The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-04
THE INDIANS.

letter from Vincent ColIy er-The Rights of
the Osn&e IDdians-A Mistaken uumauita-
risn Pleading for the Red Han.
The following information IL contained in letter
from Mr.. Vincent Collyer one OF the United States
Indian Commissioners dated at Columbus, Kansas
on the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Rail
road
The act OF Congress passed at the last session pro-
ydes that the Usage Indians shall receive 81 % per
acre for their lands (Which shall be sold to actual
settlers ony) and for the purchase OF 100 per
capita for the new homes of the Osages
in the Indian Territory The law pro.
vides that the consent OF the Osages
shall be first obtained, and the Commissioners
are now endeavOring to obtain their consent. Two
years ago some railroad spectators in Kansas OBJ.
tanned the consent OF portion of the tribe TO the
sae OF their lands at nineteen cen Is per acre. which
would have placed eight millions OF acres of the
best lands OF Kansas at the dispose of the specua-
tors. Congress refused TO approve or the scheme.
Mr.. Coyer has travelled over a arge part OF the
tract, and he says:-"A finer far ming country |
have nowhere seen In many places the blades OF
wheels thick and free from weeds, while the seed
stocks of the grass run up, good food for cattle.
high as the wagon top. The streams are clear wen
supplied with water, and Tor twenty miles
either side thickly covered with good timber.
There are already over 1000 persons on the lands,
many of them industrious and respectable as any Ill
the land, and who do not believe IN cheat
ing and abusing the Indians But there are
Otners-and these are the ones who have done and
will continue TO do mischief unless the government
promptly suppresses Them They are called here
claim jumpers squatters, &c. They are like the
sneak thieves Of our cities; they follow up the poor
Indian wherever he goes and, Ike the old man who
stradded the neck OF Snbad the Sailor insist the
Indians carrying them wherever they wish to go and
take possession. They enter his cabin, violate his
wife and daughter, steal his ponies, and
finally, at the point Of the revolver,
drive him from his own land; while the
government all the while stands by and sees these
poor, helpless people thus abused, Notwithstanding
have sacred treaties with the Indian guarantee
ing him perpetual possession OF his land and home
A horrible nightmare OF fear Of the white man end
blind belief III theory or the final dying ont OF
the red man, as unfounded as 1t is devsh, seems
to have heretofore possessed our government OH.
Gals. Mr.. COlyer expresses the convection that
this dsgraceiu Injustice Is coming to an end. He
says there are hundred or more OF these thieves
and probably they have mised two hundred
more well meaning persons now IN the Indian
Territory. They are there in direct viola
ton OF treaty stipulations by which the
government Is bound TO eject such tres
passers. SO long as the squatters remain in the
Indian Territory the Osages Will not consent TO be
removed there from Kansas. The Council TO discuss
the subject called for the Goth inst but had to
be postponed till to-day, the 29th as no Indians at
tended. General Sherman has issued an order for
cavalry force TO go down and eject the trespassers
When this Is done the Osages will PROBABLY consent
to their removal from Kansas"