Lincoln and Native Americans

[LincolnMan]

A particular aspect of Lincoln I know very little about. What do you all understand about it?

[RJNorton]

Bill, I do not know if this will help, but your question made me think of the time the Native American chiefs met with Lincoln in the White House. The information I give is from The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln.

SOURCE: Washington Daily Morning Chronicle, March 28, 1863.

"The Executive Mansion was yesterday morning the scene of a very interesting ceremony. The Indian chiefs now in the city met the President of the United States and had a formal interview with him. The meeting took place in the East room...."

Lincoln's speech to the chiefs:

"You have all spoken of the strange sights you see here, among your pale-faced brethren; the very great number of people that you see; the big wigwams; the difference between our people and your own. But you have seen but a very small part of the palefaced people. You may wonder when I tell you that there are people here in this wigwam, now looking at you, who have come from other countries a great deal farther off than you have come."

"We pale-faced people think that this world is a great, round ball, and we have people here of the pale-faced family who have come almost from the other side of it to represent their nations here and conduct their friendly intercourse with us, as you now come from your part of the round ball.''

Here a globe was introduced, and the President, laying his hand upon it, said:

"One of our learned men will now explain to you our notions about this great ball, and show you where you live.''

Professor Henry then gave the delegation a detailed and interesting explanation of the formation of the earth, showing how much of it was water and how much was land; and pointing out the countries with which we had intercourse. He also showed them the position of Washington and that of their own country, from which they had come.

The President then said:

"We have people now present from all parts of the globe---here, and here, and here. There is a great difference between this palefaced people and their red brethren, both as to numbers and the way in which they live. We know not whether your own situation is best for your race, but this is what has made the difference in our way of living.

"The pale-faced people are numerous and prosperous because they cultivate the earth, produce bread, and depend upon the products of the earth rather than wild game for a subsistence."

"This is the chief reason of the difference; but there is another. Although we are now engaged in a great war between one another, we are not, as a race, so much disposed to fight and kill one another as our red brethren."

"You have asked for my advice. I really am not capable of advising you whether, in the providence of the Great Spirit, who is the great Father of us all, it is best for you to maintain the habits and customs of your race, or adopt a new mode of life."

"I can only say that I can see no way in which your race is to become as numerous and prosperous as the white race except by living as they do, by the cultivation of the earth."

"It is the object of this Government to be on terms of peace with you, and with all our red brethren. We constantly endeavor to be so. We make treaties with you, and will try to observe them; and if our children should sometimes behave badly, and violate these treaties, it is against our wish."

"You know it is not always possible for any father to have his children do precisely as he wishes them to do."

"In regard to being sent back to your own country, we have an officer, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who will take charge of that matter, and make the necessary arrangements.''

The President's remarks were received with frequent marks of applause and approbation. ``Ugh,'' ``Aha'' sounded along the line as the interpreter proceeded, and their countenances gave evident tokens of satisfaction.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The chiefs listed as present at the White House were:

Cheyennes.---Lean Bear, War Bonnet, and Standing Water.

Kiowais.---Yellow Buffalo, Lone Wolf, Yellow Wolf, White Bull, and Little Heart.

Arapahoes.---Spotted Wolf and Nevah.

Comanches.---Pricked Forehead and Ten Bears.

Apache.---Poor Bear.

Caddo.---Jacob.

[Rob Wick]

Bill,

Most of the information available on Lincoln and Native Americans follows the story of the Sioux uprising and the mass executions. It appears that not much else of any note happened during his presidency in regards to Native American policy. From my very brief research, it appears that the go-to source is David A. Nichols, who did his doctoral dissertation on that question. It was later published in 2012 as Lincoln and the Indians: Civil War Policy and Politics. Here is an expanded look at the book on Project Muse. You can't look at each of the chapters unless you have access to the database, but it will give you an idea of what the book discusses. Here is the Amazon link for the book. Finally, here is an article that Nichols wrote for the journal Minnesota History.

