The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-19
NUMBER 50.

NUMBER 81.
7th uItimo, urging that selections made for
certain members of Black Bob's Shawnee In
dians, heretofore filed in this office be con-
firmed, and that patents be issued for the
same, which letter was referred to this office
by Superintendent Murphy at the above date,
with his own and the endorsement of the Hon.
Sidney Clarke thereon, recommending the
Taylor.
Respectfully, ETC.,
n. G. TAYLOR,
Commissioner.
Hon. o. II. BROWNING,
Secretary of the Interior.
Note the fact that the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs distinctly understands
Mr.. Clarke as recommending the adop-
ton of the course advised by Agent
Taylor, which we find by referring to
page three of the document No. 40, to
be f'the prompt action of the Depart
ment in the issuing of the patents here
in solicited"
1t was very proper that the maker of
that endorsement should urge that the
case be settled according to law and the
facts; but it was unfortunate that he
should have deemed it his duty to urge
q needlessly prompt decision "for the
issuing of the patents solicited" while
a measure was pending in the Senate,
introduced by myself, for the settlement
of this question in manner satisfactory
to both the Indians and the settlers.
That measure was an amendment to the
then pending Shawnee treaty, which
was withdrawn at the instance of the
very men who are seeking to possess
themselves of the lands, for the very
purpose of defeating that measure.
The object of securing immediate ac-
ton ON the application for the patents,
is plain to be seen. 1t was in pursuance
of policy foreshadowed in letter.
written by Mr.. Abbott to myself, Dec.
5, 1867, and transmitted to the Senate by
the Secretary, in which occurs the fol-
lowing passage, referring to the propos-
ed insertion in the Shawnee treaty, then
pending, of a provision similar to the
one now under consideration
81 think you will see plainly that no change
could be made with reference to the Black Bob
lands, which would be of any advantage to the
settlers, for I am satisfied that before treaty
can be ratified, every member of that band will
have made its selection, and there will not be
a foot of land to treat about.
JAS. B. ABBOTT.
1t was in the confident belief that the
Issuance of additional patents would
break down the opposition of the Indi-
ans to this fraud, that the efforts of these
gentlemen were exerted with the Secre-
tary to have him take immediate action
on the application for additional patents.
1t is well known by all parties, for the
records show it, that immediate action
was just what the settlers and the Indi-
ans opposed to this fraud did not sCdat.
Whenever these men want a new
batch of patents issued, they parade the
starving, suffering condition of the
poor Indians before the Secretary and
Commissioner, as a means of moving
the bowels of their compassion to the
accomplishment of their aims. But af-
ter patents are once issued, and placed
in the safe keeping of these pious, COM
passionate spectators, the hunger of
the poor Indian is at once appeased, and
his thirst Immediately quenched, al
| though a year elapses before the patents
| or the proceeds of any sales reach his
| hands. This is certainly new way of
furnishing subsistence to the furnishing
| wards of the government, and should be
commended for its economy, though
not for its humanity.
A large number of the best citizens of
Kansas, who are living in the immedi-
ate vicinity of these lands, make oath
| that the lands of the Black Bob Reserve
| are very unequal in quality and value );
that there are several thousand acres of
very stony, broken, poor and compare
| lively worthless land; that the differ
ence in value of these thousands of acres
| of poor land, when compared with the
rest of the Reservation, is as one to
| four. Yet it is proposed, by the fraud
ulent partition that has been attempted
| by the use of names of dead men, by
causing patents to be issued in the in
terest of severalty Indians as the heirs
of Black Bob Indians, and by forcing
patents on members of the band oppos-
ed to the partition, to compel the actual
| bona tide members of the band, now
the only Indian occupants of the Reser-
walton, to accept of this very poor, sto-
ny, broken and comparatively worth
less land or nothing. Yet this villain
GUS system of forcing the poor and
worthless lands of the Reservation on
the fifty-seyen Indians who now occu-
Ply the Reserve, and the only members
of the band known to have an existence,
is called making selections.
The facts have detailed constitute in
brief the history of this transaction as
portrayed mainly by the records of the
Department. In addition to this, how
ever, there is secret history not deveI-
oped by these records, but which is
equally essential to a complete under
standing of the case. That history is
partially developed by the sworn depo-
sitions of citizens Of the State, residing
on and in the vicinity of these lands.
l will first introduce the affidavit of Mr.
Pratt. The transaction which Mr.. Pratt
relates precedes the official history
which 1 have detailed, and proves that
all subsequent action was in pursuance
of preconcerted scheme, and will also
throw some light on the otherwise unac-
countable transmission of the patents to
the gentleman who was made their Gus
todian by the Indian Office, and upon
their subsequent mysterious sequestra-
ton, while deeds for the conveyance of
the lands under them were being exc
cuted.
Mr.. Pratt says:
j. b. Pratt, of lawful age, being first duly
sworn, says: That he lives in the county of
Miami, and State of Kansas, and has there re-
sided for ten years last past; and that he is ac-
qua1nted with Sidney Clarke, Representative
j. Shannon, of PaoIa, Miami county, Kansas:
and that in the fall of 1866, Sidney Clarke and
A j. shannon, above referred to, called at my
NO iate one evening, to stay over night.
They stated that they were from a trip of ex-
animation Of the Black Bob Indian lands, ~
ing In johnson county, Kansas. Shannon. in
the presence Of Sidney Clarke. stated that he
Vaiued my opinion Of soils very highly, upon
which Mr.. Clarke asked my opinion of the
Black Bob Indian lands, and their prospective
fAiuS-dA4 VI WHICH QueSLiOnSl answered from |
my best information, but claimed not to be
thoroughly posted as to all Of such lands Both
Mr. sidney Clarke, the above named Represen-
tat1Ve, and Mr.. Shannon, requested me to go |
over said land and give it an average grade and |
quality, all of which assented to do Some
four or five weeks after the time above referred
to, Mr. Shannon drove to my place, and stated |
that he came, at the request of Mr.. Sid. Clarke /
70 have me go with him (Shannon) and view
the said lands, and then to give my judgement |
upon the same, which did the following day. |
Mr.. Shannon stated that as a consideration for
my services, they (Sidney Clarke and Shannon)
would allow me One-half section Of the said /
lands at such price they CLARKE and Sham
nom obtained it from the government. Also,
while driving over the said lands, Mr. Sham
non. stated that the settlers would never get /
the lands. From my relation with the afore-
said Sidney Clarke and Shannon, and from
their acts and conversation, my judgment at
the time was that there was a company then
organized to effect such legislation as would
place the said lands in their hands; and that
Sidney Clarke would be able to, and would
effect such legislation; and it was my belief at
the time that the above mentioned COMPANY
was formed for the purchase of said lands, and
for specializing in the same.
j. II. PRATT.
April II, 1870.
STATE OF KANSAS, -
County of Johnson.(
Be 1t remembered, that on the day and year
Ill