The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-30
Kzx acknowledgement Question.

Kzv Indians-lmportant Question.
We learn that an interesting contest is
now going on between body of settlers
lseated on the Neosho, some twelve or ff-
teen miles above Enporia, on the one side,
and the agents of the Kaw or Kansas Indi-
ans an the other. These settlers made an
e.ploration of the Neosho, more than two
years ago, journeying along its banks from
the southern boundaries of the Territory
10 Council Grove. They found, after
leaving the mouth of the Cottonwood, a
region unsurpassed in beauty and fertil-
itr, wholly unoecupied, and by examining
the organic act and the various treaties
with Indian tribes, they came to the con-
elusion that it was open to settlement, and
subject to pre-emption. They located
here, and commenced the erection OF
cabins, the cultivation and improvement
Of the soil, and laid the foundations OF
permanent homes. While visiting that
8 region in February last, We called upon
some of these settlers, many of whom
were enjoying all the comforts and refine.
ments of an eastern home, save the want
Of better dwellings. We were surprised
at the progress which Yankee energy,
aided by capital, had made in two years.
Last fall, or during the fore part of the
winter, the government surveyors, instead
8 Of dividing up those beautiful prairies
and groves of choice timber into quarter
sections, indicating the boundaries be.
z tween rival claimants, each of whom
would Try to outstrip the other in solid
Improvements, we see them disregardine
legal provisions, and giving away these
lands to the Indians.
We have examined this subject care
fully; have perused all the various trea.
ties bearing upon it, and as it is a subjec
of general interest, We give the public tn,
benefit of our review and the conclusion
TO which we have arrived.
BY the list article. of treaty with tn.
"Chiefs and principal men of the Kansa.
tribs of Indians" made at the Methods
Mission, in Kansas, on the 14th day o
January, 1916, and approved by the
President of the U. s., the 18th day o
April, 1916, the Kansas Indians eeded t.
the United States two millions of acre:
of land, on the east part of their country
embracing the entire width, thirty mile
wide, and running west for quantity"
At the time this treaty was made, tn
Kansas Indians were in possession of tha
region, thirty miles IN width, lying ives
Of the Pottowattomie Handsome fifteel
miles east ofthe Big Blue-ahd extending
west, as appears by the above treaty, {.
the Rocky Mountains The @two mil
lions of acres" would require strip o
land thirty miles wide and one hundre'
and four miles long-a distance som
eighty-ive miles west of Fort Riley.
The Indians were to vacate thes
lands, and remove to their lands lyin
west of that ceded by this treaty.
The 5th article of that treaty provide
that "As doubts exist whether there is
suficiency of timber on the land remainin
to the Kansas, after taking off the lam
ceded in the first article of this treaty,
is agreed by the contracting parties, tha
after the western line Of the said cessio
shall be aseertained, and the President {
the Q. s: shall be satisfied that there
not suficieney of timber, he shall caus
to be selected and laid off for the Kansa
suitable country NEAR the srester
boundary Of the land ceded by this treat,
which shall remain for their use forever.
By instructions issued by G. w. Nan,
penny, Superintendent of Indian Affair
directing a survey, it was ordered as 70
lows: ITO commence at a point ten mill
due north of the trading house of Boo
& Hamilton and the government blacl
smith shop, both of which are on Il
banks of Council Grove Greek, [Neosho
~a' the crossing of the Santa Fe road; fro
thence due west FIVE miles 10 corne
thence due south twenty miles to corne
thence due east twenty miles to corne
8 thence due north twenty miles to corne
thence due west fifteen miles to place
heginning.s - 80
By Instructions issued from san
source, dated June 18th, 1855, it "
said: Although these boundaries vi
include part of the tract originally $
apart for the Shawnees yet, as the Indi
title to the same has been extinguished,
is not considered sufficient objection
Justify an entire change of location Of I
hansas Reserve; ordering to proceed wit
out delay,
BY these instructions, these streser
lands" instead of being located asear |
WESTERN koandary ef TIE lands. eelad
ae Kansas Indians to The Usaited Stat
Were located twenty y-fye miles south of t
extreme eastern portion Of the lands tn
eeded, and near 9. hundred miles east
tae point stipulated by treaty for locsti
aem- They were to be located ,tpoa
sa''as Of the United States. and yet ss .
pean by the facts, and BY the order
Commissioners Manypenny given abevs
mas been partly located upon lands belez
ing at that time to the Shawnees, q