The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-13

Eastern tribes They don't hold the land they
occupy On similar patents. The government
gave them the freedom of the reservation and
entered into treaties with them guaranteeing to
prevent the intrusion of the whites but the
agreement has been vague and indefinite and
they have never had the same announcement to
settle into industrious habits. They wear the
wild Indian dress yet, if they can manage to get
it: but buffalo skins are difficult to get now, on
account Of their scarcity, and a consequence
many of these Indians are obliged, against their
will, to adopt the garb Of civilization. But they
don't like it, and occasionally you may see
proud Indian rowing about the plains with moth
ing but a white sheet around him, like ghost"
DO the civilized Indians intermarry with
other races!'
Yes, they approve of their women marrying
with white men of good character. Many such
marriages occur and the practice is not unfavor-
able to the progressive civilization that Las char
acterized the tribes but the majority of them
won't tolerate any lntermarrying with the blacks.
The Greeks are disparaged by the other four
tribes, who regard them as half negroes The
Creeks are dark-b looded Indians, but ina CINE
they derive their dark blood from the Spanish
Moors and not from the negro"
"The main object of the committees visit,
Senators"
''Well, you see, this Oklahoma question is I'D
and wants to be settled. The negro freedmen,
for whom that tract of land in the heart of the
Indian Territory was purchased, don't seem at
all ANXIOUS, or even willing to settle it. They
prefer W i've Oh pOFIlOHS OF Inc lana belonging
to the Indians where they shaved before the
emancipation, and where they at present
located. But think the committee will not be
in favor of letting the Oklahoma boomers seize
and monopolize it. | cannot speak positively,
though, for the committee have not had full
conference on the subject, and will not until the
Senate meets when they will hold a
conference and report to the Senate the result
of their observations and deliberations.
would put Indians all that
territory. There is, to be sure, more land than
the Indians require, but would encourage the
concentration of all the Indians. l would even
make it advantageous for the tribes now located
in the State of New York. and scattered over
the continent, to migrate to this Territory,
where they could have the benefit Of the good
example of these five civilized tribes | am not
in favor of having Paines Oklahoma Boomers
divide the Indian country by taking possession
of the very heart of it. Then there are the dis
putes between the Indians and the two railroads
that run through their Territory. The Indians
the agreement by which the companies secured
the permission of the owners of the soil to run
their roads over it are vague, and Congress will
be required to step in and settle the dispute. I
am doubtful as to the validity of the contracts
with the Indians by which white spectators
have recently acquired millions of acres of In
dian reservation, and it will be the duty of Con
gress to inquire and determine whether the
leases are legal, and the lessees have any right
to the land. For myself, / don't see how land
reserved by the government for the Indians
could be disposed Of without the governments
consent and it is question also whether the
executive could allow such a disposition with
out the consent of Congress.