National Republican., 1880-02-24
The Indian Territory.

The Indian Committee of the Senate has
made report which proposes to open up the
Indian Territory to settlement, securing Ia
the original owners 1G0 acres of land each
The bill based upon this report has not yet
transpirrd with tho public, aud hence crnuot
be Judged of fully in advance; but It is con-
tended by the owners of that Territory that u
great wrong is proposed by IL to the logti
mate owners aud inhabitants OF that country
full equivalent having been paid for every
foot OF land embraced with in the boundaric.
of that Territory, and the natives hold deed
of pItent therefor. 1t is held by The natives
that the Government has pledged itself t.
guard these bounds aud protect the people
from interference from within or without by
treaties soemnly made and now in full force
These treaties, it is held, gu tramtec TO tn,
natives the right and free exercise of seli-gov.
ernmcnt, after the manner OF their own
choice, under tho foster care and pro.
lection of the United States, thus securing
to them all the privileges given and solcm.
nizcd. These people have pruspered as never
did Indians before in the history OF this coun'
try, aud are now living under wholesome and
well-rcguatcd governments, suited to theiI
conditions and wants. They are making SURF
AID rapid progress in all the arts and indus
tries Of the country-haying many churches
and u sufficient number of schools to accom-.
mOdate the children in every district aud
town throughout the Territory, aud II per-
mittcd to rem ain aud continue as at present
the people will surely solve their own destiny
satisfactory to mankind and creditablc to the
United States. These Indians insist that they
should not be continually haTassed and men
aced by bills introduced iuto Congress, threat
cning them with everything but u strict com.
pliauce with existing treaties, and proper
encouragement in the pursuit OF peace, pros
perity and happiness.
Nowhere in the multitude of bills intro
duced claiming II higher civilization for the
Indians-Ibolshin their tribal organizations
allotment of land, &c,-there is none discov.
cradle based upon the general principle OF
excluding white men and the apportionmcnt
Of the whole area Of land TO the rightful
owners.
The inquiry Is very natural, wig arc
these radical changes urged upon Congress and
forced upon tue Indian From whence
arises the necesiity2 Ii with intent to hene-
fit the Indian, the point Is not discernible to
that people, who heartily reject it-and for
that matter to any one else. Ii it is because
the Government is unable to protect these
Indians under provision Of treaty, what
better guarantee can they have under law
which divides their lands aud surrounds
them with the whites2 If they are not pro-
tected in one case. how could they be in the
other? If this Government cannot maintain
its treaty obligations through the supreme
law of the land, how can it any longer pro-
tect its own citizens in the Territories? This
Government should be honest with its solemn
treaties and not attempt TO deceive the Iu'
dian. Ii it Is 10 destroy tho homes. blast and
withcr the hope aud lay in ruin the bright
prospect dawning upon these people, the rem.
nant of once powerful and noble race, in
order to nuke room for u multitude OF
maraudcrs and outlaws who are wanted no.
where else in tho country and who seek, now,
even in the llce ofthe Presidents proclamation,
to cross the boundary and take possession with
plunderiug intent. aud thus come into posses.
sion of the Territory sacredy dedicated to
those people by treaty, it should be avowed.
These lands are rich aud valuable, aud afford
temptation to those who seek TO possess them
at tho expense OF the Indians though it in.
volve the touest deed of Injustice and adds the
darkest chapter to Indian and American
history,