within your Agency being willing to meet Commissioners on the part of the U.S. preparatory to selling their lands, or to take into consideration the propriety of admitting a Territorial form of Government extended over them & . . .A. H. Rutherford, Clerk for Supt.A. J. Dorn, U.S. Indian Agt., Crawford Seminary.
