The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-27
THE PROMISED LAND.
Oklshsna-Its Boundaries and Treaties-ln-
tsrcsting Facts Concerning the Gov
afAd T&uda

eLe0 lAuub.
The so-called Oklahoma territory
an unknown quantity. 1t has no gee
graphical recognition on the Unite
States maps. Payne and the Okla
homa boomers locate a territory @
that name on the western portion
the Coded Indian lands, which the
claim 70 be public lands of the Unite,
States. On the map OF the Frisco
road Oklahoma occupies an irregula
shape south Of the Red Fork Of th,
Arkansas, and bounded on tho soutl
by the Canadian and on the east b.
tho Pottowatomies and the Sac ant
Fox Agencies, while the western
boundary extends to the Wichitas
Cheyenne and Arapahoe Reservations
In q map of the Indian territory pub
lished few years ago by the Okla
homa association, they embraced al
the western portion of the Indian
territory extending from the Cherokee
outlet on the north to the Red river on
the south and including the Cheyenne
and Arspahoe Reservations, basing
their claim on the statement of Colonel
Boudinot, who showed that by the
treaties Of 1866 the United States pur-
chased from the Indian tribes in the
Indian territory about fourteen mill
ion acres Of land. These lands were
bought from the Crooks, Seminoles,
Choctaws and Chickasaws; the Chero-
KEGS selling no lands by the treaty Of
1866, hence they still hold what is
known as the Cherokee strip or ''out-
let" extending to the one hundredth
meridian, lying between the Kansas
border and Oklahoma, and which is
about ninety miles wide.
The Greeks, by their treaty Of 1866,
sold to the United States 3,250,560
acres for the sum of 1915, 1853. The
6eminoles, by their treaty the same
year, sold to the United States 2, 1863, 080
acres for the sum of $325,362. The
Choctaws ard Chickasaws by their
treaty the same year sold to the United
States the "leased lands" lying west
of the 99th degree of west longitude,
for the sum Of 100000. That tract
contains about z, 900, 900 acres. Of these
ceded lands the United States has
since appropriated to the Sacs and
Foxes 479, 667 acres, to the Pottawat-
omies 576,877 acres, to the Wichitas
743, Clio acres, and by executive order
the Ki0was, Comanches, Cheyennes,
Arapahoes and other wild Indians |
were given reservations. A portion of
these IA, 900. 900 acres of land has not |
been appropriated by the United States
tor the use OF other Indians. In the
articles of the treaties with the Creeks
and Seminoles, by which they sold
these lands, it was stipulated that they
we're ceded ''in compliance with de-
sire of the United States to locate other
Indians and freedmen thereon" The
Iettling of SO many wild Indians be-
ween the borders of Texas and Kansas
'xcited the jealousy of the States, as
hey were in constant danger of Indian
aids. A few years ago Mr.. Mills, of
Texas, caused q provision to be insert
ID in the Indian appropriation bill pro-
libiting the removal Of Sioux Indians
o the Indian Territory, and by a SINH
ar provision in the Indian appropri-
ltion bill the next winter the removal
# any Indians from Arizona or New
dexico into the Indian Territory was
These laws it was commended by
'ayne and his followers left several
billions of acres of the richest lands {
rec from the Indian title or occupancy,
MI subject to entry like other public
lnds. BY the treaties cancelled in
366 with the Seminoles, Choctaws,
Cherokees and Creeks,
rowing out of the rebellion, the tribes
greed to the establishment, if Con-
ress should so provide, of a General
ouncil In the Indian country to be '
1nually convened, consisting of dele
atcs from all the tribes in the pro-
ortion of their members respectively,
I'D to have power to legislate upon :
ALTERS relating to the intercourse and
'lation of the several tribes resident g
| the Territory; the laws passed to :,
, consistent with treaty stipulations y
i'd the constitution OF the United
;ates. The Council was to be presid- Z
over by the Supintendent of Indian Z Z
fairs. In the treaty with the Choc- y
WIS and Chickasaws the plan of a .
eneral Council was more clearly de- y ),
led and agreed to in more detail than u u
the other treaties. The powers of !, =
10 General Council were defined so n !,
to establish for many purposes not .
consistent with the tribal laws, q y
erritorial Government, with the Su- T
(of the Southern Super >
as governor of the Terri y
ry, which was to be named "Okla- 81
,ma." Provisions was made for a g
'cretary of the Council and for pay G
members and for a Marshal =
the Territory, and clause %
IS added looking to the estab- W
hment of an upper House, to consist u
one member from each tribe. In 10 10
Q treaties made at the same time ~
til tho Creeks and Cherokees pro- OF
sions also for General Council were re
ade. the same as in the Seminole p
saty. The General Council was in ~
nded to be in relation to the feder- q
tribes similar to that of the Federal
'vcrnment at Washington to the sew
al States.
In 1875 General Council in accord
ce with the provisions of the above W
,aties was held at Ockmulgee, the 81
pital of the Greek Nation, for tho of
rpose of forming a constitution. At 90
at convention the following tribes III
ire represented by delegates The of
eeks. Choctaws, Cherokees, Semin- G,
% Koool;o. 7