1853 Delegations
Presidents in 1853: Millard Filmore (until March 3); Franklin Pierce (March 4th onwards)
Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1853: George W. Manypenny
Jan. 22, 1853: Daily National Intelligencer: [Seminole]
Billy Bowlegs Deposed.--the Charleston Standard says a letter from one of the officers of the army in Florida mentions that, by a council of chiefs which recently assembled at one of their settlements. Billy Bowlegs had been formally deposed from his chieftainship, on account of having consented, while in Washington, to emigrate with the remnant of the tribe now in Florida. The orator of the tribe has been chosen to fill his place.
March 31, 1853: Daily National Intelligencer: [Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Shawnee]
Hon. G. W. Manypenny, of Ohio, recently appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs, entered yesterday morning upon the discharge of his duties. During the morning hours of business Mr. Mix, the chief clerk of the office, introduced to him Messrs. Elijah Hicks, J. T. Adair, and T. S. Pegg, delegates from the Cherokee nation; Sampson Fulsom, Thompson McKinney, and Capt. Joseph parks, representing respectively the Chickasaws, Choctaws, and Shawnees.
After the ceremonies incident to the introduction, Judge Hicks, of the Cherokee delegation, in behalf of the representatives of the tribes named, addressed the Commissioner as follows:
Mr. Commissioner of Indian Affairs:
Sir: We have called on you by the authority of our tribes to pay our personal respects to you, and we are happy to find you enjoying good health. We have been informed of your recent accession to this important branch of your government, and we therefore heartily congratulate your people, and the tribes we have the honor to represent, in your taking charge of this department.
Although the duties of this branch of the government have become large, in consequence of the growth of your great government, we anticipate from you a happy and salutary administration of its affairs, not only on questions specially connected with the nations we represent, but of its details.
We may here briefly advert to the condition of our several tribes. The Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Shawnees are steadily engaged in patronizing the instruction in letters of their youth, of religion morals, and the maintenance of peace with their race and the United States. They are permanently settled, and subsist by agriculture and trade, and under a government of wholesome laws before the fleeting years of half a century they are destined to be an improved people.
This is all we have to say, and we shall pray for your welfare and success.
To which the Commissioner replied, that it gave him great pleasure to embrace this opportunity of passing congratulations with the gentlemen present as delegates from their respective tribes, and of cultivating their personal acquaintance.
He assured the delegates that his efforts and abilities should have for their prime object a happy and salutary administration of the affairs of the Indian bureau, and expressed himself gratified at the flattering condition of the tribes, their cultivation of the pursuits of peace, their appreciation of letters and religion, as indicated by the remarks of their speaker; and assured them that a proper and constant cultivation of these was necessary to their prosperity, both here and hereafter.
April 5, 1853: Daily National Intelligencer: [Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Shawnee]
Complimentary Visit Of Indians To The President. On Saturday afternoon last [April 2] the delegation of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Shawnee Indians now in Washington were conducted by Geo. W. Manypenny, Esq., Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to the Executive Mansion where they were honored with an interview by the President of the United States. They were introduced by the Commissioner.
The delegation consisted of Judges Hicks, Adair, and Pegg, of the Cherokees, Messrs. Sampson Folsom and Thompson McKinney for the Chickasaws and Choctaws respectively, and Capt. Jos. Park for the Shawnees.
Judge Hicks addressed the President on the part of the united delegation, and was replied to by Mr. Pierce in kind terms, assuring his visitors that under his administration the rights and interests of the Indians should receive full consideration and regard.
The principal business of the Cherokee branch of the delegation in Washington is to negotiate for the resale of the 800,000 acres, or "neutral ground," originally obtained by the nation from the United States.
April 6, 1853: Daily Union [Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Shawnee]
[reprint of April 5, DNI article]
April 6, 1853: Alexandria Gazette: [Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Shawnee]
On Saturday [April 2] afternoon last, the delegation of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Shawnee Indians now in Washington, were conducted by George W. Manypenny, esq, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to the Executive Mansion, where they were honored with an interview by the President of the United States. They were introduced by the Commissioner.
