25 I n d . C1. Corn. 25
.
39
BEFORE THE INDIAN CLAIES COMEiISSION
TIS SEXINOLE i N D i A l f S OF TEE STATE
OF FLORIDA,
)
)
1
1
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
1
1
1
TkE UNITED STATES OF k%RICA,
Defendant.
Decided:
Docket No. 73-A
)
March 24, 1971
FIKDINGS OF FACT
The ~ o i & i s s i o n makes t h e f o l l o w i n g f i n d i n g s of f a c t :
I.
A s h e r e t o f o r e found by t h e Commission i n Docket Nos.
7 3 and 151,
The Seminole I n d i a n s of t h e S t a t e of F l o r i d a v. United S t a t e s , 13 Ind.
C1. Comm.,
326, 327 (1964), t h e p l a i n t i f f h e r e i n i s a n i d e n t i f i a b l e t r i b e o f
h e r i c a n I n d i a n s and i s a u t h o r i z e d t o m a i n t a i n t h i s a c t i o n i n i t s o'wn
behalf under s e c t i o c 2 of t h e Indian C l a i m s Commission A c t (60 S t a t .
Count I
2.
By A r t i c l e I of t h e
rea at^
o f Camp Moultrie, d a t e d September 18,
1823 ( 7 S t a t . 224, 2 Kapp. 203), t h e Seminole Nation ( i d e n t i f i e d i n the
1823 T r e a t y a s "The F l o r i d a T r i b e of Indians") ceded and r e l i n q u i s h e d t o
the United S t a t e s a l l claim o r t i t l e which they had t o t h e whole t e r r i t o r y
Of
F l o r i d a , with t h e exception of t h e a r e a s p e c i f i c a l l y a l l o t t e d and
reserved t o them under A r t i c l e I1 of s a i d t r e a t y *
3.
Under
L ; ,:
~:r,:
?f t h e T r e a t y o f ;PaynefsLanding of 'May 19
(7 S t a t . 363, 2 Kapp. 344)
,
40
: 1832
t h e Seminoles r e l i n q u i s h e d t o t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s a l l l a n d s they then occupied i n t h e T e r r i t o r y o f F l o r i d z .
Under
t h i s t r e a t y t h e Seminole, N a t i o n exchanged t h e r e s e r v a t i o n g r a n t e d u n d e r
t h e terms of t h e 1823 Camp M o u l t r i e T r e a t y f o r l a n d s a d j a c e n t t o t h e
Creek R e s e r v a t i o n i n t h e I n d i a n T e r r i t o r y (Seminole Nation v. U n i t e d
S t a t e s , Docket No. 73, 1 3 I n d . C 1 . Comm., 326 ( 1 9 6 4 ) p. 353, 354, -a f f i r m-.e d
180 C t . C l . 375 (1967)).
The 1832 T r e a t y of P a y n e ' s Landing r e q u i r e d t h e Seminoles to
e m i g r a t e o r remove t o I n d i a n ~ e r r i t o r ~ ' o v ea r t h r e e y e a r p e r i o d
The c o n t r o v e r s y g e n e r a t e d by t h e terms o f the 1832
commencing i n 1833.
Treaty
d e l a y e d i t s r a t i f i c a t i o n and e x e c u t i o n u n t i l 1834.
The A c t o f
June 28, 1834 (4 S t a t . 705), provided funds t o c a r r y o u t c e r t a i n of
...
t h e s t i p u l a t i o n s of t h e t r e a t y w i t h t h e Seminoles o f t h e n i n t h of May,
e i g h t e e n hundred and t h i r t y - t w o
..
(4 S t a t . 789); p r o v i d e d funds f o r t h e
.I1
The Act o f March 3, 1835
". . . removal
of f i v e thousand
Seminoles t o t h e i r l a n d s w e s t o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i under t h e s e v e n t h
a r t i c l e of t h e t r e a t y with them of t h e n i n t h o f May, e i g h t e e n hundred
and t h i r t y - t w o .
4.
..
11
Between 1833, t h e y e a r e m i g r a t i o n was t o commence, a n d 1 8 3 5 , the
e x p i r a t i o n d a t e f o r removal under t h e 1832 T r e a t y , t h e c o n t r o v e r s y
s u r r o u n d i n g t h e terms of t h e t r e a t y and t h e a u t h o r i t y o f c e r t a i n of the
I n d i a n n e g o t i a t o r s t o bind t h e e n t i r e N a t i o n involved p r i n c i p a l l y t h e
v a r i o u s c h i e f s and s u b - c h i e f s who were p a r t i e s t o t h e t r e a t y .
A
41
25 I n d . C l . Corn. 2 5
r e s p e c t a b l e number o f t h e Seminole c h i e f s and a m i n o r i t y of
t h e braves were
d e c i d e d l y i n f a v o r of e m i g r a t i o n , n o t s i m p l y a s an u n a v o i d a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e ,
b u t a s a c l e a r m a t t e r o f s e l f - i n t e r e s t and s e l f - p r e s e r v a t i o n .
