Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-01-19
TIE carnoNEr OUTLET.


L. S. c.tizeus grazing cattle and
Other stock on what is known a.
The Cherokee Outlet" " has grswn
out Of fencing pasture lands in that
region.
Their right to erect such fencing
being tolerated by their own Gov
eminent, and many such fences
having already been built, and
successfully pastured; aiding great
ly the collection Of the aow mech
rcdueed(O tar, compelling such as
Craze to report more correctly the
number and lind of stock when
pasturra under Che patronage Of
Cheiokess, thereby lessening the
trouble Of The Treasurer in his du-
ties in collecting such revenues,
besides MAJ 7 other advantages
such enterprise p,e.cnts and af-
fords, 90 say nothing of our right
TO do so under our treaty of 1866.
The treaty provision is explicit
and gives the U. S. Government
the privilege Of settling friendly
Indians on the lands of the Outlet.
They 10 take the lands in compact
form Of 100 acres to the head, the
price to be fixed by the parties in
interest, and in case of disagree
ment-the President Of the U. S.
to fix the price. The Cherokees
20 retain possession Of and juris-
diction over the unoccupied and
unsold lands. II is asked, If il
was not presumed Cherokoes would
settle on those lands and utilize
them, why it should restrict set
tement on them TO friendly In
dians? Now is it urged by those
that are making the greatest COM
plant, of the fencing of Territory
within the Outlet, that such fenc-
ing is interfering with rights and
privileges for which they have
paid tho Treasurer of whom not
more than one out of six have paid
for such privileges.
Stockmen that have paid for
grazing as a general thing make no
complaint--evcn when included in
such pasture. 1t is only a few
stockmen combined with such set
tiers along the line as have for
years stripped tho country of not
only the eBrass, stone, Buffalo bones,
tut the timber that are applying for
remedy, when they find their sup
plies are about to be cut off. Is IL
a class following such illicit traffic
or is it the citizens of its own Coun-
try, whose rights have been here
tofore grudgingly doled out to them
that the U. S. Government pro-
poses to protect? See Chapter u,
article 2, Compiled Laws of the
Cherokee Nation, in reference to
"Tax on stock grazing upon Cher
okee lands west of the 96th meri-
dian" Question, Is U. S. citi-
zen an intruder agreeable to the
9th article of the Treaty of July
10Th, A. D., 1866, with the U. S.,
if he has in his possession a Graz
ing License for IL months issued
by the Treasurer of the Cherokee
Nation?
Have the Solicitors furnished
during any time, to the Principal
Chief, a complete and full list of
all persons residing or being on
the lands west of 96o in violation
of laws, and has the Principal
Chief reported the same 20 the
proper authority for removal?
Are those men who have a "graz-
ing license" and hold receipts from
the Treasurer of the Cherokee Ma
tion an injury to the Nation, or is
il much to the advantage of the
Nation? Is it crime for a U. S.
citizen to lend his money to an In
dian7 Instead of isolating the In
dian he should be brought as much
as possible in contact with whites
not with soldiers or with worth
less tramps and vagabonds who
seek a refuge in the Nation-but
with good practical men who are
willing TO treat him right, and
comply with the rules and regula-
tons Of the Country. Such men
could acquire a competence and
eyen grow rich and better the con-
dition Of the Indian, without in
jury 20 either party.
In conclusion it may be proper
TO add what Hon. Commissioner
Price has said in reference TO the
Cherokee Country West of The 96th
meridian west longitude. He says
that "the Cherokees still have as
the treaty provides, the possession
and jurisdiction Of All the lands ex-
cept those assigned as stated in
his report, and have been, and are
now receiving rents from the same