The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-06-12
INDIAN MATTERS.
Report of the Committee Investigating AT
fairs in tile Indian Territory.

Report of the Committee Investigating Al
fairs in tie Indian Territory.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE report OF
the Committee on Indian Affairs on Its in
vestigation Of the conditions OF the Indians
in the Indian Territory and other Teserva-
tons was submitted 10 the Senate yester-
day. Touching the claims OF the Greeks
and Seminoles in Oklahoma, and q pro-
tense of right of entry upon these lands
by bands of colonlsts the committee unite
in the conclusion that the United States
have no right TO dispose Of the ownership
of the soil In that coded tract without
further agreement with these tribes, ex-
cept for the purpose of settling friend
~ Indians upon these lands, and the
duty Of preventing any intrusion upon those
lands which Is distinct treaty obligation Is
only increased by the trust accepted to set
tie friendly Indians there. Regarding the
leases of lands for grazing purposes made
by various tribes, the report says that the
decision OF the President that all such
leases were of no effect in law, has left the
subject to depend on a question of law
rather than that OF fact as to
which the committee is not required
to express its views. The five civil
lied tribes, the committee says, are
conspicuously In advance of all other North
American Indians in every respect and the
wild tribes can be brought up to the
same standard by the influences Of educa-
ton and civilization. The committee gives
brief sketch of the form of government
of the various tribes from the Pottawato-
mics to the CherOkees, and of the latter
says it is modelled on the plan of the State
governments and has developed into a
high type of republican government, and
that it is difficult, after searching inves'
tigation, to point out any serious defects
in the constitution or statutes. In some
respects several of the State constitutions
could be amended to advantage by append
ing some of the provisions of the Cherokee
constitution.
"Four of these five commonwealths, "
the committee says, ''are well prepared to
take their places among the States of the
! Union. If they were all united under one
constitution they could be admitted into the
| Union as State without any danger OF
disturbing the harmony of the great sister
hood of American States or of derogating
from the honor or welfare of the Fedora
Government The time is near at HAND
when their interests and ours will require
that this further step must be taken anC
our policy in dealing with this people
should now be carefully adapted to thi!
result. They have advanced nearly al
far as they can go without
helping hand from the United States
Their relations to the general Government
should be such as to sustain and encourage
their noble efforts to accomplish their grea
task. At present our plan of dealing will
them, which was proper and useful Will
they were building up, is repressive and in
furious to them. We can not afford to checl
their progress or to permit our people to 60 il
upon them and supplant them in the contro
OF their own government The best interest
Of the five civilized tribes and the welfare o
the United States require that they SHOULD
be brought directly within the just and pre-
tecting influences of the political and ju
dcial powers of the United States as far q
may be consistent with the welfare an
rights of local government guaranteed
them. Their governments should be recoL
nized as being in every way lawful as ia
as they do not violate the constitution {
the United States and should continue VI
der their own control"