In t h e
autumn of 1835, n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t'n t h e Seminoles d i r e c t e d t o w a r d t h e i r
p e a c e f u l removal t o t h e West were b r o u g h t t o a c r i s i s .
One o f t h e
p r i n c i p a l a d v o c a t e s f o r removal, Chief Amathla, was a s s a s s i n a t e d on
November 2 6 , 1835, by a l a r g e band of d i s s i d e n t Seminoles o p p o s e d t o w h a t
t h e y c o n s i d e r e d t o be a f o r c e d . m i g r a t i o n .
The murder of A m a t h l a
p r e c i p i t a t e d open h o s t i l i t i e s on December 28, 1835, w i t h the n e a r - t o t a l
d e s t r u c t i o n o f a m i l i t a r y column l e d b y Major Dade.
War
The S e c o n d Seminole
commenced on t h i s d a t e .
5.
1838.
The Seminole war proceeded w i t h u n r e l e n t i n g f e r o c i t y u n t i l e a r l y
The widespread u n p o p u l a r i t y of t h e war, b o t h i n C o n g r e s s and w i t h
t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c , l e d t h e Government t o s e e k more p e a c e f u l means t o
t e r m i n a t e t h e con£ l i c t and t o u r g e t h e r e m a i n i n g Seminoles t o e m i g r a t e .
General, Thomas S. J e s s u p , Commander i n F l o r i d a , and a number of h i s senior
o f f i c e r s o p e n l y advocated a p o l i c y t h a t would p e r m i t t h e S e m i n o l e s t o
remain p e r m a n e n t l y i n F l o r i d a .
The S e c r e t a r y o f War a d v i s e d
G e n e r a l J e s s u p , however, t h a t t h e removal p o l i c y of t h e Govaxm-~& i n the
face o f a r a t i f i e d t r e a t y precluded a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f a n y permanent
a r r a n g e m e n t f o r t h e Scrninoles.
On May 18, 1838, G e n e r a l J e s s u p was
Succeeded i n t h e command o f t h e army i n F l o r i d a by B r i g . Gen. Z a c h a r y
Taylor.
This I n d i a n removal p o l i c y of t h e Government was r e s t a t e d i n
P r e s i d e n t Van Buren's message t o C o n g r e s s on December 3 , 1 8 3 8 .
25 I n d . C 1 . Coim,. 25
42
6.
Under t h e Act o f March 3 , 1839 ( 5
Stac.
3 5 7 ) , c n t i t l e d " ~ nAct
n a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t i o n f o r p r e v e n t i n g and s u p p r e s s i n g I n d i a n h o s t i l i t i e s
f o r t h e y e a r eighte.en hundred and t h i r t y - n i n e " , Congress by t h e s o - c a l l e d
-
E v e r e t t hnendnent, a u t h o r i z e d , i n z e r -*a l i a
t h e e x p e n d i t u r e o f $5,000.00
f o r t h e p u r p o s e of n e g o t i a t i n g a p e a c e t r e a t y with t h e Seminoles,
T h e r e a f t e r on Nzrch 1 8 , 1839, Major General Alexander Kacomb was o r d e r e d
by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f War t o proceed t o F l o r i d a under t h e f o l l o w i n g terms
of reference:
.
S i r ; You w i l l proceed w i t h a s l i t t l e d e l a y a s
p r a c t i c a b l e t o F l o r i d a , and a f t e r a f u l l examination of
t h e S t a t e o f t h a t T e r r i t o r y and of t h e Var c a r r y i n g on
t h e r e , you w i l l adopt such measures a s may seem t o you
most e x p e d i e n t t o s e c u r e t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e s e t t l e r s
i n Middle and East F l o r i d a , t o p r o s e c u t e t h e War w i t h
v i g o u r , a n d t o b r i n g i t t o a speedy and s u c c e s s f u l
t e r m i n a t i o n . I t i s a d v i s a b l e t h a t you should v i s i t t h a t
p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y which has s o l a t e l y been t h e t h e a t r e o f
I n d i a n d e p r e d a t i o n s and murders, a s c e r t a i n i f p o s s i b l e what
h o s t i l e b a n d s were concerned i n them, and t a k e measures t o
p r e v e n t t h e r e c u r r e n c e of s i m i l a r o u t r a g e s i n f u t u r e .
