Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-07-23
rHn TWO p1ArroRMs.


people Of Delaware district, the
following resolutions were passed
Whereas, The proposition Of the
United States government TO buy
the lands of the Cherokee nation
west of the 96th meridian brings a
crisis that imperils the existence
of the Cherokee nation and COM
pels the discussion of the condition
of all our lands west Of the 96th
meridian; and immediate measures
for preserving our interests, be
they national or individual;
Therefore, Be IT resolved that,
First-We declare against sell
ing one foot of Cherokee soil for
white settlement, and we declare
we will not support any man for
member of our national council
who will not pledge himself to vote
and work against the acceptance of
the proposition to sell our lands at
price less than one-fourth their
market value.
Second-While we deny hostil.
ity to the whites, and in proof of
which assertion we point 20 our
frequent intermarriages with them
and the employment of them in
our business affairs; yet we say to
agree to this sale is the forerunner
of the downfall of the Cherokee
nation in the immediate future,
because in less than two years the
proposed purchase would be filled
with white settlers, farms and
cities; and hundreds of thousands
of American citizens within our
present borders would be vehe-
mently calling upon congress for
the formation of a territorial or
state government, which would
not only embrace the Cherokee
nation, but the entire Indian Ter
ritory. The party in power in the
federal government in the case of
Dakota has declared no more
small states shall be admitted into
the union, and southern Dakota is
larger than the entire Indian Ter
ritory; so there would be another
demand that our people must sell
all our surplus east of the 96th
meridian at an arbitrary figure
less than one-fourth its market
value, except 160 acres to each !
head of a Cherokee family.
Third-At most in the treaty of
1866 we only gave bond for title to |
the United States government TO |
the lands west Of the 96th meridi-
an upon the representation that it
was needed TO settle friendly Indian
tribes only. Then we were to sell |
100 acres for each individual Indi-
an visible to the human eve after
the federal g. yernment had placed
him in our country. The question
of allotment or holding in common
was to be left to tribes interested.
that treaty was made
under duress and threats from fed
eral officials, yet as long as the
United States government was
honestly carrying it out we did not
because it was for
the benefit of our red brethren.
But the instant the United States
government, uder the dictation of
Kansas, decided not to settle any
more Indians in our country it
abandoned every claim it had TO
the fulfillment of the bond for title
and the land became the property
Of the Cherokee people, as it was
before the agreement to sell con-
for a VIGOROUSLY made
luate price. And now we say no
awyer or statesman of established
will declare the contrary
the blush of shame.
Fourth-We will not again treat
inder duress, and we demand that
,ur council refuse TO consider any
md all propositions of sale Of land
until the federal government joins
Is in removing every shadow Of a !
loud 10 the title to every acre of
and included in our patents, that
has not been occupied by some
tribe under treaty of 1866.
Fifth-As our delegates and :
gents each year had written in
which were matters Of
ecord, both at Tahlequah and at
Washington, the federal govern
nent has always been fully appris-
ID OF just how far they were
to commit the Cherokees :
nd if that government per-
nitted them TO anticipate
nd receive payment upon
ny lands west of the seth !
meridian not occupied by Indians
ccording to treaty after the aband-
nment of intentions of settling =
ther Indians there, it cannot !
lead innocent purchaser nor with v
lstice contend that we are boundg e
y the unauthorized acts of our Z
elegates and agents until the u
'herokee people ratify their acts =
fter being fully informed of their d
ature and effect. And if through q
or ignorance our dele .
ates and agents, by their own y
llsrepresentations, or those Of =
theirs to them, have gotten us !
n the books OF the federal govern !,
ient as being indebted TO that U
oyernments334 ,595. 73or its equiv e
lent in land at 47.49 cents !.
er acre, the appraisement, u
would take 704 $50 acres, II
5 is asserted by the secre- a
lry Of the interior and the COM p
lissioner of Indian affairs Of the p,
'deral government. That govern I
lent cannot in justice avail itself a
such ignorance and treachery Il
nd misrepresentation, and at e.
lost can only claim an equitable c,
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