The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-05-21
New YORK Indian Reserv,.
WASHINGTON, NAY 9th, Is

WASHINGTON, May 9Th, 1853.
In January, 1888, the United States
entered into treaty with the remnants
of the Six Nations Of New York for their
removal to the far West. The conditions
of which wero optional with the In
dians and merely proposed to give to
each one so emigrating half-section of
land, and to extend to them such aid
and protection as was usual in such cases.
In order to carry out the stipulations on
the part of the United States, body of
land was set apart in the then "Indian
Territory" Composing about two millions
of acres, } and now known as the "New
York Indian Lands' in Kansas.
By further treaty made with the
Seneca Indians in 1912, it was agreed
that these grants should apply to every
such Seneca as should emigrate and
further, that the land should be individ.
ual instead of common property and it
is believed than an equitable construction
Of the treaty of 1888 confers the same
right upon members of the other tribes,
so emigrating.
There were no features in these treaties
to compel the Indians to emigrate !.
owing to the fact that they had we'll nigh
lost their nationality had freely mixed
with the whites, and had already assimi.
lated to them in the habits and customs
of civilization; and in consequence, there
was vast difference between their con-
dition and that of rude and savage tribes.
to which the government did not scruple
TO use arguments somewhat stronger than
donations of land, in times gone by, in
order to hssten them in their westward
march. Under these circumstances, the
provisions Of the treaty were complied
with by comparatively few; and Of the
remnant which still exist; BY far as large
a majority are in New York.
The reserve lies in the Southern part
of Kansas, Immediately west of Fort
Scott, and is now occupied by about ten
families, the heads of most being widows.
and number in all about forty souls.
The fact of such large body of land
being held by so few Indians, has lately
caused the government to turn its atten-
tion to carrying out tho provisions of the
treaty toward those Indians who have
complied with its stipulations make the
necessary allotments, and by thus remov-
ing the restrictions from the unclaimed
land, throw it open to pre-emption as
public domain.
Accordingly, in March last, Alden S.
Stevens, Esq, of this city, was appoint
ed by the government to proceed to
Kansas, and take a census of all the
Indians claiming lands in the Reserve :,
and arrange each family under appropri-
ate heads, setting forth the name, age
and sex of each, and the date of their
entry into Kansas, and forward the same
to the Department. Instructions to have
the land surveyed were at the same time
issued to Gen. Burnett, Surveyor General
of Kansas and Nebraska; and all of the
appropriations for surveys in Kansas We're
devoted for this purpose.
As soon as the Agent completes his
work and reports, and the surveys are
made and approved, then the allotments
will be made, and the balance thrown
open to settlement by the whites. The
Reserve embraces one Of the finest bodies
of land in Kansas, and will speedily be
settled.
When it became generally known that
the government was taking steps to ex-
tiDguish the Indian title to these lands,
some spectators, ever ready to turn a
penny, honest or dishonest, began to
form plan to induce members of the
Six Nations, still in New York, to emil
crate and claim donations under the
treaties, and afterwards, for certain con-
siderations, to transfer the lands into their
hands. But their schemes are frustrated
by a decision of the Secretary of the In
terror, "that under these treaties, no
Indian is entitled to share in the allot-
ment Of lands who did not reside in Kan
sas at the time of the decision;" and
therefore the Indians now in New York,
and those who have recently emigrated,
are not entitled to the benefit Of the
treaties.
The President was guided In bis action
of postponing the Land Sales in Kansas
and Nebraska, on two former occasions,
by the representation Of prominent citi-
zens of each Territory, that the people
were at that time unable to pay for their
lands; and that a years grace would give
them an opportunity to be ready for buy
ing them. Forewarned they were fore
armed; and now that the year has almost
rolled around, and the sales again adver-
tised, it is useless for them to expect a
further postponement. Twice have they
already been the recipients of the Presi-
dents favorable interference in their be-
half, and they cannot reasonably expect
it again. Eighteen months will elapse
since the first notice was given, before
the sales take place, and the industrious
and thrifty settlers will either be able to
pay, or BY this have made sons arrange
ments to secure their lands; while the
improvident and idle, having wasted the
grace SO generously granted, will lose
by their neglect, and find no consolation
in their grumbling. The Land Sales
win certainly take place in August. Pc
titions will not effect another postpone
ment A. word to the wise il sufficient
Learensoorh Daily Herald.
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