If,
as i t i s p r o b a b l e , i t should a p p e a r t h a t t h e f u g i t i v e Creeks
h a v e committed t h e s e a c t e , you w i l l t a k e t h e p r o p e r s t e p s
t o d r i v e them from t h e i r f a s t n e s s e s , and i f p r a c t i c a b l e t o
i n d u c e them t o come i n and s u r r e n d e r . Whatever measures of
r i g o u r i t may be n e c e s s a r y t o adopt i n o r d e r t o r e p r e s s t h e
i n c u r s i o n s o f t h e I n d i a n s , no t h r e a t s o u g h t t o be h e l d out
a g a i n s t them; b u t on t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e language of a l l
communications w i t h them should be mild and c o n c i l i a t o r y ;
t h e o b j e c t o f t h e government b e i n g n o t t o punish t h e i r
b a r b a r i t i e s however enormous t h e y may have been, b u t t o
p r e v e n t t h e i r r e p e t i t i o n . Congress h a v i n g by making an
a p p r o p r i a t i o n f o r t h a t purpose, s i g n i f i e d a d e s i r e t h a t
a n o t h e r e f f o r t should be made t o t r e a t w i t h t h e Seminoles,
you w i l l u s e your b e s t endeavors t o open a communication
w i t h t h e i r C h i e f s , and i f t h e y show any w i l l i n m e s s t o
e n t e r into a n e g o t i a t i o n with you f o r t h e i r p e a c e f u l
removal , y o u a r e a t 1i b e r t y t o make a t r u c e w i t h them
u n t i l t h e terms can be f i n a l l y a r r a n g e d , c o n f i r m i n g them
t o t h a t p o r t i o n of t h e P e n i n s u l a s o u t h o f 27' 30" l a t i t u d e
'
25 Ind. Cl. Comm. 25
u n t i l they can be f i n a l l y rernoved a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t e r m s
of t h e t r e a t y of ~ a ~ n e l' asn d i n g .
(emphasis s u p p l i e d )
( P l . Ex. 13:25 M a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s , T e r r i t o r i a l P a p e r s o f
t h e United S t a t e s 597 C1960)).
..
--
7.
As a r e s u l t o f c o n f e r e n c e s h e l d w i t h t h e S e m i n c l e s , G e n e r a l
Hacomb issued an o r d e r d a t e d May 18, 1 8 3 9 , announcing a g e n e r a l a r m i s t i c e
and i t s terms.
The f u l l text o f che o r d e r , c a p t i o n e d " G e n e r a l O r d e r s ,
ileadquarters of t h e Army of t h e United S t a t e s , F o r t King, F l o r i d a ,
Hay 1 8 t h 1839", r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :
The m a j o r - g e n e r a l commanding i n c h i e f h a s t h e
s a t i s f a c t i o n of announcing t o t h e army i n F l o r i d a , t o t h e
a u t h o r i t i e s of t h e t e r r i t o r y , and t o t h e c i t i z e n s g e n e r a l l y ,
t h a t he h a s t h i s d a y t e r m i n a t e d t h e war w i t h t h e S e m i n o l e
I n d i a n s , by an agreement e n t e r e d i n t o w i t h C h i t t o - T u s t e n u g g e e ,
p r i n c i p a l c h i e f of t h e Seminoles, and s u c c e s s o r t o A r p e i k a ,
c o m o n l y c a l l e d Sam J o n e s , brought t o t h i s p o s t by
Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, 2d d r a g o o n s , from t h e s o u t h e r n
p a r t of t h e p e n i z s u l a . The cems o f t h e agreement a r e ,
t h a t h o s t i l i t i e s immediately c e a s e between t h e p a r t i e s ;
t h a t t h e t r o c p s of t h e United S t a t e s , and t h e S e m i n o l e
and Mickasukie c h i e f s and w a r r i o r s , now a t a d i s t a n c e , b e
made a c q u a i n t e d , a s soon as p o s s i b l e , w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t
p e a c e e x i s t s , and t h a t a l l h o s t i l i t i e s are f o r t h w i t h t o
c e a s e on b o t h s i d e s ; t h e Seminoles and Pzickasukies a g r e e i n g
t o r e t i r e i z t o a d i s t r i c t of c o u n t r y i n F l o r i d a , b e l o w
P e a s e Creek, t h e b o u n d z r i e s of which are a s f o l l o w s , v i z . ,
b e g i n n i n g a t t h e most s o u t h e r n p o i n t o f l a n d between
C h a r l o t t e Harbor and t h e Sanybel o r C o l o o s a h a t c h e e river,
o p p o s i t e t o SanyEel I s l a n d ; t h e n c e i n t o C h a r l o t t e Harbor,
by t h e s o u t h e r n p a s s between P i n e I s l a n d and t h a t p o i n t ,
a l o n g t h e e a s t e r n s h o r e of s a i d h a r b o r t o Taalk-Chopko o r
P e a s e Creek; t h e n c e up s a i d r i v e r t o Ratchee-Thloka, o r
Big Creek; t h e n c e up s a i d c r e e k t o i t s s o u r c e ; t h e n c e
e a s t e r l y t o t h e n o r t h e r n p o i n t of Lake I s t o k p o g a ; t h e n c e
a l o n g the e a s t e r n o u t l e t of s a i d l a k e , c a l l e d Istokpoga
Creek, t o t h e Kissimmee r i v e r ; t h e n c e s o u t h e r l y down t h e
Kissimmee t o Lake Okee-Chobee; t h e n c e s o u t h t h r o u g h s a i d
l a k e t o E c a h l a h a t o h e e o r Shark r i v e r ; t h e n c e down s a i d
r i v e r westwardly t o i t s mouth; t h e n c e a l o n g t h e s e a - s h o r e
n o r t h w a r d f y t o t h e p l a c e of b e g i n n i n g ; t h a t s i x t y d a y s b e
a l l o w e d t h e I n d i a n s n o r t h and e a s t o f t h a t boundary t o
-
remove t h e i r f a m i l i e s and e f f e c t s i n t o s a i d d i s t r i c t ,
where t h e y a r e t o r e n a i n u n t i l 2-u.rrther aYrraneements e r e
m a d e , under t h e p r o t e c t i o n of t h e t r o o p s of t h e United
S c a t e s , who a r e t o s e e t h a t they a r e n o t molested by
Lnzruders, citizens o r f o r e i g n e r s , end t h a t t h e s a i d
I n d i a n s d o n o t p a s s t h e l i m i t s a s s i g n e d them, e x c e p t t o
v i s i t t h e p o s t s which w i l l be h e r e a f t e r i n d i c a t e d t o them.
