Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-15
our sHoT THH oAT.

taking place lately. Where it will
fetch up is just little alarming to
ONE. doubtless, and what things
will be brought to light, is accord
ing TO the plcntitude Of the crooked,
now snugly dreaming in obscurity,
awaiting for some earthly Gabriel
TO toot his horn. What has al
ready been revealed will prove an
incentive TO further investigation,
and, if what has come out is
sample Of others behind, we may
expect lively times. "Our special
agent" who has so strenuously
denied, because it suited his inter
est, that any acknowledgment
had ever been made as TO the ac-
ceptance Of the appraisement Of
our western lands, either by him
self or any one else on part Of the
nation, will come in for an ample
share, if the following letter TO
S. j. Kirkwood, when secretary
of the interior, is "proof of the
pudding" His sworn statement
before the cornell committee last
November, that there never had
been an appraisement at all except
that Of Teller's letter, is an ugly
looking thing, when compared
with this letter. II is a safe rule
to judge of what a man will do by
what he has done. But the
letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL, 1882.
To Hon. S. ]. KIRKwooD, secretary
of the interior:
SIR:-ln compliance with our in
structions we desire TO bring before
you a matter of considerable i'm
portance, calling for early action.
Your predecessor, under date of
February 8, 1880, sent communi-
cation to congress containing the
appraisement of certain lands be-
longing to us and lying west of the
Arkansas river, being in all 6 ,514,-
576.05 acres. OF that amount
230,014.05 acres were appraised
separately, and were TO be paid for
in a manner already prescribed by
act of April 10, 1878, and the re-
mainder-6, ,2S4, ,562-were apprais-
ed by the secretary and the presi- |
dent as the law directed in June,
1879, at 47.49 cents per acre, maxi
ing an aggregate of S3,013, ,032. |
Upon this there is due us interest |
from July 1, 1879, to the present |
date, or date of payment, at the
rate of five per cent. per annum.
Upon that amount there has been
paid, by an appropriation in the
deficiency bill of 1890, the sum Of
1900, 900, and also an appropria-
tion last year of $4,000, passed to
our credit last summer, as sums
paid on our lands thus appraised,
At an aggregate for the entire tract
)f 47.f9 cents per acre. 1t will
.hus be seen, then, that there has
been a full recognition Of the
amount thus due US by the presi-
dent, the department and con-
yress. We have so far been unable
% secure full payment, and now
ask that you send an estimate for
he principal and interest due us.
: = 4 Every consideration Of law
and equity required thai we should
nave been paid for the land ceded
Iong ago. Had our treaty been
with we should have been
paid fifteen years ago.
Under these circumstances the
net of May 30, 1872, was enacted, |
and finally, under it, as stated, |
he entire tract was apprais-
ed by the secretary and the
president. II was not appraised
is for particular tribes, but as It
nad been all at the date Of the law
authorizing it set apart for certain
.ribes, the boundaries of said dis
.ricts distinctly set forth and the
occupants determined, il was with
out reference TO the difference in
value of timber, valley or pasture
and, appraised as one entire tract,
The valuation being for the whole
ls a single body thus disposed of,
and not an appraisement Of par
ocular tracts. 1t was neither the
purpose Of the law, nor would it
be in accordance with either law or
equity, to pick out the most valu-
able tracts and take them at the
price fixed for the whole. We
could not permit such agross abuse
)f the trust, nor is il TO be presum-
ID that the United States authori-
les would be guilty of IL. We
rave already suffered great wrong
)y this delay. We ask a prompt
'emedy. The whole amount
should be paid now, and it is all
lue under the only existing regula-
lions and provisions, nor is there
my authority of law under which
only part Of it could be paid. If
the United States is unable 70 pay
for it all at present We ask that it |
pay principal and interest for what
It wants and restore the remainder
10 us as 1t was before the treaty Of
1866. To one OF fthese two things
We are beyond all question entitled.
Asking your favorable recon-
at an early day as prac-
icable, we are, very respectfully,
DANIEL III. Ross,
X. w. WOLFE,
Cherokee Delegation.