The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-06

Total. 47,6S2 1881, 1855
In the Cherokee country there is a reservation OF
10000 acres on which the Osages are placed, num-
bering 1875; and in the Greek country there Is q
reservation OF 4S3 $40 aores assigned to less than
five hundred of the Sac and Fox tribe; one OF
$4,000 acres, assigned to the Potawatamies number
ing 1885, and one Of 900 acres, assigned to $500
Semnoles. The reservation assigned to the Arap-
ahoes and Cheyennes population $1,000 is west Of
the ninety-eighth degree, and embraces over four
million acres; and that assigned to the Kiowas,
Comanches and Apaches numbering 5,S72) is also
west Of the ninety-eighth degree, and embraces
over three and q half million acres. 1t will thus be
seen that region Of nearly forty million acres,
most OF which consists Of the
BEST AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE COUNTRY,
and which has very rich mineral deposits Of coal,
irOn copper and lead, is given up, not to the use,
but to the neglect and waste of some sixty-ive
thousand Indians, Of whom more than one-half are
in a state Of utter barbarism, while the remainder
are but little removed from that condition, and are
entirely incapable OF developing the natural re-
sources Of the country. The Cherokees, Creeks,
Choctaws and Chickasaws have had set up for each
Of them a form Of republican government,
with an elective executive, judiciary and
Legislature with two houses. Their reve-
nues consist of the annuities paid to them by
the government at Washington, in the shape OF
interest on trust funds, held for them. Not cent
Of tax is or could be collected from them, for
the support OF schools. So, when these Indian
nations, they call themselves fall into the hands
OF thieves, Illustrated in my last letter from this
quarter, and when their resources are thus dimin-
ished the schools are either closed up entirely or
school expenses can be betrayed The lands are
held in common, as was the custom OF the German
tribes in the days OF ancient Rome, and they are
very much opposed to any change In this law or
custom. A Choctaw locates his log cabin they
have not got any farther in the style OF their hab
itations) wherever he chooses, fences and plants
his cornfield, and then claims the use OF quarter
of mile OF land from any corner of his improve
ment or course, as he has no rgcf property in the
soil, he cannot convey it to any other person. and
consequently no one goes to any outlay OF expense
1t undoubtedly guards against the alienation OF the
SOIL Is inconsistent with the first step In the way
of advancement. And there has not been any such
step during the forty years that the Choctaws have
occupied this country. There Is not hamlet that
contains dozen hearthstones in the whole Choc
taw country, except perhaps, the place where this
letter is dated, and which contains just about that
number; but the inhabitants arc not Indians, but
white traders and mechanics, who have settled
here because it was convenient point on the high
road to Northern Texas. The opening ofthe great Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas Railroad, which runs some
eight miles east of this, will take from 1t very
Its only reason OF being, and then BoGgy Depot will
figure no more in the letters Of special correspond
ents.
RAILROAD INVASION
The mention OF the railroad leads me naturally to
L
that Is, what new dispensaton will be granted TO
the Indiansp 1t is evident to themselves that,
with their country traversed by two great trans.
course laws which were passed by Congress TO keep
whites out of the country must become dead let
ter. The few whites now settled in it have obtained
that right, either by permit from the United States
Indian Agent or by having married Indian women.
Bt such subterluges will not do for the altered con-
road cannot be constructed kept up and operated,
without giving employment to large bodies of la
hAra nv,ip atsxrAn aud AntnI
must reside where their employment is. stations
must be established, and towns and cities
%h at Rr0U OF VI lhs the s"e present Indian syste%
with its inalienabty OF real estate and its month";
tercourse laws, is absolutely inconsistent. One or
the other must give way, and ii will not be the
railroad system. II therefore follows that the
treaties by which this territory was assured exclu-
s!vely and in perpetuity to the Indians and
all the laws based upon that idea must be abro.
gated IL may be hat for the government, which
has pledged It's solemn faith to these people, TO nnd
Itself compelled TO violate that pledge. But even
GOVERNMENTS CANNOT STAND IN THE Way OF
PROGRESS.
The laws OF trade are more powerful than those
OF Congress, and even treaties must give way be-
fore them. And IL may be hard Tor the Indians,
WHO nave no respect Tor the laws OF trade ana VINO
look upon railroads as the sure extermnator OF
their race have either 10 leave their homes
or TO adapt themselves to an order OF things an
tagonstlc to all their ideas, habits and customs.
But the thing il inevitable. The only question IL,
what new policy Is to be adopted by which the
United States government will be free from the
crime of nndelity TO its treaty Obligations the IN
dians satisfied and benefited, and the obstacles TO
progress and civilization remoyedS The plan that
has bccn proposed In Congress to establish gen.
crl territorial government for all the Indian tribes,
to be designated the Territory Of oklahoma, will
not answer There are several grave objections to
it. The first ia that all these Indian national gov
ernments are the mercst shams and farces. The
great body of the Indians know nothing whatever
OF the first principles that go to make up good cit
zens The majority of the Indian council Is In total
ignorance, all the tune, OF the meaning and effect Of
the various matters of legislation on which II Is
called upon to act All propositions are submitted
In the English language, with which but few Of the
members Of the Legislature have any familiarity.
The consequences Is that both council and people
fall an easy prey to the superior
cunning and the Vaccinations OF few better in
formed among the half breeds, who by intercourse
with the whites and by occasional visits to Wash
ing,on, acquire the arts and make the opportunity
or enriching themselves at the expense Of the
tribe. MY preceding letter gave such examples OF
the extent TO which
THE ROBBERY OF THE INDIANS
Is carried on under the eyes OF their legislative
bodies and by the connivance OF their own chief
men, that have no need to dwell upon this 0bjec-
ton 70 local Indian governments. Another equally
fatal objection to combined territorial govern
ment Is. that the ChOCtaWs do not understand the