A l l persons are t h e r e f o r e forbidden t o e n t e r the d i s t r i c t
a s s i g n e d t o s a i d I n d i a n s , without w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n of
(emphasis
some commanding o f f i c e r of a m i l i t a r y p o s t .
supplied) (Def. Ex. 1 0 1 : J . Sprague, The O r i g i n , P r o g r e s s
and C o n c l u s i o n of t h e F l o r i d a War 228 ( 1 8 4 8 ) ) .
The d i s t r i c t s o d e s c r i b e d i n t h e above-quoted o r d e r and r e f e r r e d t o
by e i t h e r one o r b o t h p a r t i e s v a r i o u s l y as Macomb's Arrangement, Macomb's
A r e a , o r t h e Macomb R e s e r v a t i o n , comprises z p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 m i l l i o n acres,
t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r of t h i s p o r t i o n of t h e p r e s e n t a c t i o n .
8.
G e n e r a l Macomb t r a n s m i t t e d t h e t r u c e agreement t o t h e S e c r e t a r y
o f War on Kay 2 3 , 1839, i n f o r m i n g t h e S e c r e t a r y , i n p a r t , a s f o l l o w s :
...
The e n c l o s e d g e n e r a l o r d e r , announcing t h e
r e s u l t of t h e c o n f e r e n c e , e x h i b i t s t h e t e r m s of peace.
Under e x i s t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s , I d i d n o t t h i n k i t n e c e s s a r y
t o e n t e r j n t o a formal w r i t t e n Treaty, such a n instrument
w i t h I n d i a n s having b u t l i t t l e b i c d i n g e f f e c t . Kor d i d I
t h i n k i t p o l i t i c , a t t h i s time, t o s a y a n y t h i n g about t h e i r
e m i g r a t i o n , l e a v i n g t h a t s u b j e c t open t o s u c h f u t u r e
a r r a n g e m e n t s a s t h e government may t h i n k p r o p e r t o make
w i t h them.
No r e s t r i c t i o n upon t h e p l e a s u r e of t h e
governmer?t, i n t h i s r e s p e c t , h a s been imposed, n o r h a s a n y
encouragement been g i v e n t o t h e I n d i a n s , t h a t t h e y would b e
(emphasis
p e r m i t t e d p e r m a n e n t l y t o remain i n F l o r i d a
s u p p l i e d ) (Def Ex. 101: 5 . Sprague, The O r i g i n , P r o g r e s s , and
C o n c l u s i o n s of t h e F l o r i d a War 229 (1848)).
.
9.
...
On June 4 , 1839, t h e S e c r e t a r y o f War i s s u e d a d i r e c t i v e to
G e n e r a l Zachary T a y l o r , Commander, Army of t h e South, t o t a k e a p p r o p r i a t e
s t e p s t o p r o t e c t t h e I n d i a n s i n t h e i f removal t o t h e Blacomb d i s t r i c t .
The o r d e r r e a d s ,
i n p a r t , a s follows:
25 Ind. CL. Comm. 25
S i r , General Macomb having s u c c e e d e d i n n a k i n g a n
arrangement w i t h t h e ~ n d i a n sof F l o r i d a , b y which i t is
agreed t h z t t h e y s h d l r e t i r e w i t h i n c e r t a i n l i m i t s i n t h e
South Western c o r n e r of that t e r r i t o r y and be p e r m i t t e d t o
remsin t h e r e u n t i l o t h e r and permanerit a r r a n p e m e n t s snall '
be made bv t h e eovernment, i t i s d e s i r a b l e t h a t you a d o p t
e f f i c i e n t n e a s u r e s t o p r o t e c t them i a t h e q u i e t p o s s e s s i o n
of t h e d i s t r i c t of c o u n t r y t h u s set a p a r t f o r t h e i r t e m p o r a r y
residence.
