The Van Buren press., 1870-04-19
Governor Rights Message.
To the Honoraue .MemJers Of the General
Council Of The Goeide Nation, Assembled
An Erfrd NPsSi0D-


FELLOW CITIZENS:
/ Owing to the threatening attitude by Con-
gressionsllegislation inimical to our present
political affairs. and cffecting our form of go
vernmrnt, it is thought necessary that the
Extra Session of the General Council OF the
ChOctaw Nation should be convened TO con-
slider several subjects growing out OF a Dill
recently introduced in the House of Repre-
scuta,iyes providing for The establishment by
Congress of temporary government over
several tribes OF Indian. iu the Indian Terrs-
tory. by the name of the Territory ofLln-
colin"
There are several objections which you Will
readily see in the Bill
The first and most vital one Is setting aside
all treaty provisions of a Territorial govern
mcnt. requiring the consent OF each tribe.
See treaty of lSG6, art. 3 see. :. and The name
to be given to q Territory whenever it should
be organized is also entirely ignored The
second and the one to be most apprchensiye.
about which every Council has been warned
aud repeatedly urged in every Message by me-
TO provide for holding the land in scveraity
by our own act; but it has as often been re-
fused to be complied with, is, in eminent de-
gree dangerous. lou will see III the l2tii sec
ton of the Territorial Bill introduced by Mr.
Cullom No. 1901 referred 10. the following
language is used namely That whenever
letiUcattu ny sulu N''fi'i Hiih
the Governor, the Secretary OF the Interior
shall cause the lands in said Territory to be
surveyed under the direction of the govern
ment and allotted in seyeralty among the re-
Spective tribes or nations etc. This PROPOSE
tion is whenever a majority of the Tcrl itorlal
Council and the Governor shall request it,
clearly implying that even without the con
sent of the majority of our people as provided
for in the treaty of 1866 your lands shall be
4 h. fhn,,
yourselves Nowtis the time for you to act.
ENtraorIinar, occasions demands an extra
ordinary action. While you have everything
in your own hands to control your own lands
you can no longer delay. nor neglect the duty
of providing permanent homes and titles To
the lands for yoHr constituents, by causing
the lands to be surveyed and he'd in several
ty. Therefore it is earnestly recommended
that you take Immediately steps to cause our
National domain to be survey ed and allotted
to each individual citizen. An organization
of IL Territory itself is extremely obicctiona-
bic 1T present on account of landed interests
held by several tribes of Indians inhabiting
within the proposed Territorial government.
some tribes have more extended territory of
lands than Others, and all are held in common.
Though our lands may not be immediately
affected by a Territorial government being
organized, yet should Congress once be allow
ed, without raising a voice against it on our
part, to legislatc over you on the ground of
the adoption of the 18th amendment to the
Constitution OF the United States: they will
claim us as citizens of the United States. if
they lave not already done it. Then there
will be no end oflegisation over your lands
until your lands are donated away to other
parties. who have no part or parcel with you
in landed rights and 10 other interests than
yours. You have only to look back to your
former homes and lands in the State of Mis-
sissippi to convince you of what Is asserted, n
portion of which was donated away bv acts of
Congress without compcnsating us II single
cent and without our consent to railroad and
school purposes tor the benefit of that State
to our loss and lasting injury. not only to
ourselves, but to our prosperity. What has
been done, may be done again. Let no one
close his eyes against these glarng facts? 1t
is idle to talk and think of remaining just rs
we are. The great change is approaching MS
not such as we wish, but Just as it is. faster
than we are prepared to meet We must meet
the change whether prepared or not, but let
us meet it manfilly. In order to meet the
wishes OF the United States Government in
the changed condition, rs the Cboctaw Nation
has prospered under the Republican form ot
government for the past thirty years under
the fostering care OF the United states Gov
ernment, and inasmuch as the said govern
ment is inaugurating system of legislation
looking forward to ohr civilization christian
ization. and the United States citizenship as
the Ultimate end; but inaSmuch rs the Terri
torial form Enforcement will not at present
suit all the Indian tribes within the proposed
Territorial organization on account Of the
landed interests as has already been stated :;
just as soon aS we shall have adjusted our
land question. that we organize ourselves at
once as a State of "Ok-la-hnm-ma'i and ask
for admission rs one of the States of the Union.
II it is the honest desire OF the United States
Government to have us become citizens of
the said American Union. Sue will acquiesce
in our petition for admission. This in my
opinion. is Il better and surer way to test her
sincerity in her wishes of our becoming its
citizens. To carry out this object. | would
recommend the propriety of Inviting by a
resolution all the tribes of Indian Nations in
tercstcd on this subject. to meet in General
Convention at an early day for mutual con-
sultation. Should other Nations be unwill
ing to 90 into state at once, without going
through the ordeal tutclagc, would further
suggest that the Choctaw and Chickasaw Ma
ions be organized into state, for we have
country large enough for that purpose, In
abe meantime | would recommend that you
tenter your protest against any Territorial
Government at present for the reasons al
ready stated. and submit the same to Congress
and to the President of the United States.
The status of the freedman amongst Ms is
not yet settled, therefore would respectfully
recommend that resolution be passed urg-
ing the government to bring about the early
settlement of the same. ..... ..
The question Of railroads still demands
your attention rs one of the things which
cannot be ignored much longer, it was earn
estly recommended at the last regular session
of the General Council for granting..a charter.
or charters within our territorial limits, but
nothing was done to secure the right to con
troll the management Of the railroads now
would again recommend that important sub
iect for Your reconsideration. ...
To delay any important measure at any
time is n folly; but to throw away ones right
is II suicidal net. It is better 10 encourage
than oppose any internal improvements.
Therefore should there be any good and last
ing benefit to be gained developing our in
dustral pursuits as well rs increasing the
wealth of our Nation. let every cXcrton be
made to aid In the construction of the rail-
roads.
| would also recommend, if the way be
clear to take some action it. regard to settling
the Eastern boundary question in connection
with the question of surveying the lands.
Trusting that yon viii carefully guard and
protect every Choctaw interest with Jealous
eye and defend it with patriotic hearts and
hold it with unyieding will, recommend
you to the source and keeper of all things for
wisdom to guide you wisely in your delibcra-
tions. ALLEN WRIGHT,
+, ChicfC. y.
Executive Office. Chahta Tamaha, c. n.
March 2lst lsIn
RAMIE-A farmer in Sohoma county,