The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-02-22

better known - the Indian Territory
under . territorial government ut the
present session of Congress arc SLIM
Still it may be done. A part of the In
dian tribes occupying the Territory arr
anxious for this opening, while Others
Arc equally opposed to it. And members
the same tribe take the opposite sides
FPr instance, Col. VIM. Ross, chicf Of
tie Cher okees, is laboring strenuously
asainst organization, but Col. Budinot
3nothcr member of tho Cherokees, il
Aiding the movement with his whole
strength. Col. Budinot lately appeared
before tho committee ut Washington
having under advisement the bill for or
ganizing and opening the territory to
white settlement and argued in its favor
on the ground that the Indians to be-
come in reality civilized, to become
thoroughly initiated into the arts and
sciences, must associate with and dwell
among people who teach these.
The Indian Territory is OF suficien,
size to form five ordinary States, being
over two hundred miles long by owe,
two hundred and fifty in width. Its ca
liabilities are unsurpassed. 1t contain.
an abundance Of timber and water cour
SEES, and it richness of soil and extent o.
lands suitable for farming, arc the best
The writer hereof was with Col. w. F.
Cloud, who, in the tall of 1868, visited
Talequah, tho Capital Of the Nation, and
brought out Chief Ross, since dead
and the archives Of the Nation, just in
time to save them from falling into tn.
hands Of the rebels. The Cherokeel
We saw were very high order Of Indi
ans, perhaps the best cultivated Indians
holding tribal relations. They had two
very fine college brick buildings and on
our way down We saw several large
farms. These Indians have their differ
ent grades Of society-their aristocrats
and their GLOW trash," and among them
are many persons of affiuencc. The
batter civilized Indians would likely re-.
main in the Territory after its opening
and the wilder tribes go to some rcscr
walton set apart for them.
The Territory must sooner or late,
be opened. Encroach,ng civilization
demand it and will force it. 1t is reliably
stated that there arc ut this time up.
wards of three hundred families living
within the Territory and that there are
single individuals who cultivate from
year to year more than one thousand
bushels OF corn and other grains. 1t has
been sought to GUST them, and orders
issued to that effect by the Department
at Washington, but they have stood true
and would not be removed. 1t is only
procrastination to longer delay this ques.
ton. There should be no dallying, but
tho Territory should be thrown open
without delay.
Some seem to think that opening the
Territory will detract from Kansas. We
do not believe this. 1t may be momen-
tary, but it will ultimately result in our
benefit. 1t may affect the settlement OF
Kansas for short period, but we do not
believe that in three years after the
opening Kansas will have lost anything
tor want of her usual influx of capital.
There are two railroads now waiting at
the south line Of the State, which can
not proceed until the Territory is either
opened or the right of way granted.
The last is not likely to be realized.
Then, to complete these great arteries
of wealth of our State We should urge
the opening of the Territory.
II ia Announced that Mira Iohnsou h.