Best
Rob

[Eva Elisabeth]

Here are the photos of the March 1863 receptions:
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photog...mmer-house

[LincolnMan]

This is helpful everyone. Glancing on the internet there seems to be a lot of negatives about Lincoln and Native Americans. However, I have found this to be true about any subject. About the order by Lincoln to order the execution of over thirty Native Americans- not one of the sites that described Lincoln in negative terms regarding the event mentioned that he spared over two hundred fifty lives that had been condemned to death regarding the "crimes." I find this to be intellectually dishonest. This is also true of those who take Lincoln's words out of context to "prove" Lincoln was "truly" a racist (usually quotes from the debates).

[David Lockmiller]

(06-29-2016 05:31 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  This is helpful everyone. Glancing on the internet there seems to be a lot of negatives about Lincoln and Native Americans. However, I have found this to be true about any subject. About the order by Lincoln to order the execution of over thirty Native Americans- not one of the sites that described Lincoln in negative terms regarding the event mentioned that he spared over two hundred fifty lives that had been condemned to death regarding the "crimes." I find this to be intellectually dishonest. This is also true of those who take Lincoln's words out of context to "prove" Lincoln was "truly" a racist (usually quotes from the debates).

We discussed the subject of Lincoln voiding the execution of hundreds of Indians by the state of Minnesota at great length on another posting thread. In fact, Lincoln sent one of his secretaries as I recall to make sure that justice was done as he saw justice. He almost lost the state of Minnesota in the next presidential election as a result. That woman historian that liked Mary Lincoln so much actually came to Washington to demand that every one of the Indians should be executed.

You might like the following modern story from today's New York Times:

“Part-Time Jobs and Thrift: How Unpaid Interns in D.C. Get By”
New York Times By KATIE SHEPHERD JULY 5, 2016

WASHINGTON — When Dominic Peacock found out he had been selected for an unpaid summer internship at the National Congress of American Indians here, he looked up the airfare from Albuquerque, rejected the option, and boarded a bus and rode 44 hours.

Now, after a long day thumbing through bills and working for legislation to protect tribal artifacts, he walks a few blocks to a hotel restaurant where he buses tables until 1 a.m. His workweek — 60 to 75 hours long — affords him one day off to catch up on chores in his American University dorm room and explore the city.

“This is the schedule that I want,” said Mr. Peacock, a senior at the University of New Mexico and member of the Acoma Pueblo tribe. “I’m going to finish this. I don’t care what it costs.”

When Mr. Peacock isn’t at his internship or busing tables, he likes to visit the Lincoln Memorial because it reminds him of his tribe’s history. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln officially recognized the sovereignty of several Pueblo tribes in New Mexico for the first time.

[LincolnMan]

David: awesome post.

[L Verge]

"That woman historian that liked Mary Lincoln so much actually came to Washington to demand that every one of the Indians should be executed."

David - please tell me who that woman historian was! My first thought was Jane Swisshelm, but she was a reporter, not really a historian. I spent about an hour this morning trying to find an answer. Never did find the answer, but did find this link, an excellent history of the Sioux situation, and lo and behold, it was written by a member of the Surratt Society and a friend that I had not conversed with in several years! Unfortunately, he didn't know who the woman was either. Both of us are guessing that Jane Swisshelm must be the person. Are we correct?

https://www.dcbar.org/bar-resources/publ...incoln.cfm

[Angela]

(07-06-2016 02:21 PM)L Verge Wrote:  "That woman historian that liked Mary Lincoln so much actually came to Washington to demand that every one of the Indians should be executed."

David - please tell me who that woman historian was! My first thought was Jane Swisshelm, but she was a reporter, not really a historian. I spent about an hour this morning trying to find an answer. Never did find the answer, but did find this link, an excellent history of the Sioux situation, and lo and behold, it was written by a member of the Surratt Society and a friend that I had not conversed with in several years! Unfortunately, he didn't know who the woman was either. Both of us are guessing that Jane Swisshelm must be the person. Are we correct?

https://www.dcbar.org/bar-resources/publ...incoln.cfm

I think Jane Swisshelm is it. She was part of a delegation that went to Washington.
She makes a brief mention of it in her book "Half a century". This is also the chapter that holds the quotes about her meeting Lincoln.

