The Van Buren press., 1871-03-07
The Van Bures Press,
VAN BUREN,, AsKANsAs.
Indian Tsrritory-t Oklahoma.

business being demandsa, the morning
hour begins, at ten spinutes to one
o o'clock, and reports I'VE in order from
the Committee on Indisn Affairs. The
pending measure is the bill reported on
Thursday last from the committee, being
the bill (H. r. No. 299F to provide for
the consolidation Of the Indian tribes
and to organize a system of government
in the Indian territory, glon which the
gentleman from Miss Il lMry Van
Hornl is entitled to theS =. ee
Mr.. Van Horn. / yieiastwenty minutes
to the gentleman from Indiana, Mr.
Voorhees,. .t.t
Mr.. Voorhees, Mr.. Speaker, this is a
matter Of grave import, and for the few
minute. that | shall hold the floor de-
sire the attention OF those who feel inter
ested in Indian affairs Before discuss
ing the merits of the pending bill ! send
to the Clerks desk to be read the seventh
article Of the treaty with the Choctaws
and Chickasaws, the thirteenth article
of the treaty with the Cherokees, and
part of the tenth article ofthe treaty with
the Greeks and Seminoles.
The Clerk read rs follows:
"ARr. 7. The Choctaws and Chiekasaws
agree to such legislation as Congress sand the
President of the United States may deem nee
essary for the better administration of justice
and the protection of the rights of persons
and property within the Indian territory
Prorided. hoireuer, Such legislation shall not
in anywise interfere with orannul their pres
ent tribal organization or the!rras pecttre leg
isaturcs or judiciaries, or the rights, laws,
privileges, or customs of the ChoctaW ana
Chickasaw nations, respectively
ART. l3. The Cherokees also agree that a
court or courts may he established by the
United States in said territory, with such jul
risdiction and organized In such manner as
may be prescribed by law: Proridcd, That
the judicial tribunals OF thenaton sllallb al
lowed to retain exclusive Jurisdiction in all
civil and criminal cases arising within their
country in which members of the nation, by
nativity or adoption, shall be the only pai ties
orwhere the cause of aetionshall arise IN the
Cherokee nation. except as otherwise provid-
ed in this treaty.
AR. 10. The Creeks agree to such legisla-
ton as Congress and the President OF the
United States may deem necessary for the bet
ter administration of justice and the protec-
ton of the rights of persons and property
within the Indian territory: Pr0rtded, how
erer, That said legislation shall not in any
manner interfere with or anhul their present
tribal organization, rights, laws, privileges,
and customs" etc. ill 't'tSl
Mr.. Voorhees,, The bill before the
House proposes certain Legislation for
the Indians with whom these treaties
were made. IsCongress shall deem such
legislation necessary for the better nd
Of justice, and the protec-
ton Of the rights of persons and proper
ty within the Indian territory" there can
be no question of the power and duty Of
Congress to adopt such legislation, sub
ject only to the stipulation in the pro
vsos, that the tribal governments Of
these nations shall not be interfered with
This bill meets the requirements ofthese
proyisos. Each nation or tribe will con
tinue to have its own local government,
and within its own bounds bc ndepend
ent of and distinct from the others; they
will each bear the same relations to the
general territorial government organized
by this bill that the States of this Union
bear to the General Government OF the
United States. The absolute discretion
upon this subject, and all others affecting
these Indians, WITHIN the scope Of the
articles read, is confdcd to Congress by
the Indians themselves True, the wishes
Of the Indians should receive patient and
careful consideration; but whatever Con-
gress may" "deem necessary" to be done
toward "tho better administration of jus.
ticc within the Indian territory Congress
has the solemn consent Of all these In
dian nations to do.
The consent of the Indians, then, be-
ing expressly given to such legislation as
Congress may consider necessary respect
ing them and all other persons in their
critory, the questions properly arising
are:
l. Is the legislation proposed by this
bill such as is necessary for the better
of justice and the protec-
ton of rights of persons and property
within the Indian territory y
2 Is there any other legislation better
calculated to accomplish these objects
than the bill under consideration
What is the legislation now relied up
on for the administration Of Justice
in tho Indian territory? 1t is to be found
in the act Of Congress Of June 30, 1884,
entitled can act to regulate trade and
intercourse with the Indian tribes and to
preserve peace on the frontiers, with the
numcrous amendments thereto adopted
bv Con press from time TO time dawn to
ihe year 1852. The administration OF
ustice" under these acts Of Congress Is
unjust and unsuitable to the advanced
condition OF these Indians for reasons
hat I shall give
The United States district court for the
western district Of Arkansas, which holds
, term, on the second Monday in May
md November Of each year, at the town
of Van Burcn, in the State of Arkansas,
las exclusive original jurisdiction over
,ll this Indian territory under these acts
Of Congress. .., ~.
The grand juries which inquire into
offenses under these acts, and the ira
verse juries which try causes presented,
ire all selected from the State Of Arkan-
'as, the Indians having no representation
hereon.
The United States marshals, deputy
United States commissioners,
United States attorney, and oil other of
icers Of this court, which exercise dies.
ootic control under these acts of Con-
yress over the Indian territory, are Sc
Al -. a