Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-28
Friday Morning, Jan. as. 1881.
THE UNITED STATES VS.. JUSTICE.

"~--%D NA-1AAS1ASN.
Friday Morning, Jan. 2S. 1881.
THE UNITED STATES VS.. JUSTICE.
The report of the Ponca Indian commits
| sion, which has been submitted to the Presi
| dent, fully sustains the position taken bJ
those who have been demanding justice fol
the deeply wronged tribe. The report points
out that the removal of the Poncas from the
reservation in Dakota and Nebraska, where
they were living by virtue of treaties with
the United States made in 1853 and 1867, was
not only unfortunate for the Indians, result.
ing in great hardships and serious loss of life
and property, but injudicious and without
sufficient cause that the lands from which
the Poncas had been. removed had beer
''ceded and relinquished' to them by the
United States for ample consideration speci
fed in the treaties; that the government sol
emnly covenanted not only to warrant and
defend their titles to these lands, but also to
protect their persons and property thereon;
that the Indians had violated no condition OF
the treaty by which their title to the lands OF
claim to protection had been forfeited, and
that this rightfuI claim still exists in full
force and effect, notwithstanding all the acts
done by the government of the United States ;
that up to within few months the Poncas
have manifested the strongest desire to re-
turn to their reservation in Dakota, and q
portion of the tribe has succeeded in getting
back; that despair of regaining their rights
and other considerations led to the
agreement to remain in the Indian Territory ;
that the Indians who have returned to the
reservation in Dakota have the strongest pos
sible attachment to their lands and resolute
purpose to maintain them; that they are
self-sustaining, are on friendly terms with
the other Indian tribes and the white settlers
of the vicinity, and pray that they may not
again be disturbed, and ask for teacher to
aid and instruct them in the art of industry
and for missionary to teach them the prin-
ciples of morality and religion.
In the settlement of the problem present
ed by this state of affairs the members of
the commission believe the government
should be controlled by principles that would
be applicable to any peaceable and law-abid-
ing people in the same circumstances and
that not merely the welfare of the Ponca In
dams, but the future influence and authority
of the government over other Indian tribes
(who are, it is stated, better informed than
is generally supposed concerning the circum-
stances of the Poncas) demand that there
should be ample and speedy redress of the
wrongs thus exhibiting conspicuous ex-
ample of the governments purpose to do
justice to ALL It is, therefore, recommended
that an allotment of 16O acres of land be
made to each man, woman and child of the
Ponca tribe, said lands to be selected by
the land now occupied by the Ponca Indians
in Indian Territory, within one year from
the passage of the act of Congress granting
such tracts of land that until the expiration
of this period free communication be per-
mitted between the two branches of the
tribe said land to be secured to them by
patent that title to the same be not subject
voluntary conveyance or by Judgment, Or
ders or decree of any court, or subject to
taxation of any character for thirty years
from the date of the patent, and until such
time thereafter as the President may remove
the restrictions that any conveyance made
by any of these Indians before the eIpira-
ton of the time above mentioned shall be
void, and it shall be the duty of the Attor-
ney General at the request of the Secretary
of the Interior, to- institute suit to set aside
such deed or conveyance that their titles to
their lands may be intact, and that they shall
be subject to laws, both civil and criminal,
including the laws of alienation and descent
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
upon the title to any lands which it is pro-
posed shall be allotted to members of the
Ponca tribe; that the government continue
it's appropriations the same as at present, not
less than $685. 900 per year during five years
from the passage of the act making allot-
ments as aforesaid, the same to be for the
benefit of the tribe pro rata; that an addi-
tional sum of $25, 900 be Immediately appro-
priated and expended in agricultural imple-
ments, stock and seed, So, 600 of which shall
be for the exclusive benefit of the Poncas in
Nebraska and Dakota, the remaining 100000
to be divided among the families of the whole
tribe, according to the number in each fam
lily in full satisfaction for all depredations
and losses of property sustained by these In
dams in consequence, of their removal; that
a further sum of not less than So, 900 be ap-
propriated for the construction of comfort
able dwellings, and not more than $4,000 for
the erection of school houses for the Poncas
in Nebraska and Dakota and that suitable
persons be employed by the government for
their instruction in religious educational and
industrial development, and to superintend,
care for and protect all their interests
The report is signed by all the commission
ers, who were Brigadier Generals George
Crook and Nelson A. Miles, William Stickney
of Washington D. c., and Walter Allen of
the Boston Ad0ertiser. All these gentlemen
are especially well qualified for the work
they have done Generals Crook and Miles
know something about Indians, having lived
among them and fought them. MIR. Stckney
and Mr. Allen also have much knowledge
concerning the matter with which they were
called upon to deal And not even the Inte-
rior department would venture to call these
men mere sentimentalists Their recon-
mendations are plainly just and should be
acted upon. 1t is disgraceful that such
commission was needed It will be still
more disgraceful if its labors prove fruitless.