New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-22
INDIAN TERRITORY TO BE LET ALONE.
A HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORTS AGAINST HE e.,
EHAL BILLS 10 EENoLuII0NlzE IhAi linn
TORY.



ICY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRiBChHl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-A majority OF inc
Uouse Committee on Territories, after laDorous anu
thorough investigation Of the subject has agreed 10
port against the several bills that have Teen relerleu "
the committee TO establish Territorial form OF govern
mcnt the Indian Territory ,
II appears from the report prepared by Mr. Neal OF
Ohio that while nearly onehaf the Indian TERRITORY
belongs TO the five civilized tribes. who constitute
about three-;ourths Of tho population, the re-
mairder ia owned and occupied under ulo
derived hy purchase from the Chelokees anu
other civilized tribes, by twenty eight o'her inu'"
tribes who ore generally not 30 Tar aiN"n''u
toward civilization the five first mentioned; some OF
them ike the Cheyenncs Kiowss and Others being stI'
in a state OF barbarian. None Of these Indians shaie
the be nefs OF the bill iutroducedh 10y Mr. Patterson III
the Senate last week. In view Of the objections urged
against the measure the committee proceeds To cohsdc
AT length the follow ing points:
Erst-The binding ioYco Of treaties and the power
Of Congress to change or 10 abrogdtc them
Second-The circumstances under which, II congress
have any such power. It is proper 70 exercise IT,
Third-Thc suGicency Of cause FOR abrogauhs or an
nuins any Of the treaties with the tribes IN the Indian
Territory.
Io,oA-The extent to which the proposed measure
would violate such treaties.
Fjnh-The extent to winch such measures are expodi-
cnt or jnsablc Oh any principle OF good government
sound policy.
one OF the most interesting portions Of the report is
long historical review OF the results which hayefoo"ed
tie attempts made at different times with different
tribes 70 transform Indians into citizens OF the United
States with individual holdings of real estate ana the
right of suffrage This experiment has frequently been
tried, and, as the committee shows, the result
has been uniformly disastrous 10 the Indians
The treaties made with the Indians in Kansas
obout the year 1860 contain a clause expressing
I'LL don tl,aFf afiY al Ufn H.
them by enhancing the ysluo of their lands and one
tfbc the Pottawatomics, add by carry ing their sur
,us uroducts 10 market" This benevolent provision
worked badly however. and according to the report,
"most Of the Indians who priced railroads so hlIhiy
cot ont ~ Their way Gs soon they could
recHre homes elsewhere" Moro than tmee-'onrlhs
Of the newly dyed Pottawatomic ciuzens Of Kansas
Iisrated 10 the Indian Territory, where they stu re-
main more than 100 miles from railroad; and the
Others who are sin ~ Kansas are described III the re-
port II the Indian Oncc for 1877 as "choiishipf
p-ciudlccs against civilized custom ana living in bark
cabins with open space IN the toy Tor Tie smoke 10
escape, aud really unfit for occupancy
Such Of the Wyeudoties or kaus9s as chose were
made citizens by the treaty Of lsjj Their lands were
10 be divided III sevcray Those who were able to take
care Of themselves 10 receive titles To thrl lands
in feesimle Ia other lands were 10 remain in
alcnalle five years. The result Of this experiment. the
committee -ays, was "a signal failure and
tbe r,rort continues: Ia February. 1867.
q treaty was made, which, after stating that some OF
tho Wynndotrs hayng sold their lands, stll poor,
and that others have become citizens who were not
nttcd for the responsibility OF citizenship. proceeds TO
provide II home for them, 10 be he'd In common.
According Il prevailing opinions and theories,
,bis WAS a step bacLwaId. and ought Ia
have had IN injurious effect Practically il
worked precisely the other way. The annual reports
from al 1877 show steady and continuous i'm
movement IN Their condition resulting from restoration
Of the tribal relation aud tenure IN common"
Numerous other instances %, Ike character are re-
lated. aud comparative statistics are presented
which show that the Improvement ~ numbers, intc
gcuce wealth and other RESPECTS has been more rapid
with those Indians WHO have adhered 10 their tribal
Iat,ons and tenure 81 land n than with those
wao have become citizens and ei'ci individual utcs
10 hand.
TIE couclus'ons Of the committee arc as follows:
Ti-,t-That IN" biii COkahomaJ under consideration
conflicts with easing treaty silpunilOnS
,,oad-Ghat while tie right 10 dcci last
tlat a treaty II no longer binding J. undoubtedly
ln.ciins the and dignity Of the Nation. requiring
Tor ia Justification reasons wLcn commend themselves
larry where III" parties 10 tnc COMPACT W the Cued
Siaics a.c weak aud wcres ANA depend solely the
/ .uld faith ~ the Government
Eird-Ihnt no .rc. REASONS eyi,, for violating tho
treaty supuatuns whl"h reserve the Indian Territory
r.i,.Vt, for Indians. and who sccIrc To The tbcf0-
krcs CEchaSaWs thoctaws. creeks and Seminole, the
gG; Of sel 'nmrni. under the restrictions OF the
Io,rM That even if there were no opposing treaty
stipuatous, no objections ic.ng on good ilith, II
would be unwIsr ana iwuolc - throw the Indian Ter
rtury open To white setd without he consent OF the
| Indian owners.
! Iijih-That while official rccommcDdaiioDs-somc Of
them entitled t. tho HIGHEST l,~pcrj-arr strongly In
f\nl OF making Indian, tt/cns of thc United States.
ana transferring thcr lard titles rom the National
tenure IN common 10 the individual tcnr" IA -cyeraiiy
! rNurricucc has shown that iu Oh" great majority OF
casrs sdch measur stead Of bcnclttne have pi0N cd
| uiu.inus tu tho Indian.
Hi.iI-TLaj experience fally demonstrates that the
holding OF their Lands common bN TIE Indian tribe.
is an cnrcual safeguard ag5iuSi the worst effects 81
lad in impoviucEce Apalt ron any cOnSid'rations
/ nr iu.tl,r or humanity. n would be uuWi.e and
/ Understandable adopt measures which
as DESTROYING that sdlthuaid would he
cruatrd reduce the great mass OF them. ia
ton To their raIuest protests, to state OF hopeless
/ Ueuury and degradation.
me report II Kurd 10y Mc-srs NcAl. Riddle Mnl-
droW Alnch Reed, BaLley aud James l. Jones OF the
! committee.