New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-14
A WRONG TO THE INDIANS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1o.-Ine yearly dtIeh'p''
to dismember the civilized Indian tribes OF the Indian
Territory have renewed IN the present Congress Dy
the introduction In the House of bill TO authorize the
election OF delegate TO Congress from that Territory
and two bills 70 organize full territorial government
and the Senate by bill for each OF the above puf
poses. The House bill for tbe election OF delegate mas
been referred the Committee on Indian Affairs, ana u
is understood will be vorably reported at an early day
Briefly stated its provisions That go general cleo
ton shall be held IN tho Cherokee, Creek, Seminole.
Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations " that no one but a
member OF said Nations either by blood, marriage or
adoption shall he eligible for the office ofsad delegate "
aud that "a male residents OF said Nations for one year
previous said election, shall be competent 10
vote at such election" The Senate Dill II
ubstantsily the same but defines more clearly thc
qualities cations of voters. thus: All male persons over
the age OF genyone years who have resided In either
OF said Nations previous to the holding or aio
election and all male members Of said said Naons ny
BIRTH marriage adoption of the age or tweny-one
years, disqualified by existing laws Of any OF sad
Natocs of State of tho United States shall De
entitled to vote at said election"
The anomalous political condition OF tue lndian Terri
tory is assigned by the advocate OF these measures as
reason for their advocacy OF Them II does not seem TO
occur 80 them that there would lie anything anomalous
in seating in the Congress OF the United States dele
gate who might not be q citizen of the United Stato5,
and majority Of whose constituents are not and do not
The plan OF having an Indian representation IN Con-
gross is not new Tho very Grst treaty ever made
with The Indians century chat Win The Delaware,
concluded september IL, 1873 contains Size following
clause still In force:
Anditis further sgreed on between tie contracting
PARTIES should Il FOR the future be found conducive for
the mutual Of born parties "a invite ony other
tsibes who have friends ~ the interests OF i
torn state WHEREOF te Delaware Nation shall be the
head sal representation IN Congress, provided
nota contained in this article - DO oOnSIdcftd ~ con-
elusive until 1t with the appreciation o. Congress
The motive Of dis provision at that timo, when the
feobo colonies struggling against the power OF
Great Britain. which had succeeded in arrayinG against
them noary all the Inien tribes, is apparent enough
Afo- peace was declared It ceased exist Seven years
ator in 1888, tbs HIST treaty made with tas Cicero
KEGS and desire couoiate them and secure their
confidence inspired the iooSin1 article az OF that
treaty.
That the Indians rns have full confidence in the jus
tee II the United s'e,es respecting their ntses tly
shall have tue Tgbt "a cald deputy OF then choice
Whenever tAey tHln- III, 10 Congress.
The same privilege WAS renewed IN the r0aty Of $50
u caEuot b. claimed That either 81 these PROVISION,
contemplated that tie deputy or delegate should De- any
thing more than tribal rapresen atyc or That Others
shan members VI the ciJeS should We entitled to vote on
his election. IN the several treaties made with the
CLcrokces and others In 1855, general council Of all
the triuos IN to Indian Territory who 1ssentcd to IT, 81
meet anA, ~, provided for, and sessions OF this
council were regularly held until Congress ceased to a-
proprale money :or tina, purpose several years ago. IN
the tlcaty Of 1860 with the ChO:aT5 and ChcEaS'ws
land not IN those withauy ocrtri5es IN the Indian Terri
tory) provision inserted that this general council
might wlcn Congress lad authorized Il. "eicet from
among the nations sentod in said council" dele
ate to C1nxgess In the treaties With the Cherukees,
Creeks aud Senn0e', provision IS made FOR ts general
council but TIE powers granted 10 Ii are distinctly
specified ana enumerated, and tie power to eject q
cesate t. CJnrcs, Is not among them. II every treaty
uaGo with these tribes IL the last fity years choir
aut 1uYny las been guaranteed IN tins moss so.enIn
t,rns and tese treaties all in force today, a. far
as tho provision j. concerned. whether ~ u synod OF
not the effect OF either OF these bills II it should become
"a las, would De 70 break our treaty Obligations.
