New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-22
THE OKLAHOMA DIFFICULTY.
ATTRACTING ATTENTION IN CONGRESS.
BETWEEN TIE TROOPS AND THE COL
ONIsTS' FEARED

fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Congress at last De-
sns 70 show some interest in hs controversy over the
oklahoma lands, and If the troops ami Economists
,houd come to blows and blood be shed there wonlu
nrohahy he some legislation The Senate resolution
offered hv Mr. Plumb yesterday requesting the PRESIDENT
TO communicate with that body the views OF the EN'cu
five reyarlinc the status of the lands in controversy
was not acted upon to-day. Mr. Vest offered suDst-
tute directing the Secretary of the Interior 10
upon what terms the Creeks and SeminoeS wiz ceue'
,hsr ct and title to those lands In the House there
was an earnest and spirited discussion OF the oh"h"'
question In vigorous speeches General heii'r ana MF
nm of Ohio defended the rights OF the Indians ana oe
nounccd the unlawful efforts 20 disposseSs them OF u'"
lands The stealing OF Indian lands whenever inc "hie
people coveted them, General Kefer sad seemed 10
have become "A settled policy but he thohsht 'h"I INC
time had come when the Government ouSh' u "O"H-
don 1t. - A..
General Keifer's speech provoked many interruptions
and elected replies from several Oh tne NaS"s
Representatives. The arguments upon Wmch 'ne'
mainly depend in support OF the proposition that inc
lands in controversy publc lands OF the Unlted
s,otos are that while they coded for specified
nu,pose-the settlement thereon of friendly Indians and
of freedmen who were formerly INT
slaves of ndians-the treaty oil ceNsioh
contained no stipulation that the JANUS
should revert the original owners in case OF the iaNre
or refusal United States to devote the lands 10 e
rnrnose suecided that the treaty of cessOn exDgushed
the Indian title without qualification that Congress has
since enacted law prohibiting the remova! OF any more
tribes to the lands thus acquired and' consequently
that they open to pre-empon entry ana se'enei"
Mr. Rogers of Arkansas. said that 80 far as lhe ue W
the lands has been The subject OF judicial action 1t mas
been held to be in the Indians and that white settlers
have no right to enter occupy under the laws gov
ernin the sale and disposition OF the public lands oil tue
United States. ,
The point made by the Oklahoma Boomers Is that
the lands of which they attempting to take anu hou
possession are public land and IN this. they are ssnu
Nv the sympathy and encouragement OF some men IN
Congress well as by large part OF the peoe % MAJ
sas, aud other adjacent states Ine " coIoA,ts W. W.
clare that they have right to si d9yc,si on
the lands IN absence Or of me q Mdcia
Department of the Government They further declare
that they will maintain iheir Ia as bv force off
executive department. OF the GoyefncHH' ny aed
arms if necessary. About four hundred men alht1
Tinted states cavalry veterans wearmed ami led ny
experienced officers. conflict Of arms OF cotae Woua
feet mShI az" Wor ,1St AGO il is understood the
leader of the sGuattcrs telegram to the fIcSent
ashinS o |hiS bc saij sro,d 10, obcvcd. BY oc
cision IL seems to have meant an opinion lob me
Attorney General No favorable response seems 80 nave
heev mad In fine appcal All sides Interested IN
the result Of the controversy are now represented IN
Washington. The "cOloulsjs" by !csai counsel me
stock ra>ers interest in OF lands in Indian Terri
tory and army officers who well acquainted w'th the
method and purposes of the invader ,. g. 80. -,
Information received ut me war nepatihen - 0 T.,
nature to encourage the belief that me invaders 40
not really mean resist. Colonel Haich tteLiap"S
through General Aucur that thelr leadtr '~uo u
fanatic who believes that he ana Ms followers
are right and who viii incite them To resist ana l'l
their ground at any hazard and show the sincerity OF
their claims aud bring the subject to pnbllc attention III
n manner that will compel Congressional acton by
which the rich lands of oklahoma VIII he opened up 10
settlement An army Orcer now in ms cily on e"Ne
of absence. stated that the entire purpose OF
the invaders is to attract popular atteh-
tiOn and compel Congressional acll"h'
and that he confident that the resistance VII not ne
carried AZ extent cndan -erinE blood hct B'J5nih
Miller president OF the heuneSaw Indian Lana Siflp
Cattle Breeders Association l. also OF INC olo lhat
the invaders intend to resist and that the troops
do not propose 10 tire ,- "A H.. .,o.
The Secretary of War, who has been confident that
the expulsion Of the settlers would be Pcaccauly
effected row that whatever Nlothce
results win be entirely the fault OF the aquaitei
the desire OF the department 10 secure ihtlI eviction
without blOodshed, ana every effort VIII he hdue 20
attain that end, but the Presidents proclamation VIII De
enforced at any cost ..-.-., . a.
Lieutenant General sheridan, when questioned as 10
his opinion said that the INSTRUCTIONS 70
Colonel Hatch to Iemoye Inc squalters anu nc
added: 81 suppose that he Will 90 IT. -. IT,, . Tho
opinion that a collision Is inevitable.