A Nation
Liquidates
The Catawba, once a
powerful tribe, u ill di¬
vide their assets.
When John Lawson observed the
Catawba Indians in 1701, he called
them a "powerful tribe." One estimate
placed their number at 5,000. and
Adair mentioned that one of their
cleared fields was seven miles long.
In 1721 they were called by the Eng¬
lish "brave fellows as any on the
continent of America and our firm
friends."
At that time, they lived principally
in North Carolina, along the Catawba
River. They were staunch friends of
the settlers, and helped defend the
frontier against the Chcrokees. Their
King Haiglcr was a statesman and
diplomat and some of his speeches,
preserved in the records, are logical
and eloquent.
But incessant wars, disease and
whiskey depleted the tribe. By 1784.
only 250 remained; in 1826 only 1 10.
By 1840, the few remaining mem¬
bers all lived in South Carolina but
were dissatisfied and migrated in a
body to live with the Cherokee in the
Smokies. Old animosities flared, and
the disillusioned Catawba returned to
their reservation, which finally shrank
to about a mile square. It was near
the mouth of Sugar Creek, below
Charlotte. They received some help
from the State of South Carolina and
from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Under civilization, the Catawba in¬
creased until there now are about 625
on the tribal rolls.
Now the members have decided to
dissolve the tribe and divide the tribal
reservation, estimated to be worth
about $250,000. Each Indian will re¬
ceive about $500, and the tribe as a
legal entity will be no more.
12
Chief Haigler’s Plea
for Colonial Peace
Here is part of a speech made by
King Haiglcr of the Catawba Indians
at Salisbury, May 1756, during a pow¬
wow- with colonial officials:
The Chcrokees We and the White
people have been Brothers, and I de¬
sired that the path between us might
be kept clear but the Chcrokees have
been playing the Rogue at which 1 am
extremely concerned.
All the White People from South to
North as far as New York nay beyond
the great waters under the great King
arc our Brothers, should the French
come we will stand by our Brethren
the English or go down into the grave
with them.
I always advise my men to be kind
and obliging to the White People, as
they are their Brothers and 1 shall
continue to do so and remain their
Brothers ’till a sharp thing pierces my
breast so that I die, when that happens
they must do as they please.
1 go very much among the White
People and have often my Belly filled
by them and am very sorry they should
at any time be distracted.
As my people and the White People
are Brcthcrn I desire that when they
go to their houses they may give them
victuals to eat. some of the White
People arc very bad and quarrelsome
and whip my people about the head,
beat and abuse them but others are
very good.
I desire a stop may be put to the
selling of strong Liquors by the White
people to my people especially near
the Indian Nation. If the White people
make strong drink let them sell it to
one another or drink it in their own
Families. This will avoid a great deal
of mischief which otherwise will
happen from my people getting drunk
and quarreling with the White
People. Should any of my people do
any mischief to the White people I
have no strong prisons like you to
confine them for it. Our only way is to
put them under the ground and all
these men (pointing to his Warriors)
will be ready to do that to those who
shall deserve it.
I desire to know what is to be done
with the White Woman I took from
the Cherokecs; I hope she will not be
put to death, she is but a woman and
can do no great harm and I think she
was compelled by the Chcrokees to do
what she did.
To which the Chief Justice an¬
swered, nothing has hitherto appeared
against her that will effect her life. I
am informed she is an indented servant
to a man in Virginia, if that be the
case and she should not be charged
with any offence I shall direct her to
be conveyed to her proper owner.
To which King Haiglcr replied. I am
glad of it. 1 am always sorry to lose a
Woman. The loss of one Woman may
be the loss of many lives because one
Woman may be mother of many chil¬
dren. At which the audience smiling,
he added I believe I have spoken
nothing but Truth.
THE STATE. March IB. I
