The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-10


sneh power. ThiS-Fltaa conse.sIplat ga I
me selection Of persons Ter commissions /
BIS VINO are Interested ia the Indian
question anu who have praceieaI ideas
On the subject OF their treatment.
The expense CT the Indian bureau dur
ing the last fiscal year WAS more thau
Six and q bali million dollars I believe
much of this expenditure may be saved
under the plan proposed; that IT'S eco
nomie effects would be Increased with
lts continuance; that the safety OF our
frontier settlers would be saved through
It's results from imputaEion or inhuuan-
lily. Injustice and mismansgement Ia
order 70 carry out the policy of allotmeut
OF Indian lands in saversItv.
When deemed expecient, IL will be nee
ess2ry TO have surveys completed Of the
and I hope that the p.o-
visions VIII be made for the prosecution
OF this.
Ia May of the present year q small por-
ton of the Chirieah1a Apaches on
Whlte mountain reservation In Arizana
left the reservation and COM
mltted number of murders and depreda-
tons upon settlers in that neighborhood
Though prompt and energetic actionsgg s
taken by tthe military, the renegades
eluded capture and escaped Into Mexico.
Tue formation OF the country through
which these Indians passed, their thor
ough acquaintance with the same, the
speed OF theirsescape, and the manner IN
which they concealed themselves among
mountains near the scene of their outraees
put our soldiers at great disadvantage
In their effort to capture them though the
expectation Is still entertained they will
be ultimately taken and punished for
their crimes. The threatening andsdiscr-
derby conduct Of the Cheye9nes of the
Indian Territory early last summer
caused considerable alarm and upexsi-
ness. Investigation proved that their
threatening attitude was due 10 great
measure TO the occupation OF tha land Of
their reservation by Immense herds Of
cattle which their owners claimed were
rightully there under certain leases made
by the Indians.
Such occupation appearing upon ex-
animation to be unlawful, notwithstand-
ing these leases, the intruders were or
dered to remove with their cattle from
the lands Of the Indians by the execu-
tive proclamation. The enforcement of
this proclamation had the effect of re-
storing peace and order among the Ia
dams and they are now quiet aud well
behaved. BY an executive order issued
On February az, 1855, BY my predecessor
portion OF the tract of country in the
territory known as the old Winnebago
and Crow Greek reservations, was d.
rooted to be restored to The public do
main and was opened to settlement I'M
der the land laws Of the United States
and large number of persons entered
upon those lands.
This action alarmed the Sioux Indians,
who claimed the territory as belonging
TO their reservation under the treaty OF
1868. This claim was determined by
careful Investigation to be we'll founded,
and consequently the executive order re-
ferred to was, By proclamation of April
II, 1855, declared to be imperative and
OF no effect, and all persons upon che
land were warned TO leave. This warn
ing has been substantially complied
with.
The public domain had its origin ia
cessioEs of land by the states TO the gen.
eral government. The FIRST cession was
made by the state Of New York, and the
largest, which In area exceeded all the
others, by the state of Virginia. Tire
territory, the proprietorship of which
became vested in the general govern
ment, extended from the western iae of
PsnnsylvaniR TO the Mississippi river.
These donations Of the states wers in
numbered with no condition, except that
they SHOULD he held ard Used Tor The
common benefit of the United States.
By purchase with the common fund OF
all the people additions were IL de to
this domsin until extended to the north
ern line of Mexico on the Pacific ocean
and the Polar sea. The original trust
t'for the common benefit of the United
States attached to aIl.'' In the execu-
ton of that trust the policy of many
homes rather than large estates was
adopted by wise government that these
might be easily obtained aud be the
abode Of security and cou:entment. The
laws for their acquisition were few, easily
understood and general in their char
actar.
But the pressure Of laeal interests
combined with q speculative spirit, have
In many instances procured tho passage
of laws which marFed thu harmony Of
the general plan and ecunbered the
system with multitude OF general spec-
ial enactmeDts, which render the laod
laws complicated, and subject the tides
to uncertainty, aud the purchasers often
to oppression and wrong. Laws which
were intended for the common bsnefU
have been perverted 90 that large Quanti-
ties OF land are vested in single owEer-
ships. From the multitude and charac-
ter OF the laws, this consequence seems
incapable OF correction by mere admin
istration.
1t Is not for the common benefit OF the
United States that large area of the
public lands should be acquired directly
or through fraud In the hands Of single
individuals. This nations strength Is in
the people; the nations prosperity is IN
their prosperity; the nations glory is in
the equality of her justice; the natlon's
perpetuity is il the patriotism Of her
people. Hence. as far as practicable, the
plan adopted in the disposal OF public
lands shodld have in view the original
policy which encourages money pur-
chases Of these lands for homes and dis
couraGes the massing of large areas ex-
elusive OF Alaska. About three lftbs of
the national domain has been sold or
subjected to contract OF grant.
OF the remaining two f3ftha consId-
cradle portion Is either mountain or des-
ert. A rapidly increasing population
creates growing demand for homes,
and the accumulation Of wealth inspires
an eager competition to obtain the puhli
land for speculative purposes. 10 the
future this collision OF interests will D,
more marked than in the past. and the
execution OF the nations trust in behalf
OF our settlers will be more difficult. 1
therefore commend to your attention the
contained In the re-
port OF the secretary of the interior with.
reference TO the repeal and modification
Of certain of our land laws.
The nation hasimade principally gra Mt
and subsidies to a system OF railroads
pfolscteo as great national highways to
connect the Pacific states with tha east.
Il has been charged that these donations
from the people have been diverted to
private gain and corrupt uses and thu
public indignation has been aroused and
suspicion engendered. Our great nation
does not hegrudgelits generosity, but 1t
abhors speculation and fraud and the
favorable regard of our people for the
great corporations to which these grants
we're made, can only be reviYsd By a
of confidence TO be secured |
BY their constant. uEeQuivocal, |
md clearly manifested integrity. |