Monday, November 16, 2015

Legends of Chief Cobmoosa & Pres. A.J. -31

       Cobmoosa and Wabasis were son-in-laws of Chief Wobwindigo.  Both married the chiefs daughters and neither were chiefs until the death of Wobwindigo several months after the formal signing of the 1836 treaty.  Neither signed this treaty.  Wabasis became Chief of his own clan at his banishment village at Wabasis Lake in 1838 and Cobmoosa became the last Ottawa Chief of the Grand and Flat River tribes upon Wobwindigo's death in summer 1836. 
       Wobwindigo's last remaining son didn't want the responsibility for keeping together the remaining chiefs two villages fearing the small pox epidemic that was out of control prior to the signing of the treaty.  He took off for Gull Prairie and Cobmoosa stepped into Wobwindigo's moccasins and took command of the surviving people.  He had a caring heart for Wobwindigo's people.
       Cobmoosa like Wabasis were educated half-breeds.  They caught Washington in the big lie.  Washington had spoken, but this caused many Indian chiefs to say "Washington speaketh with forked tongue."  These five words spread across the Mississippi River, the prairies and mountains like wild fire warning all other tribes of Washington's indiscretions and the misdeeds of scoundrels that lie, cheat and attempt to steal opposite their teachings of the Holy Bible. 
       Congress had wrote in additional language to favor themselves at the Indians expense.  It would take another 24 years (1860) more to force remaining Indians from the Grand and Flat River area to reservations.  Cobmoosa was the last remaining Ottawa Chief and he did sign the Treaty of 1855.  He was Chief of the Ottawas from 1836-1866 by the death of his father-in-law Wobwindigo. 
       Although Cobmoosa signed the Treaty of 1855 it wasn't realized until about 125 years later (future) the Federal government failed to acquire Michigan's natural resources. It made no provisions for the earliest mistakes.  This was forgotten by the 24th Congress and omitted by former President Andrew Jackson and President Martin Van Buren's administrations, which culminated in Indian casinos today.  Michigan has two conservation law organizations for fisheries - Indian and American.  Van Buren tried to save face for the blunders of his administration, but at least he admitted to Indian injustice.
       There was much public jubilation once the Treaty of 1836 was signed, but the march of time was going to prove disastrous for the booming economy during Jackson's last year in office.  He had seen the pain brought against Indians thru invasion and years of fraud.  To slow down speculation fever he issued his "specie circular" on July 11, 1836.  Whether Indian or American any sales for land purchased from Indians had to be paid for in gold and silver coinage to pay debts under $50.00.  The economy was slowing and within the next several months a great depression caused widespread panic and the financial end did collapse under its own weight.  Many speculators lost their entire life savings and not even the wealthiest were immune to the economic disasters.
       President Jackson's own personal accounts suffered, too.  Fact is he told his young son Andrew not to get land speculation fever, but the young man fell into bad company and he did just as President Jackson feared.  The president bailed him out of his financial ruin.  Drought, the worst in Tennessee history put Jackson's own 1000 acre wheat field on the extinction list and put his Hermitage in dire straights of repair.  The value of qualified slaves dropped from $1,500 dollars to 500 per head.  The southern states were sorely disgruntled with Jackson's specie circular.  He used it not to break the people, but to save them from worst financial  ruin.  (continued)

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