The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-26
THE TERRITORY OF OKLAHOMA.

The Committee on Territories has now I'M
der consideration bill TO provide for the or
ganization into territorial government Of
what is known as the Indian Territory The
land was originally coded to the Indians In
consideration of their removal from the
States, and Is occupied in part by the five
civilized tribes, the Cherokees, Chckasaws.
Choctaws. Greeks and Sominoes. The total
number Of inhabitants Of the Territory, aB
shown by the census Of 1870, is G8 las, divided
as follows Indians, 50, 3G7, whites 2l0O.
blacks, G373. The whites are forbidden under
the terms OF the government grants to the
Indians 70 enter the Territory without express
permission Of the tribes The white men
now among them are there by invitation and
nearly all have been adopted into the Indian
nations. The blacks We're formerly slaves.
They. too, have been adopted, for tho most
part.
The Territory h sparsey inhabited, there
bong not more than one inhabitant To the
square mile. II contains the richest land on
this continent now unOccupied by the white
man. and has long been an object of desire
for tho adventurous spirits crowding upon
the frontier from Arkansas Kansas and
Texas. Besides, certain railroad operators
have long had their eyes upon the Territory
and have already secured valuable land
grants from Congress, conditioned upon the
consent Of the Indians to u territorial form
Of government
| A congressional committee recent y visited
the Indian nations for the purpose Of secur-
| ing their views with regard 10 the proposed
| change. Although the committee was clear
ly committed to this change as its proceed
ings very eonclusively establishes, and al
though its investigation Of tire subject has
been charged to have been one-sided and
partial, yet the evidence was SO clear that the
chairman of the committee, Senator Patter
son, reluctantly admitted that a vast MAORI
| ty Of the Indians were opposed TO any change.
He also admitted that they were happy and
prosperous under the present system. Not
withstanding these facts, the committee
favors the establishment of the new Territory.
The bill now before tho Committee on Ter
ritories provides for the organization of
Territory similar TO the other Territories. 1t
n proposed 10 secure the rights of the Indians
by guaranteeing to each member Of family
| 1850 acres OF land. This, II is claimed, would
| place each Indian household in the possession
of fine farm. divided among the tribes about
as follows To the average Cherokee family,
| 100 acres: Chickasaw. 1920 acres; Chloe
tav. 1900: Creek. 900; Seminole, 800
| The homceteads are to be decided In fee
simple, on the condition that the title shall
not be disposed of within twenty years from
| Its date. The fund now held In Washington
a. IA IF fTib ID m ha "A vii nI
among the individual members. that all may
have some capital with which to start in the
changed conditions of life. It is also provided
that the Indians shall become citizens of the
United States, under certain stipulated condi
tions, that they may have q proper influence
In the local government.
There Is one grave objection to this bill.
| The Indians do not desire n change In their
form of government, and have so expressed
themselves. They hold their lands under
treaties with the United States, by which the
government secured great advantages. Every
that THIS time has not vet come. And II 10
also plain that the seeming fairness Of the
Oklahoma bill Is sham. The Indians receive
from IL much less than they already own and
which cannot he taken from them without
gross Injustice and the violation Or solemn
treaty obligations. II the bill should become
law the Indians would not only be cheated
out OF the bulk of their lands by railroad and
oCher land grabbers, but in few years means
- "ou'u ~ iouna 70 sou aside the provisions Of
NE blll and they would be swindled out of tho
100 'laI Iehalhed 70 Them under It's opera
oh'e9S I'LL the signs fail the greatest |
- '0'u, elle present Congress Is this Okla |
hona Territory bill. Certainly there is no
more unjust measure pending before the body |