Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-02-14
On to oklahoma.

Delegates from the different Oklahoma
colonies IN Kansas assembled in State
Convention at Topeka on the Sd inst.
Capt. Couch, of Oklahoma fame, was
chosen chairman, and I. w. Pack. of the
Home and Farm Record, secretary. In
response to numerous calls, Capt. Couch
gave a very interesting history of that
country, together with an account of the
different expeditions Of the "boomersp
to Oklahoma Other short addresses
were delivered. An evening session was
held, and the following resolutions were
adopted:
ResOIUsd, That the use of the United
States army to expel men, women and
children from their homes in oklahoma,
who have settled on lands owned by the
Government, and subject to homestead
and presumption under the laws of Con-
gress, has but one parallel in history, to-
wit: Free State legislation of Kansas by
United States troops in 1856, in the old
Border Rufian days.
ResOlUsd, That we denOunce as an out
rage the use Of United States troops to
deprive people Of their homes and prop
erty without any warrant of law. That
there is no excuse for the recent exer-
else Of arbitrary power In the Oklahoma
country, and that we denOunCe the in
vasion Of any Territory by an armed
greatest Of crimes.
Resolved That we are opposed to in
terfering with the rights Of Indians to
their lands existing under the laws or
treaties of the United States and will
not defend men in the violation of their
rights; and we demand, also, that the
protection of the Government should be
extended to all settlers alike on the Coy
eminent lands.
% 4 g.
upon Government land, but right given
to every American citizen by law; that
the Indian title to the Oklahoma lands
has been extinguished, and under the
laws of the United States statutes they
are subject to settlement, presumption
and homestead.
ResoIUed, That the bold and lawful
stand taken by Captain Couch and his
heroic followers in defense of their
homes against arbitrary power entities
them to the gratitude of every friend of
Constitutional government.
ReSOJUed, That the action Of the Presi-
dent Of the United States in ordering
Colonel Hatch to shoot down men,
women and children whose only crime
was a desire to occupy Government
lands, is an outrage that would disgrace
the worst MOnarChies of the old world.
ReSOLUed, That we have q right under
the laws of the United States to settle
and occupy Government lands, and by
the Eternal, we are going to do 1t.
ResOLUed, That all dispatches sent by
the Associated Press Agent at Caldwell,
relating to the status or settlement of
the Oklahoma lands, and charging that
there are now Cattlemen holding large
herds of stock enclosed by fence on said
lands, are Wilfully false and calculated to
mislead the public.
The following resolutions we're offered
/ by S. n. Wood and adopted:
ResOIUsd, That a committee Of five be
| appointed by the chair to prepare and
publish an address to the people Of the
/ United States defining the position of
! the Oklahoma colOnists on the settle
ment Of the Oklahoma lands.
/ Resolved That said committee be au-
/ thOrized to present the case Of the set
/ tiers seeking homes in Oklahoma to the
! President Of the United States, the At
/ torney General, Secretary Of the Interior
/ and Commissioners Of the General Land
! Office, and demand in the name of the
/ people of the United States seeking
I homes on Government lands, that they
/ be not molested in settling on such lands
in the Oklahoma country as do not be
/ long to any Indian tribe.
] ResOEUsd, That we demand that al
/ contracts made with Indians for leasing
! large tracts Of land to large corporations
be declared void, made in violation Of
! law, and that if such lands are not need
ed for the occupancy of Indians, that
! they be purchased Of the Indians as other
lands have been, and then opened to
actual settlers only.
ResOgUed, That we demand that all IN
earned land grants TO railroads shall be
forfeited and restored to the public do
main and held for actual settlers only
that our thanks are due the House Of
/ Representative in Washington for the
passage Of laws restoring some seventy
millions of acres Of the public domain tc
/ actual settlers; that the United States
II Senate, in refusing to pass land billi
proves that the Senate represents the
corporations and not the people.
When Drunkenness was a Virtue.
The reign Of George III, Of England
Al u ~ sas=rU