(emphasis s u p p l i e d ) ( P I . Ex. 13: 2 5 N a t i o n a l
Archives, T e r r i t o r i a l Papers of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s 6 1 4 , 615
(1960)).
.-
..
T h e r e a f t e r ; a large number of Seminoles began t o move s o u t h t o s a i d
t e r r i t o r y (&comb a r e a ) .
'&ether
from (1) a m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e terns
of t h e a r m i s t i c e , ( 2 ) a n a t u r a l f e a r o f e n t r a p m e n t , ( 3 ) a s i n g u l a r r e f u s a l
t o a b i d e by t h e a r m i s t i c e , o r a c c a b i n a t i o n o f a l l t h r e e e l e m e n t s , a n
e q u a l l y l a r g e number of Selninoles r e f u s e d t o move s o u t h t o t h e t e r r i t o r y
assigned them under t h e ,%comb a r m i s t i c e agreement.
The t r u c e w a s b r o k e n
and h o s t i l i t i e s renewed when a Seminole band a t t a c k e d a m i l i t z r y command
on J u l y 22, 1839.
10.
On November 2 , 1840, t h e S e c r e t a r y of Wsr b y l e t t e r . t o t h e new
f i e l d commander i n F l o r i d a , General W.
K. A m i s t e a d , r e j e c t e d t h e l a t t e r ' s
Proposal t o t e r m i n a t e t h e p r o t r a c t e d and u n c e r t a i n war by g r a n t i n g t h e
Seminoles t h e l a n d s d e s i g n a t e d i n t h e Macomb agreement.
In r e s p o n s e t o
Said p r o p o s a l , t h e S e c r e t a r y of War s t a t e d :
...
A f t e r mature deliberation i t a p p e a r s t o m e t h a t
t h e P r e s i d e n t h a s no r i g h t t o g i v e way a n y p o r t i o n o f t h e
t e r r i t o r y of F l o r i d a t o t h e I n d i a n s , 3 y a t r e a t y made w i t h
them and r a t i f i e d by t h e S e n a t e t h e y ceded t h e i r l a n d s f o r a
V a l u a b l e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o . t h e Government, and t h i s D e p a r t m e n t
c a n n o t s a n c t i o n any a r r a n g m e n t w h i c h i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e
t r e a t y would r e t r o c e d e any p o r t i o n of t h a t p u r c h a s e .
(PI. Ex. 13a: 26 National Archives, T e r r i t o r i a l P a p e r s o f
t h e United S t a t e s 2 2 4 ( ~ Y o L ) ~ .
..
25 Ind. CI. Corn. 25
11. With t h e a s s i s t a n c e of t h e War Department, which m a i n t a i n e d a
d e l e g a t i o n of Arkansas Seminoles i n F l o r i d a f o r t h e purpose of i n f l u e n c h g
t h e d i s s i d e n t s t o emigrate, General Armistead was a b l e t o e f f e c t u a t e t h e
e m i g r a t i o n of a s u b s t a n t i a l number o f I n d i a n s i n pursuance of t h e
Governxent ' s p o l i c y of removal.
General Armistead ' s s u c c e s s r e l a t i n g
t o n e g o t i a t i o n s ~ ~ i tth eh I n d i a n s was acknowledged on J a n u a r y 9 , 1 8 4 1 , i n
a l e t t e r from t h e S e c r e t a r y of War t o General Armistead, which l e t t e r a l s o
r e a f f i r m e d t h e Government's s t a n d o n I n d i a n removal:
I have r e c e i v e d your l e t t e r o f t h e 2 0 t h u l t i m o ,
Sir.
and am much g r a t i f i e d t o l e a r n t h a t t h e I n d i a n s c o n t i n u e
t o come i n a t t h e d i f f e r e n t p o s t s . So l o n g as t h e p l a n now
b e i n g p u r s u e d o p e r a t e s s u c c e s s f u l l y , i t would be u n a d v i s a b l e
t o change i t . ~ f c,o n t r a r y t o p r e s e n t a p p e a r a n c e s and o u r
j u s t e x p e c t a t i o n s , any of the t r i b e s s h o u l d r e f u s e t o e m i g r a t e
and you a r e compelled t o a g r e e t o a t r u c e upon t h e c o n d i t i o n s
c o n t a i n e d i n your i n s t r u c t i o n s , you w i l l b e c a r e f u l t o g i v e
t h e I n d i a n s no a s s u r a n c e s of t h e i r b e i n g allowed t o remain
i n the country.
