Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-04
CHEROKEE AFFAIRS.
The Indian Statesmen Opposed to any
Changes in Their Territory by
Congrcss-The Allot-
meut plan.

April Is to The NcW York Herdtd, says;
The Cherokee legislature is now sitting
at Tahlcquah. 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 ~. There are ifty-clght menu
bcrs in both houses eighteen senators
and forty representatives nearly all OF
whom arc taking part in the dclibera-
tiOnS. 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
special meeting of the legislature and
suggesting that legislation of some sort
is deemed necessary upon certain mat
terS which he names in regular order.
Advices received from Tahlcquah to-
day show that the action of the legisla
turc is watched with the deepest inter-
rs by the more intelligent portion of
neighboring tribes. The times are
ominous of CAS- the ChcroleeS believc)
evil. The solution of the Indian prob
lem, in one form nj least. seems rapid
ly approaching. The proposed legiSla-
ton by congress, i'll 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
parcntly Il prepondcrance OF public
sentiment favor congressional action
looking 10 this end. Opposition to such
proceeding is very great among the
Indians. In fact. the prospect of NJ
lotting thu lands in Severalty and open
ing the Indian country To whit settlers
from the United States is rcpugnant to
two-thirds of the Cherokee Indians,
who desire TO be allowed to work out
after fashion Of their own, and with
out congressional Intervention of white
settlers. The remaining four tribes
namely. Choctaws. ChickaSaws. Creeks.
anu NfInlllOltN. MIlItU. W I'LL INC HflO-
KEGS, constitute the five civilized tribes
are represented as being equally hos
tile TO any attempt having for m object
the scttlem of any portion of the
territory. 1t would seem that upon
this poin. all the tribes will act in unison
and present an unbrokcn and detcrmn-
ed opposition.
The subject of allottng the lands in
severalty, and selling the residue to the
government has been discussed among
the Cherokecs for years past. Col.
James NJ. Bell. one of the most emil
nent Cherokces in the history of the
tribe, advocated allotment in accord
ance with treaty rs u means of prevent
inc scctionization 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
RELOCATED him to private life. This was
half a century ago. Since that period
the views then advocated have made
Roadway. and there are many Chero-
KEGS Of sagacity who believe to-day that
allStmcnt will save the nation and tribe
from common ruin. But popular sem
timent and prejudice are strongly
against these advanced views. and the
friends of allotment are fairly swallowed
up in the wave of public opinion. Not
only are they silenced, but it is safe to
say that as the agitation increases there
will not be voice raised nor a 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 Chcrokces 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.
in their country belonging TO the gov
eminent. and that the Cherokee title is
hawless. In special message trans
mitted by Chief Bushy head to the Cher
okee legislature last November in rcla-
ton TO the status Of lands west of 90
degrees. the chief says:
The lands Wing west of 96 were
never ccdcd 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 Il large por-
ton of our lands west of the Arkansas
river for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes.
In 1872 An act was passed authorizing
the president TO fix the price Of the
land. but il contained no provisions for
the acceptance of It's terms by the
Cherokee nation. and consequently in
no sense bound the nation to such an