New-York tribune., 1869-06-26
KANSAS.
THE NEUTRAL LAND DIFFICULTIES.
tPROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

the minds or Lne settlers very
ercised about the questions involving their titles it is
possible that violence may still but there is gen.
eral impression that the public sentiment OF the State
will sustain the regulators in attempting to carry the
matter by violence Many settlers forced to leave
some localities and since the advent OF the military and
the threat arrests persons have left TO avoid ar
rest When the troops first sent down many settlers
armed themselves resist Mr. Laughlin lately repre-
senting them in Washington, in speeches advised
resistance or least to hold out against all OF Mr.
Joys mnons but on the approach Of the troops scouts
were sent to see If they actually United States
troops or joys employees If the latter il determined
TO march against them n e former to dsband or offer
no show resistance In other words the martial spirit
subsided The Governors proclamation against them,
while 1t provoked wrath considered as an indication
that the public sentiment not with them. SO there
is lull, at least '---'..
This curious land case has many points Of general in
teres and as they involve the rights of many persons
and have grossly misrepresented either through
Ignorance design by many persons, will give sue
cinct history Of them.
when the United States, to oblige Georgia was trying
from 1920 to 1899 TO the Cherokees from the Old
Nation, was strenuousy urged the latter as an
additional ndueement that by surrenderng their lands
IN Georgia, they would get in their home title
guaranteed by the United States, and good any
title from which power could dispossess them In
order % enable TINS be DONE act Of Congress
passed. authorizing the President TO issue patent to the
lands they aeqBred in their home In this way as
part price OF their lands in Georgia. the first 100000
acres and finally the land lying west Of 1t as far as the
jurisdiction OF the United States extended, including
much more, was conveyed to them IN a very elegant
niece OF parchment with the signature Of Martin Van
Rnren attached to It, AS the Government still owed the
Cherokee Nation a considerable sum Of money, the
Neutral Lands containing 100000 acres, we're also
patented to them, and $4,000 OF their funds taken
therefor This was 1896. The reason the Government
had for selling this, was for fear the other amounts
would be insufficient At that time all these lands were
in the Indian Territory-he States or Territories OF
Kansas Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, &c neither existing
nor being thought Of
When the Kansas Nebraska bill became law, by the
boundaries first Territory the 1900 acres to which
the nickname Neutral Lands had been given, fell
side the State Of Kansas oil the rest OF the Cherokee
lands being the Indian Territory south o it, In order
TO sell these lands both Territories to the Cherokees
the Government for that purpose bought them of the
osages recognized by the United States as the native
owners The Joint occupancy OF the Neutral Lands"
was contemplated however, either in treaty or patent
When Kansas became State, 1t became evident that
the Cherokee Nation must sooner or later part with the
Neutral Land Some 80 or 40 families or Cherokees were
living upon IT. and UlanY bad good farms there AS IL
was close on the borders OF Missouri and we'll wa
tered, containing lead and COAL 1t was soon coveted
Shortly after the settlement OF Kansas settlers intruded
upon It. in violation Of treaty patent, and the intercourse
laws Just before tho broke out Agent Cowat with
lower part OF IT, burning many houses His Efforts now
ever directed most bitterly against the Free state
setters the Government had sold the land and been
paid for It. it was certainly both lax aud dshonOrable TO
permit any intrusion on it until 1t had bought 1t back
At the close OF the war in 1866 treaty made be-
tween the Cherokee Nation and the United States, IN
which many important matters were determined. Az
that time Senator Harlan was acting Secretary and he
insisted the sale OF the Neutral Lands as eondl
tion OF adudcang other matters The Cherokee Nation
asked the Secretary pay them for it the SO taken
from them in 1885, with interest thereon at hye per cent
a1ogai MT
got II they had not been then compelled TO buy the and
The Secretary at first admitted the justice OF th nut on
its being ascerained that this would amount TO s4OOOO
demurred the sum, and offered s2OOOOO AFTER some
haggng, this was agreed TO- In snort tns the seere
sultatlOn with the Senate Committee II was asceraned
that they would not agree to pay any more ndgnant'
the Cherokees, after yalhy demonstrating hhaly ao
new scheme was on foot however and in few days
the article which has caused much trouble was sent as
ultimatum by the Secretary on the Neutral Lana
question; -, a.. l. .u,,.. o. .ho
United States the OF land in the State OF Kansas
which sold by the Cherokees to the United states,
under provisions the second article OF the treaty or
1885, and also that strip OF land ceded TO the Nation by
the fourth article Of said treaty. which included in the
lands may be ncudedin the jurisdiction OF the said state
The lands herein ceded shall be surveyed as the pub
lie lands OF the United States surveyed under the
direction OF the Commissioner OF the General Land once
and shall be appraised by two persons one
by the Secretary OF the INTERIOR and IN case OF ds
agreement by third person to be mutually selected oy
than average OF IS per acre. exclusive OF improve
ments. .--,--.,,, A., A., A..
time apprasements approved by him. after
due advertisement for sealed bids sell such lands TO the
highest bidders for cash. in parcels not exceeding 69
acres and at not less than the appraised value 0raea
that whenever there improvements OF the value OF
$50 made the lands not being mineral and owned and
personally occupied by any person for agricultural pur
poses the date OF the signing hereof sucn person SO
owning and in person residing on such Improvements
shall after due proof made under such regulations as te
Secretary Of the Interior may prescribe De ehted 20
BUY at tne Win nclude his improve
ments, exceeding IN the aggregate 100 acres the
the proceeds OF the sale OF such lands Prorided That
nothing In this article shall prevent the secretary OF he
Interior from selling the whole OF said neutral lana IN
body TO any responsible party 0or CASH for sum not
When the article was first submitted to the Cherokees
the words for cash." in parenthess were not inserted
but their protest aferward inserted, 10 prevent
sale ON credit 10 any man or company Inc CherOkees
also strained every nerve TO have the above article
changed and to sell II outright TO the Government ms
When the treaty came before the Senate the provision
In brackets stricken out. Senator'S Ross aud Pome
roy tried TO insert provision TO give settlers the land
occupied by them at 81 rs per acre, but as they had
picked the most valuable lands and this would have
been manfesty unjust to the Cherokees the Senate re-
fused 10 entertain the proposition and the following
inserted In lieu OF the prOviso stricken out
Prorided That nothing in this article shall prevent
the Secretary OF the Interior from selling the whole OF
said occupied by actual settlers at the date OF
ratification OF this treaty not exceeding 100
each nerson entitled TO 'prcgmpton under the pre-.
emption laws OF the United states in a body TO any
responsible party for cash, for sum not less than 81
per acre."
thereafter Mr. Harlan ceased 10 be Secretary, but his
last official act 10 make sale 10 the Connecticut
credit
As AIr Browning succeeded him, the Cherokees con
tested the sale violation OF the express OF the
treaty, which only permitted sale for cash The matter
having been referred 10 the Attorney Genera oil his de-
cisOn the sale set aside Is Illegal.
In the Winter OF 1861 tho Chorokees made an effort 10
get the Government to buy the land at SOOOOO or 81 ~