The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-17
WAsHINGroy, April 6, 1859,


yesterday BY the House Of Representatives,
is an indication of the turn which, it seems,
things are about to take. The pressure
made upon certain members of Congress by
the settlers on the Cherokee Neutral Lands,
through their delegate, Mr.. Laughliu, has
efectually checkmated the operations Of the
railroad ring, and the result should be hailed
as a triumph Of honesty over fraud. The
workingmen will, doubtle7s, be glad to
know that their cause has SO far been VIC
torious. The resolution refers to the Cher
okee Neutral Lands.
Be il resolved by the Senate and House Of Re
representatives. Of the United States Of Ame RIGA
10 Congress assembled,
That 30 much Of the treaties between the
United States and the Cherokee nation of Iudi-
ans, proclaimed August eleventh, eighteen hun
dred and sixty six, aud June tenth, eighteen
hundred and sixty-eight, as profess to authorize
a sale OF the lands described in ihe seventeenth
article Of the said aforementioned treaty. and
all contracts and grants purporting 10 be made
hereunder, be, and are hereby, annulled and
declared void; and said lands shall be and are
hereby, made subject 20 settlement, entry, aud
sale, at one dollar and twenty five cents per
acre, under the laws of the United States regu>
lating pre-emptions, which laws are hereby ex-
tended over and made applicable 70 said lards;
aud the proceeds OF the sales Of said lands shall
be from time to time paid over 20 said nation OF
Indians, until the total paid shall be equal
70 one dollar aud twenty five cents per acre for
all said lands; and the Secretary of the Treasu-
~ shall refund all moneys paid II the United
states under any sale made BY virtue Of said
treaty;
Provided, That the purchasers Of said lands
shall pay the fees and expenses OF their several
purchases from the government, as required Of
other pre-emp.ors;
And provided further, That when bona fde
settlers are found on the sixteenth aud thirty
sixth sections OF said lands, the same shall not
Dc reserved for school purposes. but other lands
OF Ike amount ia said tract, ss contiguous
thereto as may be, not occupied by settlers,
shall be substituted therefor, and designated BY
she State OF Kansas.
Senator Sprague, OF Rhode Island, has
sign'fied his determination TO stand bv this
m sasure and Senator Morton can also b. re-
1 ed upon 70 ali in passing il through the Sen
ate without change OF amendment. | will en-
deaVor TO keep the readers Of the ADVOCATE
ADVISED OIL It's p.ogress and the course OF
Senators upon it, so that they may be able
hereafter 70 bestow Senatorial honors intel
hgently disc .minating between friends and
foes.
| must not omit mentioning Mr.. Law
renee, OF Ohio, and Mrssrs. Holman and Ju-
Ian, OF Indiana, to whose exertions we are
chiefly indebted for the present success Of
the measure. The settlers on the Cherokee
lands will cherish grateful recollectiOns of
these distinguished champions of justice
and the peoples rights for many years,
This measure, now before the Senate,
wholly in the interest Of the w0rkIrgmen,
cannot fail to receive the support OF every
Senator not already IN the service Of the
railroad and other Ii0gs, but by their votes
we shall know them
The Cherokee neutral land, lying il the
southeastern corner Of the State Of Kansas,
is % miles from east 10 west and 80 miles
from north to south, containing 100000
acres unsurpassed for agricultural ard fruit
growing purposes. Tue United States and
the State OF Kansas promptly extended their
jurisdiction over It as soon as the war clos
ed; and that the discharged solder might be
encouraged to return to peaceful pursuits
and the cultivation % the soil, letters were
written by Senator'S Pomeroy and Ross, aad
by Andrew Johnson, President OF the Unit
ed States, to secure that end The Cherokee
Indians also Joined 10 encouraging settlers
q locate upon it. Over three thousand fam
lies "a population Of about $4,000, two
thirds OF ths adult males being soldiers
who served honorably in the Union army
settled upon 1t under these circumstances,
and under peculiar hardships and difficult
.. L.. e. ff.au h.
close OF the war made emigration and set
Element always expensive) cost double or
triple what it otherwise would have done.
Wn.le the settlers were absorbed IN the work
of Improving tleir claims and the country,
their scaniy means being also absorbed,
Harlan and POmeroy, Chief and Vice C4ief
OF the Lan3 Steiadls Rang, with their COW
etous associates, were preparing little
scheme, whereby they could seq upon and
divide among themselves, this portion Of the
inheritance Of the people also and without
WORT from any member oil either House,
from Kansas or elsewhere, said little scheme
was consammated. But the settlers, With
that sagacity and courage which gave so
many generals reputation during the war
and position since, have rallied 10 their own
behalf, charged the enemy's works, and are
driving them from the favorable position
which iaithless sentineis permitted him to
take without challenge. Aud they wlll con
tiuue TO drive him until the Senate Of the
United States and the control Of the govern
ment are ia the hands Of the friends Of the
people.
The scheme referred to herein was to
transfer the entire tract to the American
Ehigrant Company. This was attempted
by the Secretary Of the Interior, Harlan, il
violation Of the treaty. HIS successor, Mr..
Browning, refused to recognize this attempt
ed transfer, and under an opinion OF Atlor-
ney-General Stanberry, had il put aside.
Mr.. Harlan was returned to the Senate, and
the treaty was amended 10 SUIT the case, aud
the transfer was again undertaken. Tais
time it was made to James F. Jjy, doubt
less q member of the American Emigration
Company,l in conformity to the amended
treaty, aud was proclaimed as valid by those
who desired to have 1t 81 bat the actI on Of
the House has upset this assumption, and
viii, hope, correct the attempted outrage
upon the people. The settlers thus to De
sold out are regularly organized into con-
panIes and regiments, and prepared to help
themselves They have 50 lar promptly
,jected all Of Mr.. joys agents, thereby re-
iusing 10 recognize his right II the land,
their homes, and preventing him from Oh
tanning possession thereof. Ia this they
have done exactly right. They have aet.d
like wise men, and they have my sympathy,
and will, have no doubt, be sustained by
the government. their cause being just.
NoREKAcUH.
FROM MARYLAND.
BALTIMORE, April 8, 1860.
To the Editor Of the wosKMGxAN's ADVOCATE: