Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-04

by reason Of the chiefs fondncss
FOR him for making common cause
with Phillips, If he is not in the
same boat with him. Phillips is
Busbyhead's josh as we all know,
and If Richard loves one he must |
love the other likewise, and defend
them TO the extent of his ability
and elasticity of conscience.
Mr.. Wolfe shows himself clever
at dodging questions. He was
asked; "What do you understand
from the reading of the 500 200
appropriation; was It due under
appraisement9"
Ans. 81 don't understand that
| was called to give my opinion as
TO the construction of the law. You
have the law before you"
The question was a poser. and
put in the presence of the law his
answer was very apt, considering
the position he and Phillips and
Bushyhead have taken as to the
contrary.
In another place he virtually ac-
knowledges that they claimed full
authority fron council to dispose
of lands west ofthe Goth degree.
Ques. "You say that the secre-
tary intended that probably the
government might pay for the
whole amount of land, and recog-
nizing the fact that we could not
accept the money if rendered as for
the whole bulk Of land, l will ask
this; do you not consider the ap-
preparation bill of March 3, 1888,
as such a proposition2"
Ans. "No, do rot. have a
letter of the secretary of January
18th, which contains recommen-
dation for an appropriation sulfi-
cient to pay the Cherokee nation
for the iohole body in question; that
letter was addressed to congress,
but seemed not acceptable to con-
gress."
Lucky for us it was not accepta-
bic to congress. But why did
the secretary address letter to
congress, recommending an appro-
priation sufficient to pay for the
whole body in question? He surely
would not have recommended such
a thing without authority of some
sort. 1t was that little letter Of
January 5th that caused him to do
so, in which Phillips and the del
egation claimed full authority from
the legislature of the Cherokee ma
tion to dispose Of Cherokee lands
west of the 9Gth degree. There is
the secret of the thing, and Wolfe
let it slip out.
Mr.. Blackstone was not asked
anything about the appraisement,
but in relation to Phillips speech
ot the May term of the council in
1888 he said: "The theme of his
speech was in regard to Cherokee
particularly in regard to
our western lands" In reply to a |
question as to the 100000 being |
1 further payment for occupied
ands, he understnoA-tho-same to /
le such 9sefaimed by Mr.. Phillips,
md from an increased price Of the |
.ands at s1.25 per acre. Being
asked il he thought the appropria-
ton was for unoccupied lands, he
that he did, but that the
net was so vague and indistinct he
did not understand it.
Mr.. Blackstone's statement re-
veals and verifes another fact
besides proving that Phillips has
made two assertions as to the price
received for the occupied tracts
one at s1.25 and the other at Sill.
He likewise contradicts Mr.. Bushy-
head TO whom the question was put:
''Did Phillips say at the session OF
Ihe council in May 1888, that the
Cherokee nation had got s1.25 per
lcre with the $500, 900; did he make
such a statement in a speech2"
Ans. ''No; l think we got s1.17
per acre for the land"
He denies, if his "no" means
that Phillips made such
IN assertion. There are hundreds
If witnesses by whom it can be
proven that he did say that the
price received for the occupied
racts was s1.25 per acre, and it is
worse then folly to deny it.
(To be eOntinued)
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