The Van Buren press., 1870-12-27
FROM THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Council at okmulgee.
Special from the o.. Louis Republican.

uihh papNSf V"fNu soJouthSo WV 'c"s
the 26th of September, met at Okmulgee
on Tuesday the 9th inst, but no quorum
being present an adjournment took place
till the next day, when quorum was
found present. Enoch Hosg, the presi-
dent of the council, took the chair. and
J. G. Vore was appointed secretary pro
TEN.
The day was spent in the presentation
Of credentials, admitting members to
their seats, and adding to the standing
committees, on the relation with the Uni.
ted States on international relations
judiciary; education and agriculture, q
nance, etc.
DELEGATES ADMITTED.
The following delegates we're admitted
to seats in the council, viz:
Cherokee nation--Wm. +. Ross, Riley
Keys, Allen Ross, S. ii. Benge, John
Sarcoxie, o. II. z. Brewer, s. NJ. Taylor,
j. A. Scales, Stealer, Moses Alberty,
Ezekiel Proctor, Joseph Warm. Henry c.
Lamb, Tin place OF Col. Glen N. Warm,
resigned), Stand Waite, George W.
Johnson.
Muskokee or Creek nation--G. w.
Stidham, +. Porter, j. r. Moore. l.. {.
Perryman, g. w. Grayson, j. NJ. Perry
man, Oktar har-sars Harjo, Clarke,
Timothy Barmord, j. M. G. Smith, G.
w. Walker.
Ottawa nation-Francis King.
Eastearn Shawnees--Lazarus Flint.
Guapom-George Lane.
Seneca--George Spicer.
Wyandott-George Wright.
Confederate Peorias, etc. Edward
Black.
Sac and Foxes--Keokuck and Amt ia.
tah
Absentee Shawnccs-John White and
Joseph Ellis.
Great and Little Osages--Augustus
Captain, Samuel Bevenn and Hard Rope.
Seminole nation--Tus- hat che harjo
and John f. Brown.
Choctaw nation--Campbell Lenorc.
John Kenny, WIN. Fry, Ma ha tubee,
vlex. r. Durant, James Thompson, Jo.
seph p. Folsom, Alfred Wright
Chickasaw nation-Charles Z. II. Per
cy, Joseph james, Hopiah Tubby, Col
bert Carten, Jackson Kemp.
The organization was completed and
several motions Of an unimportant char
actcr discussed
A special committee was then appoint
ed, Of one from each nation, to report a
plan for the
rrRRrToRtAL ORGANIZATION or ruy INDIAN
This is one Of the most important
movements that will probably come up
for consideration. The committee
through their chairman, Campbell Lcfore
of the Choctaw nation, reported the fol-
lowing:
The special committee to whom was
assigned the duty Of making a report up
on the resolution of the general council
regarding the permanent organization.
respectfully state that they have given
the subject such consideration as was in
their power. They regard the organiza-
ton Of the Indian territory under any
form Of government as OF the gravest
Importance to all the people who inhabit
it. The large and Invaluable interests in
lands and money which belong to the ma
tons and tribes who are therein, the pro.
visions of their several treaties with the
United States, their distinct forms ofgov-
crnment and franchises arising under
them, their different languages and di
versiGed conditions, present severally and
combined interests not to be too lightly
estimated nor too hastily disposed Of in
arranging the terms Of any organization
that may be designed to blend in one har-
monious system the whole Of them, at
the same time that it preserves just and
impartial regard for their respective
rights. The opposition Of all Indians to
any form Of territorial government that
has been proposed by the Congress OF
the United States is too notorious to re-.
quirc any comment. 1t is firmly and in
eradcably imbedded in their very nature.
They cling to their homes, to their laws,
TO their customs, to their national and
territorial and personal independence,
with the tenacity OF life itself In their
sentiments your committee fully concur.
And while the leading powers invested
VI tHio StbCi"' NvuuS'i pV''"NV "ii thV
treaties negotiated in 1866 by the United
States with the different nations here rep.
resented. Each one Of them grants some
important concession or retains some
important right not to be found in others.
In some respects they merely shadow
dimly the duties Of this council, instead
of clearly defining its powers and author
ity The responsibilities Of inexpcricnc-
I'D legislation instead Of being simpl6ed
by them Is made more difficult and com.
plex. AS the best means Of removing
these obstacles, Of observing fair de.
ference to the sentiment Of our people,
and at the same time of preserving our
race and of perpetuating unimpaired the
rights Of all, the weak, the strong, those
less advanced, and those who have made
further progress towards civilization.
your committee are of the opinion that
the organization Of the people here rep
resented, and such as may hereafter unite
with them. should be government OF
their own choice. 1t should be rcpubli.
can in form, with its powers clearly de-
fined, and full guarantees given for all the
powers, rights, and privileges respective
" now reserved to them by their treaties,
They therefore respectfully recommend
that the council proceed to form con-
sttution for the Indian territory. which
shall conform to existing treaty stipula
tons. provide for an executive, irgisla
,;yo aud iulioioI Ipnartt mon and vcafel