Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-10-08

own people, who we're ready TO sell
the patronage inherited from our
fathers and made sacred to every
manly heart as the sepulchre OF
their remains, around whose graves
were cemented the strongest ties
of home, country and kindred.
"Omaornn" has rightfully con-
cluded that the lands west OF the
Arkansas river, ostensibly the
Cherokee lands, are under the
circumstances worse than useless.
He draws his deductions from the
fact that our citizens have been re-
moved from them by military force
under orders from the government,
as intruders; that this act was
sustained by the attorney general;
further, that congress has by legal
enactment forbidden any Indians
the privilege Of settling upon them
and asks "of what benefit are
they to us ?" 1t may be properly
asked if this is not a precarious
tenure. What would constitute
such condition, and when this
fact becomes apparent, it may be
further asked if this condition has
not been purposely forced upon
our people, with the view of more
readily gaining their consent to
almost any measure that bears the
resemblance of an equitable settle
ment of this "prccarious ques-
tion."
There is one phase Of this sub
ject, which l hope our people will
consider well before adopting. i
have reference TO the scheme SO
often mentioned as affording the
panacea for all our troubles in
these land matters. II is that of
breaking up our tribal compact,
and accepting titles in severalty.
When this scheme is consumma-
ted, what will hinder the railroads
from rushing through our lands
and claiming, as they have done
on all other occasions, the choicest
Of them, by virtue of the grants
which they now hold from the
government Of the United States.
Adopt this plan and every claim
that we possess TO the protection
of the government is gone, and we,
with every interest we possess,
are placed at the mercy Of the
army Of cormorants that stand
ready to divest US of our posses
sions. If we have learned nothing
from the bitter lessons of the past
we may be inveighled into the
trap which is now being bated for
us. According to the present out
look, we don't need 10 sever our
tribal relations, and expose our
interests by being turned over to
the rapacity Of outside adven-
turers, or the merciless designs
ofinternal foes of our own blood
and race.
The relations of the Cherokee
nation are changed materially
since the early treaties; the title
to these lands are not the ordinary
title Of possession, it is lands
purchased Of the United States.
The Cherokee nation holds the
same title 10 her lands as the
United States held under her
purchase from the French govern
ment, and conveyed it to the
nation as provided by the treaty
Of New Echota, December Goth,
1885, and the lands thus conveyed
TO the Cherokee nation is an
absolute title in fee simple, and
the right 10 control these lands
rests in the people, and the council
and their legislature to-day, and
not in the United States.
There are good and sufficient
reasons for rejecting this PROPOSE
ton, beyond any that have been
urged for expediency, and promi-
nent among them is the fact that
We are not holding our possessions
as a reservation, TACT that seems
TO have escaped the notice Of that
very able statesman, the honorable
chairman Of the senate committee
on Indian affairs, whose solicitude
for the future welfare Of the fshoor