The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1885-03-19
1nE nEoklAHonAs slIuATloN.

THeoklAHOmAslTUkTloN
Tcpo.. Capifai
Il viii not Be longer doubted. We
suppose, that q change Of edministra-
ton does NOS affect the status OF the
Oklahoma lands. Some weeks ago
the C1pf1Qi gave a general outline OF
the history Of that coveted region as
i relates 10 white settlement, and our
advice 10 All persons was 20 stay away
until some further action is taken BY
congress. The subject is referred TO
now because, with the new PreHi-
dents proclamation, issued upon con-
snltation Of the cabinet. people viii be
more apt 20 think Of the matter sefI-
ously and reasonably.
IL is said, 81 we al understand. that
the lands IN question are public lands
and that The Indian title % them u
wholly extinguished. and that Indi-
ans have no interest IN or claim upon
the iands IN any way. The Capital
gave the status Of the land correctly.
| The Oklahoma lands were eeded "a
the United States for money coll
/ slderatiOn by the Creeks and Semi
noles. The cold lands absolutely and
without reservation Of any kind. but
the language Of the treatise show that
the intention Of both parties was to
use the lands for Indian aud negro
reservations. At the time those
treaties were made (ls66l it was the
intention Of the government 20 gather
the Indians As fast as possible into
Indian Territory, 90 as to throw Opsn
the great territories to white settle.
Mfaa 9th ehIw nmnmrrr
third article, has these words
u eoupllancs Win The desire Of ths Unl;sd
States % ioests other lndians and freedmen
theIeol, The cFsska hereby eede and coaysy to
TIE United States, % b soid and used as homes
f5r uuch ether ciEiiiEe1 Indians a1 The United
of thar entire d1nains 20 Be dlyidsd b. . line
rannlng north and soltb, etc.
The language ofthe Seminole treaty
Is:
IN coupiianes With the desire Of the Unlied
Eiatss % locate other Indians end freedmen
tksTeVn, the ssnincls1 esds and convey, ste.
This language shows that the ces-
sion, while it was absolute, was made
IN compliance with the desire Of the
United States, etc.n
In pursuance Of that policy the
Poneas the Eez Pefces, the MissOurias,
the OtOeslWere taken down aud given
q portion Of the Cherokee strip on the
eastern ledge. The Saes and Foxes
were given a slice OF the eastern pOr-
tion OF the Creeks cession, while the
Wiehltas, the Cheyennes and the
ArapahOes were moved into the west
ern portion Of what had been the
Creeks land. The KioWas and
Comanches were given q reservation
o a the southern edge Of the territory.
But this policy soon became menae-
Ing 10 the new white settlements in
Kansas, and Texas, and appeals were
sent 70 congress 10 change the policy.
The time seemed % be near ut hand
when the Sioux from the north and
the Apaches from the west would be
moved In. Occasional raids into Tex.
as and Kansas, chiefly for the purpose
Of stealing horses, helped to make the
situation appear more serious. Con-
gress listened 10 the protests from the
border. aud entirely changed the poll.
cy by Incorporating In appropriation
bills year after year provisions that
no more tribes should be settled Ia
the territory. This LEFT a large pOr.
tlOn Of the lands unoccupied, and
they are Oklahoma. The lands orig
inally amounted to about li,OO0, 900
acres but the portions now unoccu-
pied do not contain more than two
millions acres.
The CherOkees own lRnd-a strip
about forty miles wide, between
Oklahoma and Kansas. That Il the
Cherokee strip" which Is mentioned
in connection with Oklahoma, and on
which large cattle ranges are leased.
II is Included In a treaty made with
the Cherokees about the time the
others were made with the Creeks
and Selninoles, but the provisions Of
the Cherokee treaty were not like the
Others. This treaty provided that
"The United States may settle friend
ly Indians In any part Of the CherO.
kee country west Of 90 degrees The
terms Of such settlement were that
the amount land taken should be suf-
ieient 20 give each Indian le0 acres
60 be held IN severRlty OF Ia tribal
tract. The price Of the land was 20 be
fixed by the CherOkees and the tribe
moving 10, and IN the event Of disa-
greement in tie figure the govern
ment was 10 Hrbitrale.
Thus Il appears that the Creeks
ceded Oklahoma % be settled with /
''clvillzed Indians" The SemInOles |
let 60 Of their interest in q portion Of 1
the same 10 permit It's OcoupatIon by |
"Indians and freedmen" The Chero. |
KEGS sold the strip for settlement by /
"frlendly Indians"
Il ls claimed by some persons that |
the courts have decided That the Ok /
lahoma lands are subject to settle
ment But they are wrong. No such 1
declsioE has ever been made. So far
as We know that question was never
before any court for adjudication. At /
any rate. from the intention and cob
duct Of the government, the language /
Of the treatise, and the provisions Of
laws in force many years, the presi-
dent ls authorized 20 remove from
those landa ell persons who have no
special authority 70 90 there, and be
is authorized 70 employ the army IN
the removal n necessary.
But things are 10 pretty good shape
now. The following is part Of the
last Indian appropriation blu :
Thatths Prssi5ens is hereby authsrirsd 70 open
cherokess fer tbs pcrPoss e OPsning % asttie.
neut under The hoHiesiead lsus unanirncd irnds
n The iudizu TtrTlioFy ceied b. them ~
Ipsetivsiy = he united slsiss b the several
Iuig IS is15 and for that Purposs the sun q
Itoo0, o. 70 much thercof a nay he naccrsary, |
le, ard the sum is hereby, appropriated out q
ny uoney 90 The treasury lot otkrruile Eppru-
lraiei; Ne seiion kereuudef % b .feportst ts
,q1ErC3a
That 4 Law now, and Il relates 10
he Cherokee strip as we'll aa 10 Okls-
loma. lt q very probable that with
n q year ur two a lurtheresi, the strip
md Okiahoma wifi both be regularly
md lawfully opened for settlement,
When people may 70 Ia peaceably and
make homes for themselves.
Hos Ne Got Ire Parts
From ne Nanfbesisr Cstriir.
No, sir. ] gan nnt dIlfi you fOr