Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-07-30
THAT 100000.

What the Advocate Says About
it Considered and Fully An
swered.
There comes a day of judgement,
sooner or later for every account
able being. The first Monday in
next August is pretty generally
looked upon as a day of that kind
for all who had any hand in that
$500, 600 crookedness. In view Of
the near approach of that awful
day, the editor Of the Cherokee Ad-
vocate has given the public eight
columns of studied composition to
prove the innocence of his con-
freres, and to show that this said
100000 was indeed paid on the
occupied tracts, and not on the
whole territory west of the Arkan-
sas river. In this work he was
materially aided by that grand
master Of the art of shams, Col.
VIM. A. Phillips, Especial agent
and counsel for the Cherokee ma
tion."
But how does it happen that so
much argument and explanation
are needed to ascertain what it was
we sold to the government in order
to get this s3O0,0002 Thatis a fact
which should have been made
matter of record. 1t should have
been written down upon the books
at Washington so plainly that ex-
PLANTATION and argument would have
been unnecessary. This, however,
for some unaccountable reason, was
not done; and a grosser blunder in
the management of our public
affairs at Washington nowhere ap-
pears in the history of the Cherokee
nation. We might admit that this
$500, 900 transaction is, when cor
rcctly understood, all right, still
the strange uncertainty thrown
around the business, might furnish
the Cherokee people grounds of
complaint against their especial
agent and counselor" amply suffi-
cent TO cause his dismissal as un-
worthy Of their confidence.
The argument Of the Advocate is
peculiar-very peculiar-when we
consider that he is discussing a
matter which should depend for
proof alone upon authenticated rec
ords. He deals not in record
proofs, because he has none. He
relies upon bold assertions simply,
and trusts to the high(2) standing
of the man who uttered them for
their efficacy as evidence. The
high sounding phrases 'Not one
dollar "Not one acre" of Mr..
Phillips and his partners in dis
cussing this, question may answer
well enough for argument before
nation Of idiots, but with the Chero-
kee people it will not Ego down."
they require the proof.
Now, while the Advocate is fool
ing its time away in parading the
Of Mr.. Phillips, let us
turn to the record and see what it
does say about this $500, 900, and
the land in question. We quote
from executive document No. "a,
9th congress, II. X. On the
fourth day Of January, 1888, Mr..
Phillips and the delegation, to ex-
plain the nature Of their business
before the department, join in a
letter TO Mr.. Teller, secretary Of
the interior in which they say:
"Sir:-Among other duties as
signed TO US by the legislature Of
the Cherokee nation, we are au-
thorized TO bring 10 some final ad-
justment, and disposition our lands
west Of the Arkansas river. We
are specially directed as follows"
(Here follows instructions in ref
erence TO settling with the govern
ment for the occupied tracts.)
"We are prepared" they cOntin-
ue "to meet any fair proposition
for the disposal Of all west of $50,
or for all west Of $50 or west of the
Indian settlements; or for the loca-
ton of other small tribes in the
eastern portion, but would point
out the necessity Of an immediate |
settlement for these occupied lands
under the authority we have re-
ceived. We think it better that
these two propositions be consider
ed separately, and ask favorable |
recommendation from you 10 con
gress on the subject" Signed, "R. /
NJ. Wolfe, r. B. Ross, Cherokee
delegation, and VIM. A. Phillips,
special agent and counsel"
The tN 0 propositions which these
gentlemen desired 10 be considered !
separately were these: First. TO
sell of the unoccupied tract; sec
ond, TO settle with the government |
for the occupied tracts.
Again, on the 9th day Of Janua-
~, 1888, these same gentlemen |
send another letter 10 the secretary |
in which they again assert their
10 sell the unoccupied |
tract and urge the negotiations.
They say:
Sir:-Having received full au-
Ihority from the legislature Of the |
Cherokee nation 10 dispDse Of our
lands west Of go and 10 convey in |