The Van Buren press., 1866-08-25
Treaty with the Choctsw and chisk'

taws and the Chickasaws mas peeu Iully
ratified. The political features thereof
occupy several sections. Slavery and In.
voluntary servitude are forever abolished
in the two nations, and the negroes arc
put on a perfect equality before the law
with the Indians, and are made witnesses
in all suits and proceedings The pnn.
cipal other features ofthe treaty are com.
promised in the following articles:
Article 3.-The Choctaws and Chicka-
saws, in consideration Of the sum Of
$500, 600, hereby cede to the United States
the territory west Of the 98th degree we1t
longitude, known as the leased district;
provided that said sum shall be invested
and held by the United States, at an in.
terest not less than five per cent. in trust
for the said nation. until the Legislatures
of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations
respectively shall have made such laws,
rules and regulations as may be necessa.
ry to give to all persons Of African de-
scent, resident in the nation at the timv
of said treaty Of Fort Smith, and their
descendants, heretofore held In slavery
among said nations, all the rights priv
ileges and immunities, including the right
OF suffrage, of citizens OF said nation;
except in the annuities, moneys and pub.
lie domain, claimed by ol belonging to
said nations respectively and also to
give to such persons who were residents
rs aforesaid, and their descendants forty
acres each, of the land in said nations on
the same terms as the Chickasaws aud
Choctaws and Kansas Indians have made
their selections rs herein provided, and
Immediately on the enactment of such
laws, rules and regulations, the said sum
of 100000 shall be paid to the said
Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, in the
proportion Of three fourths to the form.
er and one fourth to the latter, less such
sum, at the rate Of one hundred dollars
per capita, as shall be sufficient to pay
such persons of African descent, before
referred to, as within ninety days after
the passage Of such rules and regulations
shall elect to remove, and actually re.
move, from the said nations respectively.
Art 8. General amnesty Of all past Of
fences against the laws Of the United
States, committed before the signing OF
this treaty, by any member OF the Choc-
taw or Chickasaw Indians, is hereby de-
clared, and the United States will esps-
&aalsas s{,eapeshsAf aSai sSf 10 AYlisSQqE:
ike amnesty as to all offences c6inIn:.-.s. ~
by any member Of the Choctaw or Chick
asaw nation; and the Choctaws and
Chickasaws, anxious for the restoration
Of kindly feeling, themselves, do hereby
declare an amnesty for all past offences
against their respective governments, and
no Indian or Indians shall be prescribed
or any act Of forfeiture or con6scation
passed against those who may have re-
maned friendly to the United States,
but they shall enjoy equal privileges with
other members Of said tribes, and all
laws heretofore passed, inconsistent with
this are hereby declared imperative. Tho
people Of the Choctaw and Chickasaw M.
tions stipulate and agree to deliver up to
any duly authorized agent of the United
States all public property in their posses.
sion which belonged to the so-callsd
Confederate States of America, Dr. the
United States, without any reservation
whatsoever, particularly ordnance or ord
nancei stores and arms Of all kinds.
Art 46.-Of the moneys stipulated to
be paid to the Choctaws and Chickasaws
under this treaty, the sum of Sl5O,OO0
shall be advanced and paid to the Choc.
taws, and $4,000 to the Chickasaws
through their respective treasurcrs as
soon as practicable after the ratification Of
this treaty, to be repaid out of said mon
eys. or any other money Of said nations,
in the hands Of the United States; the
residue not affected by provision of this
treaty to remain in the Treasury of the
United States. at al annual interest Of
not less than five per cent. no part of
which shall be paid out as annuity, but
shall be annually to the treasurer OF such
nations respectively, to be regularly aud
judiciously applied, under the jurisdic.
ton OF their respective legislative coun.
ellis, to the support Of their, Government,
the purposes Of education, and such 9th
er objects as may be best calculated to
promote and advance the welfare and hap
piness OF said nations and their people
respectively.
Art. 49.-A commission, to consist Of
person or persons, to be appointed by
the President Of the United States, shall
be appointed Immediately on the ratitica.
ton Of this treaty, who .shall take into
consideration and determine the claims Of
such Choctaws and Chickasaws as allege
that they had been driven, during the late
war from their homes in the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations, on account of their
adhesion to the United States, for dana.
gcs, with power to make such awards as
may be consistent with equity and good
conscience taking into view all circum.
stances; whose report, when ratified BY
the Secretary Of the Interior, shall bo
final, and authorize the payment Of the
amount from any moneys Of said nations
in the hands of the United States o. the
said commission may award.
A =. L. f~-.sx IA