The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-05-02
THE INDIAN TERRITORY CUES
TlON


The movement of settlers to the In
dian territory appears to be a scheme ac-
lively fostered by the Kansas City news
papers, the feeling there being that the
business of that city would be considera-
bly, increased by the proposed settlement
of the territory. Col. BOudinot, who as
sumes the responsibility of inviting i'm
migration without regard to the objec-
tions of the administration, has of course
no authority, and his course is doubtless
actuated by political ambition and finan-
cial schemes IN the way of townsites and
corner lots. If a great many thousand
settlers manage to get into the territory,
1t will be difficult task for the govern.
ment to turn them out, and yet Presi.
dent Hayes will have to do so, or confess
his inability to enforce his proclamation
If the matter becomes serious, congress
will no doubt take decisive action one
way or the other The Commonwealth
of Tuesday gives the following informa
ton on the subject:
THE NEW WAR.
1t is evident that there is to be trouble
on the southern border of Kansas and in
the Indian Territory, over the proposed
taking possession by the white settlers
of a portion of that territory. Thousands
of men are gathering at Independence
and along the border, preparatory to q
movement upon the IA ,0O0, 600 acres OF
so-called government lands. These lands
are in four separate bodies. The small
est tract is about seventy miles south OF
Independence, and in extent is $50, OOC
acres The next is some 5000 600 acres
about in the center of the Indian Tern
tory. In the center of this tract it is pro
posed to make the capital of the new ter
ritory. The third tract, of about 5000,
900 acres, lies across the Kansas line, ad
Joining Comanche and Clark Counties
The other and last tract, of 100000
acres, lies in the southern part of the ter
rItory. All of these tracts have been sur
veyed and sectionized, says Col. Boudi
| not, but the government says that IS no
so. Col. Boudinot, an educated and able
Indian, lawyer by profession and one
of the shrewdest men living, has writer
a letter giving the legal reasons for be
lieVlng that these lands are open to set
Element. He is the mouthpiece of thos'
who for years have been trying to ge
some legislation through congress to opei
the territory. He is at the head of tina
portion of the Indians who desire thu
country opened to white settlers.
The United States government, as oul
readers know by the Presidents procla
nation, does not acknowledge that tn,
lands belong to it. The President anC
those in authority claim that they belong
to the Indians. The attorney general ha
photographed the United States district at
torney of the district of Kansas to inves
tlgate the legal status of the question
and to report on the movement of white
into the disputed territory. What will
be the result? We can only judge ofth,
future from the past Heretofore, wheI
the whites have, in large bodies, gon'
upon Indian lands, when the govern
ment has claimed they had no right to
the settlers, after much trouble, have VOL
the day.
We do not speak of the right or wronl
of the matter-only state the facts. /
the crowd now gathering on our border
are determined in their purpose, deter
mined to oppose the action of the gov
eminent, there are not enough troops Il
its disposal to stop them.