The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-06-10
PROSPECT OF THE Usage TREATY.

There seems to be some prospect that
the pending Usage Treaty will be rati-
fed at this session. We confess to q
lack offaith in anything being done, as we
have steadily believed this treaty would
be put over to make political capital
of in the coming campaign. But there
are now good indications that we have
been mistaken. We shall rejoice with
the 10000 settlers on the Usage land, if
they are given an immediate chance to
secure their homes.
In reply to Gov. Eskridge's "open let
ter" Senator Pomeroy writes to that
gentleman the following encouraging
words:
'I am much pleased with your 'open letter.
as see 1t published. This bill has been UP
twice and will pass, think, at the next read
trict, embracing these lands, and as soon as
this passes and the lands are surveyed, all set
tiers Will get homestead at &1.20 per acre,
aud have one year after the survey TO pay.
School lands will be reserved and granted to
the State. Amer the money Ia refunded to the
Government which is pledged TO the Indians,
all the laws applicable will then attach to
these lands"
AAdiscussion took place on this bill
on the oath of May. Its passage was
opposed by Senator Morrill,, of Maine,
and ably advocated by Senator Harlan,
of Iowa. Mr.. Morrill, took occasion to
say that the whites did wrong in set
Ting this land; that they had no right
there, and reflected severely on the set
tiers on the Usage land, applying to
them various uncalled for and unjust
epithets. We received the paper con-
tanning this discussion at so late date
as to render extended extracts impossi-
BILE. We will merely say that we are
personally acquainted with many ofthe
settlers on the Usage land, and know
that they are as intelligent, peaceable
and industrious as the constituents of
the Senator from Maine.
From the following extract from Mr..
Harlan's speech it will be seen that he
has very correct ideas about the situa-
ton of affairs on this land. His reply
to the argument of the Senator from
Maine, that the whites had no right to
settle on this land, is both true and just
4This treaty, TO which have referred. was
concluded, as before observed, ON the 27th
day OF May, 1868. Previous 10 action on the
part Of the Government and the Indians the
white inhabitants were excluded from these
lands; afterward neither the Government nor
the Indians objected to their settlement by
emigrants. The Indians did not object, be-
cause they believed. that they had sold their
lands; the Interior Departm emit expected the
treaty to be ratified in some form, either with
or without amendment No one objecting, the
emigrants moved on to these lands as q matter
OF course, believing that the Government
would adopt some practicable means for the
removal Of the Indians.'
.'But, SIR, admit that they did do wrong, that
they did wrong willfnlly, that they are as bad
in fact as the honorable Senator from Maine
supposed them to be; it is not probable that
you can exclude them from the territory
There are too many Of them. They have or
ganized county governments, as You, sir, Mr..
Pomeroy In the chair, we'll know. They have
! organized township and district governments
within the limits OF their county organizations.
The State of Kansas has extended over them
its jurisdiction and its laws. They are. in fact,
represented In the Legislative Assembly OF the
, State, and aid IN making the laws for the gov
eminent Of that Commonwealth. They have
been improving their lands, fencing in their
fields, putting out their orchards, erecting their
houses and barns, erecting their churches and
school houses, bridges and roads. 1t is be-
, lteved that at the close OF emigration last au-
tumn there were not fewer than twenty thou
. sand OF them. Even the honorable Senator
from Maine, IL understood correctly the prop
oSition with which he closed his speech, Is OF
opinion that their removal had become imprac.
n ticable. for he said that in such contest be
tween four thousand Indians and about TWEEN.
3 ~ thousand white people he supposed. judging
from the history OF the past that the Indians
would have TO go TO the wall; that the Indian
: mast go under in such n conflict. II that be
. the result Of his matGred deliberations ther
! pray, why not pass a law carrying into efEec
{ the substance OF this contract which these In
. dams themselves have made? II they are nov
under the feet Of these bad people. il they ar,
o about to be crushed. that furnishes, In m,
i, Judgment, reason for immediate Legislative
= action on the part OF the National Government
q rather than for delayo