Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-18
THE RED MEN.
Report of the Senate Committed on indian
AHairs-Its Recommendations Kegard-
ing Oklahoma-Tribes Almost Ready Tor
StAtehOOd.

s.oort IF be Senate Committee on Indian
AFairs-Its Recommendations Regards
ing O4lahoma-Tribes Almost Ready Tor
Statehood.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-The report OF the
Committee on Indian Affairs on its lnvestl-
cations Of the condition OF the Indians In
the Indian Territory and other reserva-
tions was submitted to the Senate yes
terlay. Touching the claims OF the
Creeks and Seminoles in Oklahoma, and
the pretenses OF IL right OF entry upon
these lands by bands OF colonists, the COM
nlittee unite in the conclusion that the
United States has no right to dispose OF
the ownership in the soil in that ceded
tract without further agreement with those
tribes, except for the purpose OF settling
other Indians upon those lands.
The five civilized tribes, the committee
says, are conspicuously in advance OF all
other North American Indians i'll every re-
spect, and the wilder tribes can be brought
up to the same standard by the influences
OF education and religion. The committee
gives IL brief sketch of the form OF govern
mens OF the various tribes. from the Potta-
wottamies to the Chcrokces, and oi the lat
ter says:
cit is modelled upon the plan of our
State governments, and has deve loped
into q high type of republican govern
ment, and that it is difficult, after u search
ing criticism. to point out any serious de.
fects in their constitution or statutes. If
ton they could be admitted into the Union
as a State without my danger OF disturb
ing the honor or welfare of the great sis
terhood of American States or Of derogat-
ing from the honor o.. welfare of the Fed
eral Government. The time is near ut
hand when their interest and ours will re-
quire that this further step must be taken,
and our policy in dealing with these peo-
pie should now be carefully adapted to
this result. They nave advanced nearly
hand from the United States. Their
relations to the general Government
should be such as to sustain and en-
courage their noble efforts to ACCOM-
plish their great task. The present plan of
dealing with them, which was proper and
pressive and injurious to them. We can
not afford either to check their progress or
to permit our people to go in upon them
and supplant them in the control of
ests Of tie five civilized tribes and
tho we!fare of the United States now
require hat they should BE- brought
directly within the just and protect
ing influence Of the POLITICAL and judicial
powers of the United States as far as may
DO consistent with their welfare and the
rights Of local government guaranteed to
them. Their governments should be recog-
nized rs being in every way lawful as far
as they do not violate the constitution of
tho United States and should continue
under their own control.n
Ill., .o~,,~Ak.a $780,
ton Of two divisionsi in the Western Judic-
ial district of Arkansas. and the establish
ment OF o court on or near the railroad
which extends through the Territory.
Regarding the condition OF the freedmen
in the Territory, the committee saws that,
while there has been complaints OF viola.
ton OF the rights under the treaty, the
Government having manifested IL determi-
nation to secure the full measure OF rights,
they are in n fair way to develop into re-
spectacle citizens OF their respective ma