The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-01
INDIAN TERRITORY.
A Proposition TO firing ID into the Union.
The Indians Anxious for n Territorial
Form, Of Government

~
The Indian Territory is occupied by
about 75, 900 souls. who are members oil
| thirty-three Indian tribes. The princi
| pal of these tribes are the Cherokees
! Uhootaws, Greeks, Chickasaws and Sem.
| inoles. They are known rs the five
civilized tribes" and number in the ag-
gregate about $4,000 souls, with the ex-
ception Of about 1900 or 1000 civilized
Indians belonging to remnants OF
tribes, such as the Senecas, Wyan-
dottes, Peorias aud Modocs-for that
gallant little tribe is as civilized rs any
of them. The residue OF the $4,000 are
wild or "blanket Indians"
The following are the various tribes
Cherokees. $4,000; Choctaws, 1880
Greeks. $500; Chickasaws, 5000; Semi
noles, 5000. Total. $4,000.
The negroes living with the Choetaw
and Chickasaw nations were mads free
by the treaties OF 1866, but these treaties
did not stipulate that the negroes should
become members OF the tribe, so that
United States, who are legally residents
of the Indian Territory; that Is, they
cannot vote, cannot sue, cannot sit
upon q jury, and have no interests In
the schools aud courts of the country
In which they were born and bred.
The following is the white and black
population Of the Indian Nation:
Cherokee white citizens, 1900; Chero-
kee negro citizens, 5000; whites and me-
groes living under "permits" as laborers
and tradesmep, $500; Creek white citi-
zens, $500; Creek negro citizens, $500 !;
living under permits, 1000; Seminole
white citizens, 800; Seminole negro citi-
zens, 1900; whites living under permits,
tntu yuhffn nifiynna 1Enl :
whites and negroes living under per-
mits, 5000; Chickasaw white citizens,
1000; whites and negroes living under
permits, $500; employees of railroads,
1,Oe0 Total number Of white and black
citizens legally residing in the Indian
Territory. 36, 200; total number OF In
dians, 10000. Majority OF the Indians,
1900.
OF these Indians, $1,000 are of mixed
blood, all OF whom can speak English,
aud about 1900 full-blooded Indians
who understand English, consequently
$500 persons understand English to
$4,000 who do not, much better repre-
sentation than New Mexico makes.
Besides these, there are 10000 wild
Indians. The Osages, Cheyennes,
Arapahoes, Kiowas aud Pawnees are
the largest. The Osages have made
some little progress in the cultivation
Of the soil, but as q general thing they
still rejoice in red paint and blankets.
Nine tenths or the personal property
in the five tribes is owned by citizens Of
the United States and mixed bloods,
who talk and read the English language |;
this is exclusive Of the property owned
by the railroads and their employees;
there are about 800 miles OF railroad In
the Territory, covering about $40, 900, 900
worth Of property.
The Franklin BILL" to organize the
Indian Territory into the Territory of
Oklahoma was reported favorably from
the Committee on Territories q year ago,
and made the special order for the 18th
of December last. 1t was crowded from
It's place, however, by appropriation
bills, and the Presidential count took
up 80 much time that 1t was impossible
to get it to vote. The report on this
bill was not unanimous; minority of
the committee submitted a report oppos-
ing the Franklin bill and offering SUBJ
stitute for 1t. Although the committee
did not agree as to the details Of Mr.
Franklin's bill, they were unanimous
upon the question Of the organization
Of some form Of government for the In
dian Territory.
The matter will be brought up at the
next session OF Congress and pressed
1ealously.