The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-05

is only increased by the trust which
we have accepted to settle friendly
Indians there. Regarding the leases
OF lands for grazing purposf made by
various tribfs il says that the decision
of the President, that all such leases
were OF no effect in law, has left the
subject to depend on question OF law
rather than of fact, as to which the
committee is not required to express
its views.
The five civilized tribes, the COM
mittee says, are conspicuously in ad'
vance OF all other North American
Indians In every respect, aud that the
wilder tribes eau be brought up to the
same standard by the influences OF ed
ucation and religion. The committee
gives a brief sketch of the forms OF gov
eminent of the various tribes from
the Pottowatomies 20 the Cherokees,
and Of the latter says that it is mod
eled upon the plsn Of our State gov
ernments, and has developed into a
high type OF republican government,
and that it is difficult, after a
searching criticism, to point out any
serious defeC Is in their constitution or
statutes. In some respects several OF
our STATE constructors could be
amended to advantage by appending
some OF the provisions OF the Chero-
kee constitution. -Four Of these five
commonwealths," the committee says,
"are well prepared to take their places
among ths States of the Union II
they were all united under one con-
stitution they could be admitted into
the Union as State without any dan
gen of disturbing the harmony OF the
great sisterhood of American States,
or of derogatirg nom the
honor or welfare OF the
Federal Government. The tins
is near at hand when their interest,"
and ours will require that this further
step must be taken, and our policy, in
dealing wi h these people, should now
be carefully adapted to this result.
They have advanced nearly IS far as
thsy can 90 without a helpi < hand
from the United States, Their Iela.
tions to the general government should
be such as to sustain and encourage
their noble efforts to accomplish their
great task. At present cur plan Of
dealing with them, which was proper
and useful while they were building
up, is repressive and iniuriousto them.
We cannot afford ii her to check their
progress or to perm our people to 90
in upon them and supplant them in
the Gontroi of their own government.
"The best interests of the five civ
ilized tribes and the welfare of the
United States now require that they
should be brought directly within the
Just and protecting Influences OF the
political aud judicial powers of the
United States as fer as may be consist
ent with their welfare and rights OF
local government qua ant ed to them.
Their governments should be recog.
nizsd rs being in every way lawful rs
far as they do not VOL te the constitu-
ton of the United States, and should
con inue under their own control"
The committee recommends the
creation OF two divisions in the West
ern Jud cial District of Arkansas aud
the establishment OF a court at or nesr
the railroad which extends through
the Territory. "The plscing OF en-
light ened Indians on the jury in the
Federal Courts" the committee says,
would be the first dis met recosniion
Ct their capacity tn exert the duties of
citizen, hip in the United States in the
enforcement of the laws aud would
inspire them with an esrnest zeal in
support of the government.
Regarding the condition of the
freedmen in the Indian Territory, the
committee says that while there have
been complaints OF violations OF thtil
rights under the tray, the govern
ment having manifested a determine.
ton to secure the full measure Of
their rights they are in fair way 10
develop into respectable citizens Of
their respective nations.