New-York tribune., 1885-07-06
TRESPASSERS ON INDIAN LANDS.
GENERAL MCOoK's ATTACK Oy THE WHITE SETTLERS
A LETTER TO sECRETARY LAMAR

A LETTER TO SECRETARY LAMAR.
WASHINGTON, July 5.-Secretary Lamar has
received letter from General Edward McCook exGov-
ernor OF Colorado relative to the power aud authority OF
the to prevent illegal occupation OF lands In
the Indian Territory. He says that the law declares that
tho Secretary the Interior has full control OF all In
dian affairs under the law subject to direction BY the
PRESIDENT that certain may be made by ndf'
ylduas with Indians relative to services in procuring
payment OF claims but no authority exists Tor max
ing contracts OF any other nature and made they arc
null aud void that only the United States can make any
contract with any Indian nation or tribe affecting lands
whether by purchase, lease otherwise, and the United
states can do so only by formal agreement and that
the President may employ the military
TO remove tresspassers from the Indian
lands The statutes he says, are positive
Yet substantially all the lands IN the indian Territory
set apart exclusive Indian occupation are In the pos
session of white men under leases from Indians who
had no power lease and with the tact recognition OF
the Department OF the Interior Some OF the persons In
OCCUPATION of such lands in the Cheyenne and Arrapa
hoe reservations In tho Indian Territory, and the
amount of land contracted by them aud embraced ID
their desi gnated boundaries are Hampton H. Denmsns
OF Washington, formerly member OF Kansas state sem
ate, $4,000 acres Edward Fenon, OF Leavenwortns
Ksn and william c. Malleny, Of Cslwell, Kan. each
56i 800 acres; Robert A. Hunter OF ST. Loas, oOoooo
acres Albert G. Graves, OF st. Louis, 45690o aeresi
Lewis NJ Briggs, OF Muscaton, Kan, 3ls,72O acres;
Jesse g. Morrison, Of Darlington, T.. l3s24o acres;
Unknown lessee leasing October ID, 1888, Tiiooo
acres (; Briggs member Of the Kansas state Senate
lss1s5 and f. NJ Hewins, and others in trust for tho
Cherokee strip line Stock Assocation' hansas
oorporaton leased for five years from Oc-
tober l. 1ss3 100000 acres, being all
the unoccupied lands conveyed to the Pawneess
Puncas Nez Perces Otoes aud Missouris. Osases and
Kansas indians. The rental Is one and two-tnird ccpss
per
II the Indians had power to make leases he says
and IL the Interior Department had power
70 10 hem what be said Of such an execution
Of public trust supposed be created for the purpose
of fostering Indian rights and interests as the ao'
oucscence in lease OF lands for term OF years AL
rental which Is nothing more than nominal Is thas
the the Government OF the United states snUua rn.
vides that authorized contracts shall not be valid II
not just and reasonable, or II tainted win iraa OK & sn
orbitant and IL IN the opinion or the secretary o .n9
Interior such contracts are fraudulent or toy
binding force by any officer or empoye OF the unsse
states. There is no question that they I are un!usI
in law II they inpositiors upon tue Indian: IN 90.
taining valuable franchises without adequate
eTe certainly destructive OF the purposes
for which the lands were SET apart c,,..
Roth under the common law an'i the aetuets y. IN
cress all parties other than Indians occupying theso
lands are trespassers .., ., ,,,. ,.,a,r
was that 1t shoad he enjoyed by the Indians or mo
puIpose OF making To them iyllLed homes eneo ssns
ihe In habits Of Industry and ceyaIing ana improving
tner condition. The actual are that Instead
of the Indians possessing and enjoying tue oenehts es'
sgmcd for lhen their country Is ov'fran w.ln spec-
ulators and adyentlrers or every degree, who nave
Icaly seQucstered their birtlright, Destroy
ing their opportunities OF selfsuppon anu leaving
emf IN the present. These men, who for tue las, tnreo
wears have enjoyed covert protecsoa and nave poy
nssted upon an Official recognition 0i thcir c'ains a.o
In many distances foregncr who owe no aiesLanee .y
this Government and in all cases eyade every raS s.
zens This part Of the Indian county to Which nav
called your attention country where force at
rapipe dwels where INSCRIPTIONS men ASK tue solS
port Of the Government and the Army o, an o. aynS
MATES 10 protect them violating the law ana III
ne any responsibility for their acts These me" asS
Apparently the representatives Of great emc'sa sa