Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-12-15

EDIToR Indian CHIEETAIK-As vol
have an outspoken peoples paper
send sou few lines upon mattfrl
west of 95.
On my return here met many friends
among which was my warm friend
Bat Carr. the most successful city mar
shal Caldwell ever had, and he says he
was delighted with our yimta Fair and
hand ONE Cherokee ladies'.
The spirit Of invading Oklahoma is
on the boom, and they threaten TO
march about the middle Of February
in strength, and hold by force, if rope
and tree can be furnished the leaders
the cause will end.
After looking over our delegates re-
port to council and seeing 80 much
bosh from the U. s. Indian Depart
ment, feel it my duty to defend Cher
okee Rights. We have 6,500,000 acres
of beautiful rich land unsold west of
96, and We ought to control it like men,
and quit begging thieving officials who
always act in favor of those who pay
the most for their influence, it is ours
until sold aud title conveyed. They
claim a right to control by clause of
the treaty Of '66, which says the gov
ernment may locate friendly Indians,
ETC., which clause conveys no title and
is abrogaied b. provision to remove
no more In 'ians from their homes, etc.
Doing and falling to do are different
things. Then they claim set price of
fifty cents per acre, dated '7S, when the
treaty provides for a commission to
value all lands sold. admitting that a
price Was Fixed in rs for such land at
so cents per acre, to hold bofore sale
and regardless of increased value,
S hows fraud which annuls the whole
They have bought and
paid for the Oklahoma cecded lands,
and have room there for more Indians
than there is to locate, such sale of
our land works on evil instead Of good,
it furnishes frisions instead of homes
for other tribes and gives land sharks
IN excuse to move and rob them of
their homes, at our expense. This
country was provided by our parents
md we shall hold it sacred as head
light for the Cherokee blood, and not
min our inheritance by blind and cor
Iupt legislation, as has been done with
,ur homestead east Of %, where parties |
gnore Cherokee rights TO buy foreign
iotcs. If We have 1900 Cherokees
livision of this land will give 1881 acres
,er head, and~ith an individual title
,laced ON market would bring from 50
o $40 per acre, and at low average Of
'5 would give s2,l0d.s3 per capita,
nough to end our cry for bread money
hat politicians so eagerly take advan-
age of to make voting stock.
Fencing stock pastures west of00,
ill state, was means Of self defence
dopted by stockmen, and guaranteed
y individual enterprise Of Chrrokcos,
pom common right.
Our land unsoid begins east at the
Irkansas River, and runs west to the
OF Texas, being l7s miles
,ng by 57l wide, and joins Kansas on
be south in length, under the old
lode no one could afford to hold stock
carer than 10 to 20 miles Of the State
ne, they would ramble or be driyen to
.ansas pons, and to recover them own
rs had to pay a fine, damages to crops
nd expense as per herd law, the result
as that licensed herds left about one
lird Of our range, which was covered
y men on the line with sheep and 9TH
! small herds that pay no tax and cut
le timber for 20 miles out, and howl
} the state. Most Of said range is be-
" reclaimed by men fencing and
ocking pastures, thereby saving the
'nee and timber, creating more reven-
} for the Nation and establishing
rights by fencing 90 uaters .
T. II
1t is true some Of our people abuse {
Ie cause by covering stock from tax
taking more range than Is needed, q
II treasurer has the right to tax all O
ock west Of 90, and cover all extra S
nge with stock which will stop the
'indle and greed. ]. w. JORDAN. S