After the proper efforts due to my people has failed on all
sides to be understood as I had wished, I do not give any to
despair. I am ready always to meet Emergencies. Just as I find
them.
I have for years foreseen the present conditions of our common
interests, but I had totally failed to appreciate the mesmeric
toils that have developed against our common Brotherhood. The true
facts of cause and affect of these conditions have been clearly
explained time and again. So that even the lisping babes of all
these nations know them as the first words they ever learned. Yet,
here comes over three hundred full blood Creeks in Convention
assembled last summer and nominates that foul monster, L. C.
Perryman, for Chief. Endorsed by Chief Isparhechar and the well
wishes of some of the Cherokee Ke-toa-wah (Ca-toh-wau-Ko-ne).
Extended to this foul monster whose former Chieftaincy laid the
disrupting Schemes that has finally destroyed the Creek Nation.
I have Wyandotte, Cherokee, Choctaw Indian blood in my veins,
as well as Creek. It would be beneath my duty to wish Evil against
the Creek people. I have been with them all my life. There is not
a song, word, or tradition of the Mus-ko-kee that I do not Know.
It is also true, the only Enemies I have on all God’s Green
Earth are some of these Creek Indians. I am not the man to punish
my best friends. Along with person that choose to Challenge my
eminence. I will save an enemy before I will destroy a friend, why
may be embrace or implicating the two.
When L. C. Perryman succeeded to the Chieftaincy, efforts were
made towards my injury. I compelled them to resist their attempts.
I compelled them to acknowledge my right and Supreme Manhood Among
Men. I compelled Chief L. C. Perryman to acknowledge to the
Secretary of the Interior my right here and his acknowledgment of
my vindication. And I have drank deep the Cup of Vengence and
breathed deep the Joy of Victory. I am vastly Superior to them and
time will prove it too.
Isparhechar tried to reform the government, which was
commendable as far as his time permitted. At the end of his
administration, the Ensuing Campaign, the people were torn into
fractions. They really did not know what to do. They are not going
to accomplish even what Isparhechar had prepared for their
possibilities to do. His treaty with the Dawes Commission was a
good treaty. It will be amended by Congress into a death warrant
because they know how the political trend is with us today. Unless
we will have relief gained by our own efforts.
I do not expect anything better of the Cherokee treaty short of
another Death Warrant. The Great Masses of non-land holders (white
and negro State Comers) are organized into Secret Societies for
the purpose of taxing, by governmental authority, The Indian land
holders out of their lands. To Tax Excessive taxes, and compel
Sheriff Sales of real estate for taxes until their desighns are
accomplished and then relieve themselves of that tax. The Negro
Citizens are organixes into Similar Secret Societies with the non-citiizen
organizations of Negroes. Who intend to cash all their interests
and emigrate to Africa. The Indians are the blindfolded tools to
their own disfranchisement and disinheritance. Now is the time to
Secure Proper legislation towards protecting them. The United
States government is willing to do right but we have failed to
present, a proper defense, while our worst enemies, “Boomer,”
have had everything their own way and gained lots. Against us.
Among us are fractions who expect to obviate these Evils by
emigrating to Mexico. This scheme has failed to defend our
Interests here to complete efforts when the people are so divided
on questions of proper methods. (I am) Not begging for office, but
striving to have that done for the public good. Time will show
what I mean. I have tried for Years to keep a clear record for the
Indian before the U. S. Government, in order to give us the
advantage of un-convicted right to plead our own cause and then
dictate the conditions of allotments and percentage of State
Taxation and other necessary laws for the assured Existence of the
future. Voiceless Existence of a minority of landholders governed
by the majority.
The books I referred to in my former letter are Egglestons,
“Life of Red Eagle,” G. B. Grinell’s “Story of the
Indian,” F.A. Ober, “In the Everglades.” “Quotations of an
Old Sailor Named Romans,” written over one hundred years ago of
the Creeks, Seminoles, Choctaws, and Cherokees. Come down any time
and read them. I told Mr. Yancy about my letting you have the
book, “Creek War.” He said he was glad I had done so. The book
is yours now. You are to keep it.
I saw a funny letter of old Ko-wes-Kowi John Ross to Seminoles
1837 about elder brothers, etc. The Creeks call the white men
their Youngest brother because he came here last. They call the
Cherokees Elder brothers because the Cherokees lived on the lower
Chattahoochee River before the Creeks did.
Ko-naw-la
J. R. Gregory
(Document found in the personal file of J. R.
Gregory, Creek Indian Archives, Oklahoma Historical Society Library,
Oklahoma City. Transcribed by Barbara Cox.)
James Roane Gregory