( P I . E*. 13a: 26 N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s ,
.
T e r r i t o r i a l P a p e r s of t h e United S t a t e s , 237, 238 (1962))
..
12.
C o n g r e s s , t h r o u g h a r e q u e s t of t h e War Department based on a
s u g g e s t i o n m a d e by General Armistead, a p p r o p r i a t e d $100,000,
t h e removal,
t*
for
s u b s i s t e n c e , and b e n e f i t of s u c h of t h e Seminole I n d i a n
C h i e f s and w a r r i o r s a s may - s u r r e n d e r f o r e m i g r a t i o n .
. ." ( A c t
of
F e b r u a r y 18, 1 8 4 1 , 5 S t a t . 412).
T h r o u g h o u t t h e month of March 1841, G e n e r a l Armistead reported t o
t h e War D e p a r t m e n t t h e r e g u l a r embarkation o f I n d i a n s a t Tampa for
emigration w e s t .
The h i g h e s t number was 220 I n d i a n s r e p o r t e d on March 22,
25 Ind. CL. Corn. 25
13.
O n February
.
.
1 4 , 3.842, C o l o n e l Worth, who had r e p l a c e d G e n e r a l
hrmistead . r e p o r t e d i n a s p e c i a l cerisus t o t h e Commanding G e n e r a l t h a t
t h e r e w r e 301 Seniinoles r a a i n i n g i n F l o r i d a .
He f u r t h e r s u g g e s t e d a
t r u c e designed t o e f f e c t t h e removal of t h e remaining S e m i n o l e s s i n c e
r h e war had p r a c t i c a l l y ended i n F l o r i d a .
On May 10, 1842, t h e S e c r e t a r y of War d i r e c t e d C o l o n e l Worth t h r o u g h
t h e Commanding General t o d e c l a r e h o s t i l i t i e s a t an end a s f o l l o w s :
...
The v e r y reduced number o f h o s t i l e I n d i a n s now
in F l o r i d a , b e l i e v e d n o t t o exceed two hundred and f o r t y ,
i n c l u d i n g p r o b a b l y e i g h t y w a r r i o r s , would seem t o i n d i c a t e
t h a t a l l h a s been accomplished which c a n b e e f f e c t e 2 b y t h e
employment cf a l a r g e m i l i t a r y f o r c e i n o f f e n s i v e o p e r a t i o n s
...
Anxious t o c u r t a i l t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y e x p e n s e s i n c i d e n t
t o t h e w a r f a r e and s i n c e r e l y d e s i r o u s of promoting p e a c e ,
t h e P r e s i d e n t d i r e c t s t h a t Colonel Worth b e a u t h o r i z e d , a s
s o o n as he s h a l l deem i t e x p e d i e n t , t o d e c l a r e t h a t
h o s t i l i t i e s a g a i n s t t h e I n d i a n s i n F l o r i d a have ceased;.
..
He w i l l a l s o u s e t h e meam h e p o s s e s s e s of c o m m u n i c a t i n g
w i t h t h e I c d i a n s y e t r e m a i n i n g , a n d i n d u c i n g them t o c o n s u l t
t h e i r t r u e i n t e r e s t by j o i n i n g t h e i r b r e t h r e n n t t h e West
(PI. Ex. 13a: 26 N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s , T e r r i t o r i a l P a p e r s of
t h e United S t a t e s 471, 472 (1962)).
...
P a c i f i c a t i o n was f u r t h e r encouraged by t h e p a s s a g e of t h e A c t of
August 4 , 1842 (5 sta~.502) which p r o v i d e d f o r t h e armed o c c u p a t i o n and
S e t t l e m e n t of p o r t i o n s of F l o r i d a t h r o u g h w h i t e e m i g r a t i o n 14.
On August 11, 1842, Colonel Worth i s s u e d M i l i t a r y Order No.
announcing t h e c e s s a t i o n of h o s t i l i t i e s and c o n f i n i n g
t h e few Indians
27
48
25 I n d . C 1 . Corn,. 25
s u r r e n d e r e d f o r e m i g r a t i o n o r were c a p t u r e d end s e n t w 2 s t .
most h o s t i l e o f t h e "hold-outs",
-
T h e l a s t and
C h i e f O c t i a r c h e , was c a p t u r e d o n
December 2 0 , 1642.
-
To p r e v e n t w h i t e i n c u r s i o n s i n t o t h e Macomb a r e a and p o s s i b l e h o s t i l e
c o n f r o n t r a t i o n s w i t h i n d i v i d u a l d i s s i d e n t Seminoles, t h e P r e s i d e n t , on
Nay 1 9 , 1845, d i r e c t e d t h a t a s t r i p of p u b l i c l a n d s i n t h e n a t u r e of a
b u f f e r zone 20 m i l e s wide be s e t a s i d e around t h e Macomb d i s t r i c t and
removed from s u r v e y and p u b l i c s a l e .
