rnor to issue a proclamation
calling upon the people to effect some sort of independent agreement with the slaves. According to the Federal Census of 1860,
the Chickasaws held 917 negro slaves. On October 11, 1865 Governor Colbert issued his proclamation in accordance therewith;—
Whereas the Legislature of the Chickasaw Nation at its last session, in view of the unsettled state of affairs within said
Nation and more especially in reference to the slaves, did by resolution direct that the governor issue his proclamation informing
the people of the present position of the Nation in relation to the United States Government and authorizing all slaveholders
to make suitable arrangements with their negroes, such as may be most conducive to the interest and welfare of both owners
Now, Therefore, I, Winchester Colbert, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, do issue this my proclamation informing the people
of said Nation that a treaty of peace and friendship, repudiating all treaties with any forign nation or power, was concluded
between the Commissioners on the part of the United States and the Commissioners on the part of the Chickasaw Nation, at Ft.
Smith, Ark. on the 18th of September, A. D. 1865 and I do hereby require all persons subject to the jurisdiction of the Chickasaw
Nation to observe and conform to the same until other treaties securing the rights and interests of the Chickasaw people can
be negotiated by the commissioners appointed by the Legislature to visit Washington City for that purpose.
In view of the fact that under the treaty of peace concluded at Fort Smith, the United States reserved jurisdiction over the
question of slavery within Indian Territory and in conformity with the authority given me by the Legislature, I hereby advise
all slaveholders within the Chickasaw Nation to make suitable arrangements
with the negroes—such as will be most conducive to the interests and welfare of both owners and slaves. * * *.
The Ft. Smith engagement of September 18, 1865 was practically an armistice agreement, but the drastic "Project or outline of a Treaty" which was submitted at the time, furnished a basis for future negotiations. Governor Colbert headed
the Chickasaw delegation which went to Washington in December, 1865 and on April 28, 1866 concluded and signed a final treaty
with the Government.8 This treaty which was entered into jointly with the Choctaws and which definitely disposed of the slavery question, also
contained optional provisions relating to the allotment of the tribal domains of these tribes, in severalty. Upon his return
from Washington in the summer of 1866, Governor Colbert strongly counselled allotment and on November 9, 1866, the Chickasaw
legislature passed an act in accordance with the provisions of Article Eleven of the Act of 1866, consenting to and authorizing
the allotment in severalty of the Chickasaw domain. This effort of the Chickasaws was postponed because of the refusal of
the Choctaws to join in the venture. Later and in 1872, the Chickasaw legislature requested the Government to proceed with
allotment but Secretary of the Interior Delano ruled that it could not be done in the absence of consent by the Choctaws.
It is worthy of comment that the Chickasaws were the first of the Five Tribes to consent to allotment although this consent
was subsequently withdrawn. The vision of Governor Colbert was far in advance of the period in which he lived although it
is most probable that the allotment of the tribal domain at that early date would have been very premature.
The tenure of Governor Colbert drew to a close in the fall of 1866 and the ever popular Cyrus Harris again resumed the executive
chair. The retiring governor had rendered a conscientious service and had led the Chickasaws through two years of war and
a trying period of negotiations for reconciliation. He brought no dishonor to the Colbert name. Upon his retirement he resumed
his residence upon his farm at Oil Springs and never again sought to reenter the political arena, although he did serve thereafter
as a member of the tribal