Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-18
CHnRoKnn AFFAIRa.

oh) ~ icW Nvluo bhlOubh yOuI Nai-
liable paper.
When tho Cherokees sent dele
egates TO Washington in 1882 they
were instructed TO ask for an in
creased value on the occupied tracts
Of land west of 96o. These lands
were valued by the president at
AZ. 40 cents per acre and a portion
at 20 cents per acre. Our treaty
provides that the Cherokees are TO
be consulted first in regard TO the
price of their lands and if there is
no agreement made then the presi-
dent is authorized to set q price on
them. The price was fixed on
these lands by the president with
out ever consulting the Cherokees.
We claimed these were choice
tracts and should have brought at
least 81 % per acre. SO our dele
gates were instructed to ask. for
this amount and when they return
ed they reported that they bad got
our claim through and that con-
gress had appropriated 100000
for us. They said we were re-
quired to give deeds to these lands
to the tribes occupying them before.
we could get this money. So
everything was settled satisfactory
to the secretary of the interior and
the money paid out to the Chero-
KEGS by blood excepting z IL per
cent. which we were completely
swindled out OFF, Just as soon as
the money was distributed certain
parties said the money was a pay
ment on the unoccupied tracts and
that we would have to either pay
the amount back to the govern
ment or let them take our lands.
When We sell land to the govern
ment one-half of the amount we
get is legislated on by treaty-25
per cent. goes to the general fund,
10 per cent. to the school fund and
10 per cent. to the orphan fund,
and the remainder is to be dispos-
ed OF as we see proper. When
congress appropriated this money
it said We could do as we saw prop
er with the whole amount. The
occupied lands were virtually sold
but we considered the amount as a
donation over and above the
amount we had already received;
consequently we could do as we
pleased with il. Then there were
no deeds asked for to the unoccu-
pied tracts.
When the delegates of 1888 re-
turned they said they had undis-
putable proof that we did owe the
government 1884, ,595, but when
some Of their constituents were
challenged for the proof they said,
1--WE may owe the amount; the
records at Washington had become
so mixed up as TO give them a
chance to claim it," When coun-
Gil met last November there was
an investigation committee ap-
pointed TO see into this matter and
they reported that they had proof
sufficient to convince any candid
mind that we did owe the govern
ment 1884, ,594. At the same time
they asked council that when the
delegates were appointed they be
instructed to investigate this mat
ter when they go to Washington.
Now if this committee established
beyond a doubt that we did owe
the government, why should they
request that the delegation be in
structed to investigate the matter?
No, we do not owe the govern
ment cent. The whole move is
just TO get the country sectionized
and the sooner our people wake up
TO this fact the better for them.
There are very few of the Chero-
KEGS in favor of sectionizing. 1t is
just few half-breeds. They i'm
agine they can swindle the un-
thinking class out of their homes
by telling them they could sell
their lands for fifteen or twenty
dollars an acre; "Just the moment
| get deeds to my lands I can sell
to whom l please" When this
country is sectionized it forever
does away with the Cherokee ma
ton. / am opposed to it. l love
my country and people. 1 am
proud that Cherokee blood courses
through my veins. They say:
"What shall we do with the In
dian?" That is not the question;
it is: What can we do to get what
little land we have left him, with
out killing hiTn2 If the Indians
had received s1.25 per acre for all
the lands that have been taken
from them they would be the
wealthiest people on earth. The
white man has done more for the
Indian than he can ever pay for.
They gave US the word of God and
have won thousands Of our people
to Christ. Every white man who
has labored for the salvation of the
Indian has been given a handsome
support as long as he lived. They
did not ask US to give them our
homes for what they had done.
They felt that they were doing
what God required Of them. All
that God requires Of the Indian is
to do not only what these men told
them but TO read His word and
follow its precepts. He did not
tell the apostles to go and preach
and TO teach the heather and then
to cheat him out Of his home.
Al that we ask is TO let us re-
main as we are We cannot helm