Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-05-22
Payne's PretextS.

Payne's PretextS.
FoRT RExo, I. T.. May 3.-A
history of all the Oklahoma
"booms@ which have been inaug-
urated by Capt. D. L. Payne and
others would fill book and afford
but little profitable reading. But
the persistency with which they
have been kept up has been sur
prising and has half persuaded
many honest readers that the move
ment must have some basis in
equity or justice. A short review
Of the situation viii probably be Of
interest. First, then, where Is
Oklahoma II Is bounded on the
north BY a line as near So deg. 10
min. north latitude rs can well be
expressed on the map, being the
southern line Of the famous Chero-
kse Strip, west of the Arkansas
River. Its eastern boundary, since
the recent Iowa and KickapOo res
ervations were taken from il, Is
about 81 deg. and 20 MN. west
longitude. Its southern boundary
is the Canadian River. It's west
ern boundary Is practically the 9Sth
degree of west longitude from the
Canadian River TO th< Cimmaron.
and thence up that stream north
west TO TIE line of the Cherokee
Strip. Oklahoma, at present, Is
about fifty miles IN width from
east TO west, and eighty in length
north TO south. Il originally be-
longcd to the Creeks and was Sc
cured to them by the treaty of
February Il, 1888, in pursuance of
# act of Congress Of Nav 2S, 1880, 1
by which the President was au-
thorized to set apart the country
now known as the Indian Territory
for the use of Indians 10 be re-
moved thereto from east Of the
Mississippi River. By the treaty .
made August Z, 1856, between the /
Creeks and the United States.
Oklahoma was conveyed TO the /
Seminole Indians. ON the express
that none of the land so /
conveyed should be sold or other 1
wise disposed of in the future with
out the consent OF both tribes. At
the end of the late war the Semi
noles and Creeks were declared TO
have forfeited many of their treaty
rights by having joined the South 1
en COnfederacy and new treaties
we're made with them, as with the
other civilized tribes. This treaty.
dated March 2l, 1866, says: ''in 1
with a desire of the
United States to locate other In
iians and freedmen thereon the
Seminoles cede ahd convey TO the
United States their entire domain.
being the tract of land ceded to
he Seminole Indians by the Creek
Nation under provisions of article
/, treaty of the United States with
he Creeks and Seminoles, made
August Z. 1876, in view of the ur-
,snt necessity Of the United States
or more land in the Indian Terri
itOry". It viii be remembered
hat these Indian tribes all owned
laves before the war The eman-
ipatiOn proclamation set them !
rec. The United States Govern
nent. not feeling confident that the
reedmen would be treated fairly
y their former Indian masters. or
ie assimilated or accorded tribal
lights, provided by this treaty for
section of country upon which !
hey could be located by them |.
elves, precisely as the Cheyennes,
KiOwas, Comanches.
Fichitas, Pawnees, Sac and Fox.
Iez Perces, POncas. MOdocs. Kan
rs Cor Kaws), Osages, Pottowat-
mics, Absentee Shawnees. and
erhaps some others, were after
ards settled. The title vested in
he United States Government be-
ond question, but for specific {
urpose
Z PAHSEs GROUND OF ACTION.
And here the trouble begins.
ayne and his followers claim
iat, having been purchased from
Re Indians, IL ceased to be Indian
'rritory and was released from
,e operation of ali laws enacted
r that territory, and became part \
the public domain Of the Emitted
iates. But this certainly does
0t follow. The United States ae, :