The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-01-28

lnuIan 1eIIlLoIf ABOUT thelF removal
thither, report that their removal from
the Dakota and Nebraska reservations
was most unfortunate. causing loss of
life To the Indians, and was canseless
and injudieious. Tie United States
had coded these lands 70 the Indians,
and had agreed TO defend their title and
protect them. The Indians violated no
treaty and never forfeited their rights,
and still have a rightful claim to those
lands. Until a few months ago they
have strongly desired to return TO Da-
kota, and part of the tribe succeeded
in getting back; the remainder were
discouraged in getting back and re-
gaining their lands, and believing that
they could obtain a stronger title to the
land in Indian Territory, decided to
accept the best terms they could OBJ
tain. They had signed an agreement
to remain, and considered that sacred,
and a majority acquiesced in this. The
Indians who returned to Dakota are
DbiOhEJ olbetStACa biElt3 ia plOlOo0 W
retain their lands; they have been en-.
tirely self sustaining, are friendly with
the Indians and whites, are ambitious
Ia learn industry and TO educate them
selves in morality, religion and litera-
ture. The government should be actu-
ateJ, in settling these questions, by the
same principles that would apply to
any peaceable people in the same cir
cumstances. They therefore recon-
mend that an allotment of l60 acres Of
land be made to each man, woman and
child, of the Ponca tribe of Indians,
said lands to be selected by them ON
their old reservation in Dakota terrific
ry, and on lands now occupied by the
Ponca tribe of Indians in Indian Ter
ritory, within one year from the passage
of an act by congress granting such
tracts of land; that until the expira-
tiou of this period free communication
shall be permitted between the two
branches OF this tribe; said land to he
secured to them by patent, and the title
TO the same shall not be subject TO lien,
alienation or encumbrance, either by
voluntary conveyance or by judgment,
orders or DEGREES of any court, or sub
ject to taxation of any character, for a
period of thirty years from the date of
the patent, and until such time there
after as the president may remove the
restrictions; that any conveyance made
by any of these Indians before the ex-
plration of the time above mentioned,
shall be void, and it shall be the duty
of the attorney general, at the request
of the secretary Of the interior, to in
stitute Il suit to set aside such deed or
conveyance; their title to the lands to
be intact; that they shall be subject to
the laws, both civil and criminal, in
Guiding the laws of alienation and de-
scent, in force in the state or territory
where such lands are situated; that the
United States take immediate action to
extinguish all claims that would be an
incumbrance to the title of any lands
which it is proposed shall be allotted to
the members of the Ponca Indian tribe;
that the government continue its ap-
preparations the same as at present, not
less than $4,000 per year, during the
period of five years from the passage of
the act making allottments as aforesaid,
the same to be for the benefit of the
members of the tribe private; that an
additional sum of 1875, 900 be appropri-
ated and expended in agricultural i'm
PIGMENTS, stock and seed, 5000 of
which shall be for the exclusive benefit
of the Poncas in Nebraska and Dakota,
and the remaining $40, 900 to be divided
among the families of the whole tribe,
according to the number in each family,
to be in full satisfaction for depreda-
tions and losses of property sustained
by these Indians consequent upon their
removal; that u further sum, not less
than $4,000, be appropriated for the
construction Of comfortable dwellings,
and not more than $1,000 for the erec-
ton Of school houses for the Poncas
in Nebraska and Dakota, and That suit
able persons be employed by the govern
ment for their instruction in religious,
educationaland industrial development,
and to superintend, care for, and pro-
tect all their interests.
We respectfully suggest that the well
fare of these Indians require us to I'M
t. A.. -u-. --- LII