Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-01-24
OKLAHOMA.
The Bill New Before the House TO Ter
rItOriaiize the Indian Territory.

From the 81. Louis Tines
We elsewhere publish the speech Of
Hon. Frastus Wells, delivered in the
House on Thursday last, In which he
argues. with his accustomed clearness
and force, the adoption of certain amend
mepts that he had previously proposed
TO the bill for the Territorial organization
of Oklahoma. It being now pretty gen.
erallv admitted that the interests Of the
whole people demand such legislation as
shall open the Indian Territory to civil
lized settlement and commerce, dispos-
sessing il Of its present semi-barbaric
and Isolated political system, all
that remains 10 do is to so arrange
the details of the measure that
they shall bear most equitably
upon the property, rights and interests
of the present inhabitants, but il is
much TO be questioned if the great OBJ
iect in view can be sc efiectually accom-
plished under the bill as reported and
advocated by Mr.. Parker, of Missouri,
on the previous day, for a simple con-
sOlidatiOn Of the various tribes, compos-
ing the Indian country under the usual
form of q Territorial government, as uD-
der the amendments 10 which We al
luded. While the proposed legislation,
lercede2H the existing treaties, paving
the way, through a regular Territorial
organization. 20 final incorpora-
ton with the other States of the
Union. it should be so guarded at
every point as not 10 deprive
the 0ccupants of the Territory Of any of
the benefits of the title which they now
hold 10 the soil from the General Gov
eminent. Congress should proceed upon
the lust assumption that what these peo-
ole hold they hold 10y the solemnly
pledged faith of treaty stipulation, and
that in substituting a new tenure of pos
session their nghts must be scrupulOus-
ly looked after, that they be not made
the victims of spoliatiOn TO the amount
of a single dollar. The amendment in
troduced By Mr.. Wells bears directly
upon this point. 1t first provides that
the present tribal organizations shall
control the legislative body of the
new Territory through the direct use
Of the ballOt-box, untrammeled by
squatters from the States, in order to
convince them that the Government,
even If the letter of its treaties be bro
ken, is honest and sincere in its promise
Of a better civilization and more thor
ouRb self-gOVernment. II also provides /
for the security OF individual proprietor /
ship, by reserving TO each member Of
the tribes, male or female, adult or in |
fant, one hundred and sixty acres OF
land, granting 10 those whose improve |
ments already cover more than this 1
number of acres, priority Of purchase to |
the amount Of q section, at a minimum /
valuation; and preventing, for a |
term OF years, the alienation of
titles thus secured; all remaining /
lands 10 be put upon the market /
at prices ranging from one dollar and |
twenty-five cents 10 five dollars, and |
the proceeds to be set aside for the sole |
benefit Of the Indians for their educa-
tional and other advantages. Ii will be
seen that these amendments are de-
signed for the immediate and perma-
nent benefit Of these wards of the ma
Jion-having in view their gradual ele-
walton and increased prosperity-pro-
viding for them in fact future rank to
which, under present conditions, there
Is no probability of their ever attaining.
The measure in this form, indeed, is one
in the interest of humanity and pro-
gress; meeting the necessities of the
situation with a mild, paterDal and |
careful hand.