A f t e r 1845, no d i r e c t n e g o t i a t i o n s
between t h e Government and t h e Seminoles r e m a i n i n g i n F l o r i d a r e s p e c t i n g
t h e Macomb Area a r e i n d i c a t e d i n t h i s r e c o r d .
15.
Between 1845 and 1856, t h e Government continued t o n e g o t i a t e
and treat ~.CfirfrpSemir?nle F-TztFcn Fr
!.?=sz.
T k r Trczty
cf Jznz~rj-k ,
1845 ( 9 S t a t . 1 2 1 ) , c r e a t i n g new l a n d s f o r t h e Seminoles west o f t h e
Creek r e s e r v a t i o n , provided f o r t h e removal of t h e F l o r i d a S e m i n o l e s
w i t h i n 1 2 m o n t h s from r a t i f i c a t i o n d a t e s of s a i d t r e a t y .
P r o v i s i o n s were
made f o r t h e r e m a i n i n g F l o r i d a S e m i n o l e s i n t h e T r e a t y of August 7, 1856
( I 1 S t a t . 6 9 9 ) , t o j o i n t h e Seminole R a t i o n i n t h e west.
Conclusion
16. Upon t h e b a s i s of t h e f o r e g o i n g F i n d i n g s of F a c t , t h e Commission
c o n c l u d e s a s a m a t t e r of law, t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f t r i b e has f a i l e d t o
e s t a b l i s h by s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e of r e c o r d t h a t i t a c q u i r e d a l e g a l and
compensable i n t e r e s t i n t h e 5 - m i l l i o n a c r e tract. descrkibed h e r e i x a s - t h e Macomb
49
25 Ind. C1. Corn. 25
a r e a , or "reservation" lands.
A c c o r d i n g l y , the p l a i n t i f f t r i b e i s n o t
e n t i t l e d t o recover under our A c t , and this c l a i m s h o u l d t h s r e f o r e b e
dismissed.
Count 11
17.
I n compliance w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s of a n Act of t h e F l o r i d a
L e g i s l a t u r e (12 F l a . S t a t . Ann.
~5 285.01,
285.021,
t h e 'Trustees of the
I n t e r n a l Improvement Fund, a s t a t e agency, by deed d a t e d O c t o b e r 11, 1 9 1 7 ,
conveyed t o t h e Board of Commissioners of S t a t e I n s t i t u t i o n s , a n o t h e r
s t a t e agency, t i t l e i n t r u s t t o 99,200 acres of e v e r g l a d e s l a n d i n Monroe
County a s a r e s e r v a t i o n f o r t h e p e r p e t u a l u s e and b e n e f i t of t h e S e m i n o l e
Indians of Florida.
The deed c o n t a i n e d a r e v e r t e r c l a u s e w h e r e b y t h e
p r o p e r t y would r e v e r t t o t h e s t a t e i n t h e e v e n t i t was n o t u s e d f o r t h e
purposes intended.
d i r e c t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of I n t e r i o r t o i n v e s t i g a t e and t h e n r e p o r t back
.
on t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y and p r a c t i c a b i l i t y o f e s t a b l i s h i n g a n a t i o n a l p a r k i n
t h e e v e r g l a d e s of Dade, Monroe, and C o l l i e r c o u n t i e s i n F l o r i d a , t o be
known as the Tropic Everglades N a t i o n a l P a r k .
On May 2 5 , 1 9 2 9 , t h e
F l o r i d a L e g i s l a t u r e enacted a s t a t u t e c r e a t i n g t h e E v e r g l a d e s P a r k
Commission w i t h t h e a u t h o r i t y t o a c q u i r e t h e t i t l e i n t h e name of t h e
S t a t e of F l o r i d a t o any l a n d s which t h e S e c r e t a r y of I n t e r i o r may d e s i g n a t e
f o r p a r k purposes i n Dade, Monroe and C o l l i e r c o u n t i e s (12 F l a . S t a t ,
Ann* 5 264.01).
On December 30, 1930, t h e S e c r e t a r y o f I n t e r i o r filed
his r e p o r t w i t h t h e Congress d e t a i l i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n
and r e p o r t i n g f a v o r a b l y on t h e p a r k p r o j e c t .
In h i s r e p o r t t h e Secretary
50
2 5 I n d . C 1 . Corn. 25
-
n o t e d t h a t t h e Seminole L n l i a n s nay have a s p e c i f i c r e s e r v a t i o n w i t h i n
t h e proposed p a r k a r e a , and t h a t t h e m a t t e r would be i n v e s t i g a t e d f u r t h e r .
19.
