New-York tribune., 1880-02-19
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
SEVERAL MORE OF THE PONCAs TO BE srMMoNED AS
wITNEssEs-sEVERAL IMPORTANT TOPICS RE
FORE SENATE CoMMI1TEE-A PROTEST FROM
INDIAN TERRITORY.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPArcm.I

WITNESSES-SEVERAL IMPORTANT TOPICS hfs
FORE SENATE CoMMI1TEE-A PROTEST FROM
INDIAN TERRITORY.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Tbe Senate special
committee investigating the Ponca question held pr-
vate session to-day The testimony heretofore taken
was partly reviewed. 1t agreed TO summon several
additional witnesses, including the PoDca chief Nhte
Eagle and other members OF the tribe now In the
Indian Territory The investigation will probably be
resumed next week.
The Senate Committee Indian Affairs agreed today
10 devote its next meeting aud more may bo
necessary to the consideration OF the proposed transfer
OF Tie control Of Indian affairs from the Interior TO ihe
War Department and the collateral questions raised by
the pending bills which provide for the allotment OF
Indian lands severaly and for the extension OF gen
eral laws IN regard TO the citizenship criminal offences,
etc. over all the Indians.
memorial has been presented IN the Senate signed
by William z. Adar, p F. PitchynD, and Others repre-
senung tue civilized tribes Of Indians IN the Indian
Territory protesting against the passage Of any law
providing Tor the organization OF United states Terri
toria Government over tie thirtytouF Indian nations
and tIlbcs OF the Indian country.
The mem0iqiss refer to sevcra! bills now pending
before Congress proposing TO cs abs Tc rioiim Gov
e1nment and they characterzs ne proposed legislation
as violation OF the National faith and ruhc policy as
set forth in the Act Of 1880 They quote from tha, act
as follows:
That in the making Of any such exchange or ex-
changes shalt ana may Le lawful for tho Ircsle
exchange Is made that the Uutcd States VII forever
secure and guarantee 10 them ana Their heirs ana uc.
cpssors the country exchanged with them, and II
lev prefer IT, tbc United states VII cause pselt OF
grant 10 made aud executed - them Tor ttc zane
prOvided mat such lands shall revert 10 tac Uaited
States II the Indians become extinct or abandon the
! same
They assert that upon this Act o; $50 the nations and
tribes OF their country have negotiated series of
treaties which are remarkable for their clear and
| posltiye promises for the protection Of these
nations in their right OF soil and scf-govefnmont.
The neuoIiass sly they do not Object 10 the cstaO-
shmcnt OF a United States Court in tIeir country as
snci prnpOsiiO because tins Is provided Tor by the
treaties Of sec bat they object 10 concerning civil Jnrs
dcton upon the Court to be established. In this
tion the mrmoralsts urge that railroad corporations
claiming grants Of their lands may demand that civil as
well as cri.nnal jurisdiction be conferred upon this
Court 10 enable them TO Institute suits for perfect
ing their so.caled grants. TO any such demand they
| object most emphI.cav, maintaining that such ju-
| r,sdic;ion is not warranted by the treaties.
and that Il s moreover without precedent In defining
fine jurisdiction Of the United states Courts over Iudan
nations and tribes exercising the right Of segovern-
| ment as they do.
tbrr ncOpe citizens OF The United states. thew charac-
tcrze nothing less N propositions to change our
which If successful viii set ASIDE onr treaies and Ike
| a regularly organized Territorial Government, would
omen country to AN Overwhelming wnle emigration
| that would destroy our people"
On the subject Of railroad land grants thc memorial
lists urge Congress take stops To set aside the
conditional grants to their lands claimed by certain rail
roads under certain acts OF Congress- but maintain that
10 do this is only necessary for Congress to pass
amendments setting aside or repeating the grants CON
| lorred by those laws. Such amendments, they say,
| would protect and not disturb our present land
tenure which being III common. we have no paupers A
home is free Tor ALL and our people beng chiefly stock
| raising our whole country Is a common Tor
| fhe pasturagc OF all. As we are now situated, no
Individual can sell himself out OF home las the DeOpe
NJ tho states often dO) because no Individual dis
nose OF onr lands all being joint owners nor Tor the
| mn irnnT
OF their lands by cunning capitalists as they would be
| If they had them allotted"
! On this point they conclude that when the proper
time comes for an allotment Of their lands, they Will
| ask for H. as their treaties provide they may.