The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-04-05
SETTLERS PETITION.

To The Honorable the Senate and
q House Of Representatives Of the
Z United States. 8las
Your petitioners. citizens of the
United States settled upon Indian
lands south of the south boundary
line of the State of Kansas, and
west of the Goth Meridian, respect
fully represent unto your nonora-
BILE Bodies:
That large number of the. set
tiers upon these lands made settle
ment upon the same during the year
1869; that at the time of making
such settlements tue settlers were
ignorant of the fact that they were
upon Indian Lands; that from in
| formation Derived from leading
men of both the Usage and Chero-
kee Tribes of Indians, these settlers
were led into the belief that they
4 were upon lands included within
the boundary lines of Kansas; that
eince the year 1869 settlers have
| continued to make homes upon
these lands, and that at the present
time there are not less than three
| thousand families settled upon In
dian Lands west of said Goth Me-
ridian and north of the Arkansas
river. =i @ .a
Your petitioners further repre-
sent that they have made many per-
manent aud valuable improvements
upon said Indian Lands. That they
have had large quantities of the
same in cultivation and under fence,
and now have crops growing and
fruit trees planted, and that they
have expended all their money in
cnItivating and improving these
lahds and building homes thereon.
Your Petitioners further repre-
sent that the Indians never have had
any settlement west of the 96th Me-
ridian and north of the Arkansas
. river save and except those made by
perhaps % or 80 families of hall
breeds of the Ossges. That your
petitioners have not in any instances
knowingly infringed upon the rights
of the Indians and that they do moi
wish to interfere with the Indian
policy pursued by the Government
of tho United States, that should
they he removed from these lands,
: this large tract of country which
} has cost them so much time, energy,
and money in improving, must fall
back to its original uncultivaied
3 state. Your petitioners further rep
D resent that the settlers upon these
lands could not remove from the
: same without reducing themselves
to extreme want aud abiect poverty
and becoming dependent upon the
, | generosity of settlers in the State OF
=. Kansas for means of subsistence
- that the enforcement of an order fol
the removal of these settlers, will
render homeless at least IL, 600 souls
;. who must become beggars in 9
, country whose supplies of food dc
: not now equal the demands; thai
{ the suffering incident to the late
9 Chicago cOnflagration, and to the
Il sweeping, ruthless pririe fires of the
- northwest, must have been small
compared with that which must fol-
low the striking of the cruel blow
: which is now aimed at the Innocent
e heads of your petitioners.
Il Your petitioners therefore most
humbly pray and beseech your hon
:, orable bodies to take such action az
will save the settlers upon these
Q lands the homes already so dearly
bought, shield their wives and little
ones from the want and starvation
which seem SO imminent, aud in
spire all with q new faith that the
- government to which they owe allie.
glance is willing and ready to draw
: around them its stroRg arm of pro-
lection. SAMUEL DYER,
v " SAMUEL. poNELsoN,
- JOHN BUCKMAsTER.
Committee on behalf of the set.
tiers. ~ f II EFs.. ss.- So. ~