With t h e enactment of t h e N a t i o n a l Park Act of May 3 0 , 1934
(45 S t a t . - 8 l 6 ) , Congress authorized t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e Z v e r g l s d e s
N a t i o n a l Park w i t h i n an a r e a of a p p r o x h z t e l y 2000 s q u a r e miles i n Dade,
Monroe, and C o l l i e r c o u n t i e s , F l o r i d a , s a i d p a r k l a n d s t o b e a c q u i r e d by
t h e United S t a t e s by p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e d o n a t i o n and t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
p r o t e c t i o n and development of s a i d p a r k t o b e under t h e e x c l u s i v e
j u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e United S t a t e s .
The 1934 Act provided f u r t h e r :
That nothing i n t h i s a c t s h a l l b e construed t o
l e s s e n a n y e x i s t i n g r i g h t s of t h e Seminole I n d i a n s which
a r e n o t i n c o n f l i c t with t h e p u r p o s e s f o r which t h e
E v e r g l a d e s N a t i o n a l Park is c r e a t e d ;
(48 S t a t . 816)
...
20.
T o p r o v i d e more a d e q u a t e l y f o r t h e needs of t h e S e m i n o l e
I n d i a n s , t h e F l o r i d a L e g i s l a t u r e , under t h e Act of May 30, 1935 (12 F l a .
S t a t . Ann.
$ 5 285.04, 285.06),
a u t h o r i z e d t h e T r u s t e e s of t h e I n t e r n a l
1 6 ~ r o v e m e n t Fund a t t h e i r d i s c r e t i o n t o exchange s t a t e lands f o r f e d e r a l l y
owned l a n d s .
The T r u s t e e s were f u r t h e r a u t h o r i z e d t o w i t h d r a w t h e 99,200
a c r e S e m i n o l e I n d i a n R e s e r v a t i o n i n Monroe Country, as a r e s e r v a t i o n , a n d
s u b s t i t u t e i n l i e u t h e r e o f as t h e new Seminole r e s e r v a t i o n a c o m p a r a b l e
t r a c t o f e q u a l s i z e and s u i t a b l e c h a r a c t e r .
The s u b s t i t u t e d t r a c t was t o
b e l o c a t e d , i f a t a l l p o s s i b l e , a d j a c e n t t o t h e r e s e r v a t i o n t o be
e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e Unjted S t a t e s .
S i m i l a r a u t h o r i t y was given t o t h e
S e c r e t a r y o f I n t e r i o r t o e f f e c t a n y needed exchange w i t h t h e S t a t e of
F l o r i d a o f l a n d s t h a t had been r e s e r v e d by t h e United S t a t e s for t h e
Seminole I n d i a n s (Act of June 1 4 , 1935, 4 9 S t a t . 3 3 9 ) .
.
25 I n d . C l . Comm. 25
Cn December 23, 1 9 3 6 , t h e Trustees of t h e I n t e r n a l Improvement
Fund, withdrew t h e 99,200 a c r e Seminole I n d i a n Reservation i n Monroe
-
County, and s u b s t i t u t e d a s t h e new Seminole Indian R e s e r v a t i o n 104,800
a c r e s i m m e d h t e l y n o r t h of t h e proposed Everglades N a t i o n a l P a r k , i n
Rroward County.
This new r e s e r v a t i o n a d j o i n e d a goodly p o r t i o n of some
80,000 a c r e s of F e d e r a l l y okned land t h a t had been s e t a s i d e f o r t h e
use and b e n e f i t of t h e Seminoles.
Conclusion
21.
A s a r e s u l t of t h e aforementioned Congressionally s a n c t i o n e d
a c t s of t h e S e c r e t a r y of I n t e r i o r , i n c o n c e r t with s i m i l a r a c t i o n s
taken by the S t a t e of F l o r i d a i n a c q u i r i n g l a n d s for t h e p r o p o s e d
f e d e r a l l y o p e r a t e d Everglades National P a r k , t h e 99,200 a c r e Seminole
Indian R e s e r v a t i o n i n Monroe County, F l o r i d a , was exchanged f o r o t h e r
lands i n n e a r b y Broward County, F l o r i d a .
T h i s exchange of p l a i n t i f f ' s
l a n d s , i n which i t h e l d a cornpensable i n t e r e s t , was accomplished f o r t h e
u l t i m a t e b e n e f i t of t h e United S t a t e s and w i t h i t s knowledge and c o n s e n t .
Under t h e s e circumstances the United S t a t e s assumed a s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
and duty toward t h e p l a i n t i f f t r i b e t o p r o t e c t t h e I n d i a n s from d i s p o s i n g of
t h e i r r e s e r v a t i o n l a n d s f o r an unconscionable c o n s i d e r a t i o n w i t h i n t h e meaning
of s e c t i o n 2 , c l a u s e
3 , of t h e Indian Claims Conrmission A c t (60 Stat. 1 0 4 9 ,
1Q50), o r i n a manner t h a t would not comport with '"air
and h o n o r a b l e c l e a l i n g s "
u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 , clause 5, of our Act.
c e , Commissioner
11. Pierce, C o m i s s i o n e r