April 6, 1853: Sun [Baltimore]: [Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Shawnee]
[Reprint of DNI April 5 story]
May 3, 1853: Daily National Intelligencer: [Seminole]
Florida Indians.--The Florida Mirror of the 2nd ultimo says: "We came through in the stage with Col. Winder, of the U. S. Army, commander of Fort Myer. He says the delegation which went on to Washington left most of their presents at Fort Myer on their return, and have since declined receiving them, as they have failed to comply with their promises of emigration. He says also, by a careful estimate made by John Jumper, one of the Western delegations, that there are only 286 Indians remaining in Florida, and only eighty-six of these men and boys able to bear arms. We understand that it is the determination of the General Government to have the country surveyed into townships, which will facilitate the search for the Indians whenever the attempt is made to hunt out. We incline to the opinion that if the people on the frontier can be patient, we who are less exposed might wait to take counsel on the best time and method for the removal.
"Gen. Childs, commanding at Tampa, informed the citizens at the court-house that the Indians were again coming in at Fort Myer, and though unwilling to emigrate professed a desire to remain at peace. Assinwah, a subchief, was in at the post and said Billy Bowlegs had not been deposed."
Aug. 16, 1853: Evening Star: [Potawatomi]
The Indians Departure.--The Pottawatomie Indians, having been aided by the head of the Indian Bureau, have started for their homes, we understand, under the care of their gentlemanly guardian. While here, they put up at Mrs. James Maher's, where they received every attention--Mr. Maher, as well as his family, attending to their wants. At Mr. M's suggestion, his son George took them to the Patent Office, where they were astonished at the inventions and curious things there. The calf with two heads was too much for their belief, however, as they insisted that the heads must have been sewed together. They left with Mrs. M. the following, drawn up by their interpreter:
Washington, August 12, 1853.
We are very much indebted to our mother, Mrs. Maher,
for her kind attention that she has shown us while we were boarding with her. We dare say that we never was treated as well in all our travels.
Nanwitto,
Nemsowe,
Ke-she-ko,
Pan-aw,
Archmakowa,
Notanka,
Wanwankesso,
Wabnucker,
Charles Picotte, Interpreter
Oct. 14, 1853: Daily National Intelligencer [Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Chippewa,
Shawnee]
Indian Compliments: --When the delegation of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Chippewa, and Shawnee nations visited Washington last April, it was understood that they would be permitted to present an address to Mrs. Pierce at a social party to be assembled at the White House. The sad calamity which befel [sic] the President's family shortly previous, and so seriously impaired Mrs. Pierce's health, however, permited the interview. The Cherokee Advocate publishes the address which had been prepared, which we subjoin. The reader will perceive that the red men are in no wise behind their white brethren in the language of compliment:
Honored Madam: Our race have been rarely honored with the privilege of paying their personal respects to the lady of the chief Magistrate of this great Republic. The only exceptions, I believe, were Mrs. Madison and Mrs. Tyler, who kindly conceded to us this favor. On behalf of the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Nations, their representatives now present beg leave to express to you the deep gratitude they feel for this distinguished privilege you have afforded, to tender to you their sincere wishes for your welfare and long-continued happiness.
Permit us, madam, to remark that your sex in this favored land constitutes the grand ins[t]rument for the enlightenment of your race, and we trust of the world, in wisdom and the preservation of good government; and although your virtues and intellect are not under the control and auspices of European systems, yet they are more brilliant than those nurtured by the thrones of oriental splendor.
It has been the custom of the Indians to address the President by the venerated name of Great Father; may we not venture to address you as the maternal political parent of our rave, and as such ask your blessing?
Oct. 16, 1853: Washington Sentinel [Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Chippewa, Shawnee]
[Reprint from Cherokee Advocate quoted Oct. 14, DNI]
Oct. 22, 1853: Daily Union [Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Chippewa, Shawnee]
[Reprint Oct. 14, DNI]
Nov 27, 1853: Daily National Intelligencer (extract): [Seminole]
The Florida Indians [general discussion not copied]
...In the publication to which we have alluded ["prominent Opposition journal," probably the Star] the visit of Billy Bowlegs to Washington is spoken of, and he is said to declare that whatever promises he made while here are not now binding upon him, because he was then under a species of duress. If he has made such declarations we have no information of the fact; nor can we believe, except upon the most ample proof, that he has, inasmuch as the most constant attention was given to this subject, and assurances repeatedly made to him that he was free from all restraint. He, indeed, fully and avowedly realized this truth, and accordingly withheld every thing in the nature of a promise until the eve of his departure from Washington, when he requested an interview for the purpose, and desired that what he had to say should be committed to writing, which was done in the presence of witnesses....."