Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-25
rHAr INVESTIGATION.


bug there is under the chip Of that
$500, 900 transaction, which, when
brought TO light may prove to be q
-tumble-bug. 1t supports docu.
ment nineteen, which, if the secre-
tary of the interior is authority MS
to the matters of his Office, is sufii.
cient to convince anyone who is
not in situation to be convinced,
or whose interest il is to deny.
Mr.. Bell says: "During the ses-
sion of congress we were instructed
TO make application for detailed
statement of the accounts of the
Cherokee nation with the govern
ment Of the United States. That
statement was TO show an account
Of all moneys received from the
government on any account what
ever under the several treaties,
together with an account of all
moneys to any of the citizens of
the Cherokee nation under said
treaties; the time when paid and
from what source derived. 4 * X
The secretary informed us il would
take six or eight months for an ex-
ira clerk to make the statement,
but referred me to a report made
by the department OF the interior
in obedience to an order from the
court OF claims in the matter of the
North Carolina Cherokees against
the Cherokee nation, which report
showed in detail the funds of the
Cherokee nation, together with
detailed statement of the lands
disposed of under the treaty of
1866, and price at which they were
taken by the government, together
with the amount Of funds advanced
by the government on lands of the
Cherokee nation west of the Ar
kansas river. The summing up
showed a balance of 1884, 600, or
thereabout against the Cherokee
nation on account of land. 4
i directed the attorney for the
Cherokee nation (who was Phillips)
to ask through the court of claims,
in the matter of the North Carolina |
Cherokee suit, for the statement
we were required to geo We new
er got any additional information.
/ recognize document /, 4S2 that is |
document nineteen, as substantial. |
ly stating the condition of lands
west of the Arkansas river, as
shown by the Information derived |
from the secretary Of the interior
in 1884. / fully believe the $780,
coo appropriated March 3, 1888,
was intended as an advancement
on all lands west of the Arkansas
river"
This statement is easily under
stood, but there are some points in
it that need bringing out, and to be
referred 10 in connection with GER
tain other matters.
CThe statement Mr.. Bell was ad-
yised to get contained a full and
complete summing up Of all the
lands, bonds, invested funds, and
disbursement of moneys on any ac-
count, going back as far as the first
payment to the Cherokees after
their arrival in this country. Such
= the recollection of it at this time.
Several copies Of this document
were sent to the executive depart
ment OF this nation by Mrs. Belvia
A. Lockwood, attorney for the
North Carolina Cherokees. Copies
came to other parties. Why Phil
lips failed to get a copy as request
mi ty Mr.. Bell can be easily ex-
planned, because it contained
among other things that little
$500, 900 matter as a sum for which
no consideration had been received
by the government Of the United
States. At the regular term Of the
council in 1888, the chiei referred
TO this fact in his message. He
had accepted it as such and called
the attention Of the council to it.
The authority for it, and the occa-
sion that brought it out, places it
beyond the reach Of any reasonable
doubt as 10 its correctness. 1t was
a law paper to be used as docu-
mentary evidence before the court.
It's correctness, therefore, cannot
well be doubted, coming from the
source and for the purpose it did.
The chief must have considered it
as authority or he surely would not
have put it in his message.
A change came over the spirit
Of his dream" when Phillips took
control Of the stage as chief actor.
The usual courtesy and royal hom-
age was paid him by the council in
.oxfandin0 an fnyifafion IN favor