The Branding iron. [volume] (Atoka, I.T. [Okla.]) 1884-1884, 1884-03-15
THR FREEDMEN QUESTION.
cory.
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR,


DxrAxrMEST oy THE INTERIOR, !
WAsmrSGToS, Feb. 25, 1884.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs:
s;.R:---I have considered your re.
port Of February 9Th, 1894, on the
subject of statute enacted by the
Choc,aw Nation of Indians in the
Indian Territory, entitled IAN act
10 adopt the freedmen Of the Choc.
tiw Nation" whici, comes up Oh M
appeal Of the Choctaw Delegate,
from your decision Of June ~, 1888,
declaring that the statute referred Ia
does not meet the requirements Of
the provisions OF the treaty of April
-, 1866. "a Stat. 789-7O).
The statute of the Choctaw Ma
ton under consideration, copy Of
which accompanied your report, was
enacted in pursuance Of the authori-
- granted by the Act Of Congress Of
May IL, 1882, (22 Stat. 73) which al'-
t,ropria;cd $4,000 out Of the $780,.
900, reserved by the third article of
the treaty with the Choctaws and
Chickasaws concluded April 2s,
800, for the purpose Of educating
freedmen in said tribes, and which
provided "tlat either of said tribes
may, before such expenditure, adopt
snd provide for the freedmen in sald
tribes in accordance with said third
article"
The third article cf the treaty re-
l.rrcd to provided that said $780,
900, the price agreed upon for GER
tim lands cedcd by said treaty, shall
be invested and held in iru~, for said
Nations "until Ike legislatures of the
,hoctaw and Chickas.w Nation. re-
.pcctiveiy shall haze made such laws,
rlc, aad regulations ~ may i,e nee
rsary 10 give all persons OF African
descent, resident in the said nations
i tie date of the treaty Of fort
r.nith. and their descendants, here
.3iorc held in slavery among sad
Eations, All Tie right, privilege and
immun,;ics, including the r.gk. o.
suffrage, Of citizens OF said nations,
except 10 Che annu,ties, moneys aad
rIh.ic domain claimed b., or belong
i.g 20 sad nations respectively
The third arucle contains other
prol ,sions relating Ia land Tor said
reoimon, and the d.spcri,ion of SAID
rccdmen, ami oi tI,. SAID i3OD,cOU
ipon failure OF the Choc,aN ard
NAicsassw nations 20 make tic laws
rtc.. required.
la the fourth article of sal. treaty
=, ~ prDsiaed "that all laws shall be
rluaa III their operation upon Choc-
D.ws, cm.ckasaws and negroes, ana
h., 10 distinction affecting the ia,.
,.r sh.;i a. any time be made
II was claimed Tor ,hc thoctaY,
hat they have always been dcsird
%. irnking tho laws, rn,cs and regu
ia,,ons required by the treaty, bnr
thcy cou.d not secure tine cobpcra-
iipn or concurrent action ol the
rh!ckaSaws IN the matter; hence
congress made provision IN the law
% .ay IL, lsS2, ABOVE referred u
which enables E.rhEL Of said IA
''ns 20 co.aply w,th the t.ea,y.
ihc statute enacted by the Choc-
t.ws on the suhicc,, provides tina,
t,c freedmen and their descendants,
u.crrel 10 IN ;hc treaty are hereby
,a:i,lsd 20 all the r,ghJs, privilege,
ad mHnuaItos, mcluaing the righ.
u Suffrage ot citiznns ot the Cnoc-
taw nation, except in the aii,ui,les,
moneys anl tie public domain OF
,ac n.aon; - equal rights in the
courts and irec protection of persons
.nt property: 10 forty acres of land
- b. selected and held under the
same t.tlc anG upon the same term.
the thOctaWs; 50 equal cuuca.
'.onai privileges and facilities IL
r"iglibO.nCpd schools; and that al
o, sail persons WHO Do actually rc'
move from SAIL nation, shall b. eh
,t'ca % 500, per capita, - per the
nld article oi the treaty OF 1906;
ld tn., such a. decline 10 50 re
n1yc, or Ia bocome ci.izens OF N,
30, taw Nation snail bc hcld as in
ncrs ON same footing n o.hcr cit
zen, OF thc United States re,ilen
"a the nation, and sabjec, to re,noya
.pr s.m'lar causos.
III portions OF the law against
aicA objections are r'ade by your
1ticc are thc ,th and 9th sections
'lc,,of which read as follows:
"Sc,. Z. Re il further enacted
That in,ermarriage with such freed
men o. African descent who werl
formerly held as slaves OF the Choc
la'y> ard have become citizens shal
80, confer any rights of citizenship
Zoo ,his nation, and al free linen wh'
have married or who may hcrca.te
LsrrY freed yomen, who have bc
A Al. ~. -. -.