The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-05
THE INDIAN NATION.
5nl the ". y. Sun.

From the ". y. Sun.
South of Kansas, tapping the southwes tern
corner of Missouri, lies the Indian Terrific ory,
or Indian nation, as it is called by the Mis-
sourians; a region which embraces within it's
boundaries 70,456 square miles, one-half
more than the State of New York, and which
has been set apart by treaty stipulations for
the occupancy of various Indian tribes. This
territory includes some of the richest and
most fertile lands of the United States, and
is abundantly irrigated by numerous rivers
and streams. The climate is delightful the
greater portion of the year, and the grass re-
mains green all winter. The soil is we'll
adapted to corn, wheat, oats, cotton, tobacco,
and garden vegetables of all kinds. AS
fruit country it is unsurpassed.
The population of the Indian Territory is
estimated at SO, 900, thus giving each man,
woman, and child about 1000 acres OF land.
The Indians who people it are the Cherokees,
Creeks Choctaws, Chickasaws, Seminoles,
and other tribes and nations, who have been
driven from their former homes by extermi-
mating wars, and induced to settle there by
our Government under the promise that their
rights should be faithfully protected. Each
nation or tribe has its own reservation and
regulates its own affairs. Many of the
tribes have made great progress In clvlliZa-
ton The Cherokees number about l6, 900,
and own in fee simple 1000, 600 acres of land,
while the United States Government holds in
trust for them 81, 900, 900, upon which annual
interest is paid. Before the Rebellion, in
proportion to their numbers, they were the
wealthiest nation on the globe. They pos
sessed immense herds, one individual
alone owning twenty thousand head of
cattle, while the man who owned less than
three hundred was considered poor Indian
but it is estimated that 800, 900 head of stock
were stolen from the Territory during the
war. Schools have been established through
out the Territory, and general interest is
manifested by the Indians in the instruction
of their children.
A grand council of all the tribes has re-
Gently been held at Ocmulgee, at which
measures were taken for the establishment
of a general Territorial Indian Government,
subject to the several treaties of the United
States with the different tribes, and the com,
mittee entrusted with the matter made q
unanimous report In favor of such a gov
ernment. Commissioners Campbell, Far
well, and Lang, who were present at thit
council say that the discussions were con
Quoted with dignity and ability; after which
the report was adopted by vote of forty
eight to five, and a committee of twelve wa
appointed to draft a constitution. But tn
most interesting and important feature o
the proceedings was the disposition shown b
the Indians to invite the wild tribes of tn
Yantages of those who had preceded them il
civilization. The Commissioners say that tn
project of inducing these wild Indians t
come under the care of the civilized tribes
through the instrumentality of the latter, i
cooperation with the white people, 10 ok
already very encouraging; and they beliey
that its success will tend greatly to solve th
Indian problem and to put'an end to futur
Indian troubles on our extreme borders.
There is a very serious danger, however
which threatens the success of the schem
from which the commissioners antieipai
such cheering results. This is the greed an
injustice Of the white men, who seem TO thin
that the Indians have no rights that the white
are bound to respect From various source
we learn that in the region bordering on I'll
Indian Territory, and even far up ia IL
Northwestern States, it is the prevalent op
Mon among all classes that the Territol
should be thrown open TO settlers aud Il