"After the Sioux had finished their work of horror, Minnesota men, aided by volunteers from Iowa and Wisconsin, pursued and captured the murderers of one thousand men, women and children; tried them, found them guilty, and proposed to hang them just as if they had been white murderers.
But when the general government interfered and took the prisoners out of the hands of the State authorities, and when it became evident that Eastern people endorsed the massacre and condemned the victims as sinners who deserved their fate, one of the State officers proposed that I should go East, try to counteract the vicious public sentiment, and aid our Congressional delegation in their effort to induce the Administration either to hang the Sioux murderers, or hold them as hostages during the war."

[L Verge]

(07-07-2016 01:49 AM)Angela Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 02:21 PM)L Verge Wrote:  "That woman historian that liked Mary Lincoln so much actually came to Washington to demand that every one of the Indians should be executed."

David - please tell me who that woman historian was! My first thought was Jane Swisshelm, but she was a reporter, not really a historian. I spent about an hour this morning trying to find an answer. Never did find the answer, but did find this link, an excellent history of the Sioux situation, and lo and behold, it was written by a member of the Surratt Society and a friend that I had not conversed with in several years! Unfortunately, he didn't know who the woman was either. Both of us are guessing that Jane Swisshelm must be the person. Are we correct?

https://www.dcbar.org/bar-resources/publ...incoln.cfm

I think Jane Swisshelm is it. She was part of a delegation that went to Washington.
She makes a brief mention of it in her book "Half a century". This is also the chapter that holds the quotes about her meeting Lincoln.

"After the Sioux had finished their work of horror, Minnesota men, aided by volunteers from Iowa and Wisconsin, pursued and captured the murderers of one thousand men, women and children; tried them, found them guilty, and proposed to hang them just as if they had been white murderers.
But when the general government interfered and took the prisoners out of the hands of the State authorities, and when it became evident that Eastern people endorsed the massacre and condemned the victims as sinners who deserved their fate, one of the State officers proposed that I should go East, try to counteract the vicious public sentiment, and aid our Congressional delegation in their effort to induce the Administration either to hang the Sioux murderers, or hold them as hostages during the war."

I did not know until hunting this down that Mrs. Swisshelm had lived in Minnesota during this period and, therefore, understood the ire of the people of that state.

[Angela]

(07-07-2016 10:40 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(07-07-2016 01:49 AM)Angela Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 02:21 PM)L Verge Wrote:  "That woman historian that liked Mary Lincoln so much actually came to Washington to demand that every one of the Indians should be executed."

David - please tell me who that woman historian was! My first thought was Jane Swisshelm, but she was a reporter, not really a historian. I spent about an hour this morning trying to find an answer. Never did find the answer, but did find this link, an excellent history of the Sioux situation, and lo and behold, it was written by a member of the Surratt Society and a friend that I had not conversed with in several years! Unfortunately, he didn't know who the woman was either. Both of us are guessing that Jane Swisshelm must be the person. Are we correct?

https://www.dcbar.org/bar-resources/publ...incoln.cfm

I think Jane Swisshelm is it. She was part of a delegation that went to Washington.
She makes a brief mention of it in her book "Half a century". This is also the chapter that holds the quotes about her meeting Lincoln.

"After the Sioux had finished their work of horror, Minnesota men, aided by volunteers from Iowa and Wisconsin, pursued and captured the murderers of one thousand men, women and children; tried them, found them guilty, and proposed to hang them just as if they had been white murderers.
But when the general government interfered and took the prisoners out of the hands of the State authorities, and when it became evident that Eastern people endorsed the massacre and condemned the victims as sinners who deserved their fate, one of the State officers proposed that I should go East, try to counteract the vicious public sentiment, and aid our Congressional delegation in their effort to induce the Administration either to hang the Sioux murderers, or hold them as hostages during the war."

I did not know until hunting this down that Mrs. Swisshelm had lived in Minnesota during this period and, therefore, understood the ire of the people of that state.

I am not sure that she actually understood much but she sure had opinions.
As she wrote in the St. Cloud Democrat:
"Exterminate the wild beasts, and make peace with the devil and all his hosts sooner than these red-jawed tigers"
"shoot them and be sure they are shot dead, dead, DEAD, DEAD!"

She was a really odd person. I enjoyed some of her nonpolitical writings and thoughts but she had little sense of politics and in her articles there is a lot of acid.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I hope this link will work for you - an IMO fascinating compilation:
https://de.pinterest.com/pin/95490454574570714/