n. bills to organize territorial government mr. still
more Objectionable in sorm though the same in eltc
similar balls have been before Con4rs 20 every session
for inc lat five or SIX y.r. uut nave been uniformly
reported uulavorably by tho com .-es to which they
vtr, referred AMID the confusion attending tine clos
iu days Of tie last Congress, however the Inci"h Coll
mitce Of tie House mgc unanimous report, conciud-
ins a. follows We therefore r9coiumend taat some
suitable measure. which at this Time o. the SEES
sion cannot br perfected. bs ear.y brought Tor
ward IN the comiu- Congress for the organization
of the Indian Territory" TA- iegot - nov printed TO
arcnnranya bill introduced by Mr. Cravrns Of Arkan
s.- This rcpor; cJol} 4ad completely Ignores every
treaty stipulation have made with these tribes
and proposes IN "staud ana deliver style, that th"
l':rsd state, shall take possession u to property Of
tic Indians aud a.n.nistrr Il according 70 certain
,h,orle5 Of political economy winch do not prevail among
t!.cm.
Il IS No.. ur'ar to present seraate sentences from
this re,.rka. document Tor 1t nothing il dog
maize. For example:
Tho Iuaisn, are not likely 20 make my progress In
civilization through taer unAidfd eipr'a. y" 1'a-c
ever q, 1el himself No part i.lly clNLad lcop'o over
rose 20 . sate without hstP from AiEi'i SthLc
alw;~ became worse inetoad Of b"t. uiie,s tte}
can he he'd u tLeir EQod's, ~ o1ner HA De!tir as
ri.S ti tlcr lwu IBfoJf Of tue lower Ntt:S tst 10
O., lih. The historical fact Las AWAY oeon MAI tic
higher La, sdd - deceAd uVon tAe !o"Cr anu Lfestis
o II it. own spirit before tncro could nc any progress
to better state.
All this sounds as well az proyerbai philosophy
Equally does brt It s not quite true. Evidently fac
conmitte did believe that htle leayan eaNcnoth
the whole lump" for the report continues, speaking o.
tine Crooks, Cuorokee5 and others:
Al their progress Therefore has been through iuceu
through churches and sohoo'i lave prepared W" -u
and planted the seed OF Whatever Distinguishes tbon
frou Ghcir former savage state But FOR y2rlouS
rrs ines, aseEcee 30 not 10 be ROW increasing,
neither 90 The ludaps of tc Territory seem to be YAK
ug far al last rs their general coAdi'ioh IS con-
'G s.ea@ oi H.. ttr6See. tie report continues ~
frf nearly ONE AZ OF tie children growing ny In
ignorance" Here Is definite ILoush anonymous STATE
mott che lalsiv Of which j. ras!Iy shown IAo follow
n scs official asarcs respecting education in The Cicero
koc Nation for The year IS compiled from Tic fepot-
~ the suprr.l,DGient Of schoO.s:
.r,,,I .e,,,,i roIulsdou between aadl2.. 4OlI
mi ut,ipp. pluil, Ilo,iad In public srAools 2,9OO
-. ,..,.t ~ .rrcl,neut ............... 80
D,.,,.ti.,, ~ s.bnn' In dave ............... 2Oo
l.,.i,.r - -aachrrs ............ N3
80 monthly v..., ,i t4aen.rs ....... $40 81
!Ncud.turrs :ur education, 1-70.---.---.---. Il,LLV
Vne ~ .rho, alter Duifinrs etc .......... 10000
Expenditure pei capita on school poput.non. =. -
Expenditures p.r capita on luYht eAiotu--.- DO 30
comparison tweoa these isurcs AMI those respect
m me sale clas OF fats IN the adjoining States 0i Az
kansas Kansas Missouri aad rcHss, compiled from OIL
ella, source will he pe.noE and interesting Tho re-
morris for tive ,aue year, 1876 nave been consulted Tue
farts are as follows:
-.b,ol uoDigt!ou: Arkansas, hetwecu the ages q
. u I'D ~: MI.