New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-05
RAILROADS ~ INDIAN TERRITORY.

LETTT.R FROM 4 CIIEKOKKF INDIAN on TIE At
TEMPT or THE RAILROAD COMPANIES 70 SECURE
RIGHT or WAY BY EXTRAORDINARY MEANS
THE INDIANS DEMANDiNG THAT RAILROADS.
SHALL. RI MADE AMENAmK 10 COMMON LAW
BEFORE THEY ARE ApMrriuD TO ThK TEGEI-
TORY.
To me Edffor Or The Trtbune.
SIR: The Choctaw Council has just closed
it's year 1881 The hnsnes before It has
been wcighty and the phenomena that have character
Ted the proceedings been very interesting bear
ing upon Of the Nation The attention Of tho
Council principally occupied by railroad corpora
tons behalf Of their respective schemes The city Of
Fort Smith, Ark and the town Of Paris Texas desire to
De united in the bonds Of commercial wedlock 10y
OF a railroad running in sOuihwesterly direction
through the lands Of the Cboctaw Nation There
two companies coucndng for this route before
Councithe San Francisco, and the Chicago Texas and
Mexican Central. The former had made suit
first, and had well-ngh monopolized tho
chances when the latter came upon the ground.
The Central, however, though coming late. had
one material advantage it had taken the precauon to
procure the consent OF the Secretary tie Interior
granting permission visit the Choc;aws nogo
ate for the right OF way But the San Francsco seeing
the danger. put itself in communication with Washing
ton. and in a short time rallied 10 the contest also armed
with like permission. Then the two companies united
their forces in against the reluctant In
dams To the power OF these cOpOratiOns backea
they were by millions OF money, added the inilu
ence of many prominent persons from Chicago, St
Louis and points in Texas, including members Of the
United States Senate Indian agents and officials from
the Executive Department at Washington.
The majority of the Indians heart opposed
raroadDg their country any further at present
and insisted that the Government should
before turning any Of these corpora
lions loose upon them make few more necessary
laws 10 protect the people against oppression. The
reasonablenesa OF this demand will become apparent
when reflect that railroad corporation operating in
this Territory is not amenaDe 10 the laws of the land
There Ia court that take jUnsdicton OF Ifs
duct Whatever grievance II may unict upon Indian
either in his person his property there redress
than the City OF Washington where appeal must
be made To the Executive OF the United States Govern
This of justice is remote and expensive
that IL il practically beyond the reach OF the people
With this advantage the corporation constitutes itself
the Judge Of its liability and pays only such dam
ages It ct to upon itself There Ia
State in the Uni0n-nOne In the civilized word-that
could persuaded TO tolerate railroad these terms
This reflection should, in the minds OF the white nation
somewhat apologize for the Indians dread Of these civ
iliziug agencies. The Choctaws eoquently
told OF the vast demands Of oommerce that
their country lay exactly in its pathway and that If
there was not a way made for IT to pass
though 1t wonld inevitably flow their lands, carry
ing along with 1t engulfng destruction 10 their national
existence that they did not grant the right OF way
willingly, the Government would intcrpose in behalf
distressed and take by force To this latter
argument the United States Government was emphati-
cally committed by her own officials upon the ground.
The power brought TO bear upon these Indians TO
wiring from them consent that conficted with their
own Judgment and outraged their OF patriotism
was immense. The address OF cunning men, the nu-
capital by the millions. all backed and enforced
by the threatened dspeasure and interference OF the
United States Government made simultaneous assault
upon the discretion OF this Indian Council lobby
vastly ont OF proportion TO the Congress TO be welded
before Protested religion too, animated
the attack and Selling hold upon the confidence which
It had In course of years these Indians,
dd what 1t could TO lead them into the railroad market
instead Of Heaven One the busiest and pow
fu members OF this formidable lobby a Sabbath
school missionary who has his headquarters st. Louis
and labors in this Territory.
The Cboctaw Council was divided in opinion and this
was no little wonder. Some thought 1t better TO conc
ate these despoers by giving what they asked and by
thus appealing their mercy much that might be
taken away through wrath and vengeance in they
should be driven the of force Others said IL n
of they WILL In any event, take all they want
and the loss VIII be the to US whether they take
we give No any thanks by giving what
he could not withhold" Some were indignant In view
this threatened Injustice. and said III the Government