The Van Buren press., 1871-03-07

to do nothing would present the absurd
spectacle Of paying the expenses ofa leg
islative body competent by the treaties
to make laws, with no court in Christen-
dom authorized to take cognizance of
them. ie
II We are to choosc between the bill
and the constitution of Ocmulgce, much
prefer the bill. The constitution organ
ICES State government having no rela.
tons of responsibility to the United
States. It is 10 be called the " Indian
Territcry," but is to have all the machine
ry of u special State organization Un-
der that.constitution the Government OF
the United States would have no super
vision whatever over the Indians or the
Territory and would have no responsi-
bility except to make the necessary ap.
propriu'ions. We arc already paying
The expenses ofsthe grand eoth.S;f unu
the salary OF the superintendent Of Indian
affairs, who is, by the treaties, er ctfcio
Governor of the Territory, ] presume
all the expenses of this Indian State are
to be paid by the United States Govern
ment yet we are to have no further ju-
risdiction or control over it than We
have over Mexico. l do not believe such
q state of things would eonducc 20 the
welfare of the Indians or the interests of
this Government
But there is another objection which
merits consideration. The Ocmulgce
constitution is not authorized by tho
treaties with these Indians; on the con-
trary, it is wide departure from some
material provisions of such treaties. All
the treaties Of 1866 stplllate that the su-
perintendent of Indian affairs shall be
the Executive Of the Territory. In the
tenth section Of the eighth article Of the
Choctaw and ,Chickasaw treaty OF 1866 il
Is agreed that The superintendent of
Indian affairs shall be the Executive Of
the said Territory, with the title Of Gov;
erhor Of the Territory Of Oklahoma. "
The Ocmulgee constitution ignores this
provision OF the treaty, and provides that
the Executive Of the Territory Shall be
electcd from the members of some Of the
tribes and shstain no relations OF re
sponsibility to the Government OF the
United States. The twelfth section OF
the eighth article Of the same treaty
reads as follows @
"And the United States agree that in the
appointment of marshals and deputies, pref
crencc, qualifications being equal, shall be
given to competent members ofithe said ma
tions the object being to create . laudablc
ambition to acquire the experience necessary
for political offices OF Importance in the re-
spcctiye nations" tNet -lsl
These extracts show conclusively that
it was understood and agreed by both
parties to these treaties that the principal
officers of this Government, and be re.
sponsible to it for the faithful discharge
of their duties 91 h a .iI
The bill reported by the Indian Com.
mittce provides for the appointment by
the Presidert of the officers OF the Ter
rtory, while the Ocmulgec constitution
SAYS they shall be elected. | believe the
Indians should have liberal representa-
ton in the offices Of the Territory. In
the population Of over fifty thousand,
composing what is known as the five civ
ilized hations--the Choctaws, Chickasaws
Greeks, Selnnoles, and Cherokees--there
are many men of cultivation, refinement,
and talentw who would grace any position
in this Territory and ! would be will
ing to vote for All amendment which
would encctually secure these Indians q
full representation in the important Of
fees 20 be filed under this bill
If objection is made to Incorporating
these Indians more closely into the civil
affairs Of our Government, do not share
in il. There may be gentlemen on this
floor, and upon my side Of II, too, who
would object to the admission Of an In
dian here as a Delegate to look after the
interests Of his people Iwonld remind
such that the time has been, in the old
and chivalrous days, when the proudest
Representative ever sent here from Nir
gina boasted ia these Halls that in his
veins ran Indian blood But there was no
spirit Of caste which ostracized John
Randolph Of Roanoke. He trod this
floor and the floor of the Senate with the
lofty demeanor OF an Indian prince, rs
sertng everywhere his aboriginal lineage,
and challenging and receiving social
homage from all Sir, | have no preju.
diccs against the Indian. He is native
and q proprietor of this land. ] know
tho people mentioned in this bill. have
been associated with them In business re
latons. | have met among them men
who were as full Of apropcr and patriot
ic spirit and as capable Of lcgislating for
the interests of their people as in any
gentleman OH this floor representing any
constituency, | care not how refined or
exalted.
thank the gentleman from Missouri
Mr.. Van Horn TOR giving me this op-
portunity to present to the House my
views upon this important question.