The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-06-04

Changes in Their Territory by
Con"ress-The AIlot-

A Little Rock, Ark, telegram of
April IS. to The Nem York Herald, SAYS:
The Cherokee legislature is now sitting
at Tahlequah, capital of the nation. hay
ing been called together in extra ses-
sion by Assistant and Acting Chief
Bunch, the date of assembling being
April y. There are tifty-e,ght mem
bers in both houses-cighteen senators
and forty representativcs-nearly all of
whom are taking part in the delibcra-
tons. The message of the principal
chief has been read in joint session. 1t
is very brief, simply stating that in his
opinion public interests demanded a
special meeting of the legislature and
suggesting that legislation of some sort
is deemed necessary upon certain mat
tcrs which he names in regular order.
Advices received from Tahlequah to-
day show that the action Of the legisla-
ture is watched with the deepest inter
est by all classes of C%herokces, as well
as by the more intelligent portion of
neighboring tribes. The times me
ominous of (as the Chcrokeas bclieye)
evil. The solution of the Indian prob
lem, in one form at least, seems rapid
ly approaching. The proposed legisla-
ton by congress, in the shape of Okla
homa and other measures, which virtu-
ally open Indian Territory to white
settlement, has created widespread
alarm, and this feeling is intensified by
the fact that leading journals and APP
p%arently a preponderance of public
sentiment favor congressional action
looking to this end. Opposition to such
proceeding is very great among the
Indians. In fact, the prospect of al
lotting the lands in scveralty and open
ing the Indian country to white settlers
from the United States is rcpugnant to
two-thirds of the Cherokee Indians,
who desire to be allowed to work out
the solution of the Indian problem
after q fashion of their own, and with
out congressional Intervention of white
settlers. The remaining four tribes
namely, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Greeks.
and Seminoles, which, with the Chero-
KEGS, constitute the five civilized tribes
are represented as being equally hos
tile to any attempt having for an object
the settlement of any portion of the
territory. 1t would seem that upon
this point all the tribes will actin unison
and present an unbrokcn and determine
cd opposition.
The subject of allotting the lands in
scvcrally. and selling the residue to the
government has been discussed among
the Chcrokees for years past. Col.
James NJ. Bell, one of the most emil
nent Chcrokecs in the history of the
tribe. advocated allotment in accord
ancc with treaty as a means of prevents
ing sectionization by the United States
government contrary to treaty. Col.
Bell made an effort to educate the Cher
okees to the idea that such policy would
be best for the tribe, but the masses re.
fused to be guided by his counsels and
relegated him to private life. This was
half a century ago, Since that period
the views thcn advocated have made
Roadway. and there are many Chero-
KEGS of sagacity who believe to-day that
allotment will save the nation and tribe
from common ruin. But popular SEN
tlment and prejudice are strongly
against these advanced views, and the
friends of allotment arc fairly swallowed
up in the wave of public opinion. Not
only are they silenccd, but it is safe to
say that as the agitation increases there
will not be a voice raised nor q finger
lifted in favor of any measure. no mat
ter how favorable it may be, proposed
by congress for the opening to white
settlement of any land in the Indian
country.
The Cherokees claim every acre of
land embraced in their territory. except
ing such as has been sold to the United
States for the use of other Indian tribes.
They assert that there is no vacant land
in their country belonging to the gov
eminent, and that the Cherokee title is
tlawless. In a special message trans
mitted by Chiaf Bushyhead to the Cher
okee legislature last November in rela-
ton to the status of lands west of 90
degrees, the chief says:
The lands lying west of 96 were
coded to the United States. and
the title, possession and jurisdiction
ever remain with the Cherokee nation
intact, except such portions as are sold
and occupied. In 1869 officers
of the United States government had
contemplated setting apart a large por-
ton of u lands west of the Arkansas
river for the %Cheyennes and Arapahoes.
In 1872 an act was passed auth orizing
the president TO FIX the price of the
land, but it contained no provisions for
the acceptance of its terms by the
Cherokee nation, and consequently in
no sense bound the nation to such an
appraisement. The appraisemcnt was
made in that n Afterward the
United States abandoned it's intention
of settling the ~Cheyennes, Arapahocs,
Kiowas, and Comanches on all or any
part of the Cherokee lands west of the
Arkansas river, and thus the cause for
the lands being appraised came to an
end. The lands had first been APP
praised by certain commissioners and
aftcrward by executive officers, first at
Al cents per acre and then at AZ cents
per acre. . The United States
government, in violation of the terms
of the treaty, had settled certain small