Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-16
FROM DELEaATR BoUDINoT.
His Views Upon the Lease Ques-
tion and Reasons Therefor.

WAsniSGroN, d. C., July 81, 1ssS.
Hon. JNo. l.. ADAIR, DEAR SIR:-
Business here "drags its slow
length along" the Oklohama
bill, the last one, popping up in
sight and lodging out of sight ev-
cry two or three days. We have
thought of having the main argu-
ments on both sides printed for the
information of our people so that
they will be informed of the
grounds taken against us rs well
as for us, and thus be best able to
meet the enemy. Warmers
speech representative from Mis-
souri) is the most exhaustive ar
gument / have seen in the Record
in favor of the bill, and it includes
all the points upon which the Ok
lahomists rely. Two of them are:
LIST, The $500, 600 paid on all the
lands west of Arkansas river. 2nd,
Judge Brewers decision TO the
effect that our title TO these lands
is only one Of right to pass to and
fro from the 100000 acres really
decided. OF course it is nonsense
to attempt to distinguish between
one part Of a patented tract and
another, so far as the patent goes;
but they are seizing on everything
possible to force us to give up that
country and therefore take what
advantage they can of the term,
"Outlet," -" ignoring the word per-
petual. and ignoring the fact that
it is included in our patent. But
all this has no doubt occurred to
you before.
The absolute validity Of our title
to these lands being thus disputed
not only by bill which is likely
to pass the house if it comes to a
vote, but by the Interior depart.
ment, so far as that department
declares we have accepted S}O0,0JU
on all OF the lands, and also by the
attorney generals opinions, first
on Dcvcn, that Cherokees have 70
right to settle there, and second of
Garland, that a license is lease
and we have no right to authorize
a cattle company to be there--the
question is presented to my mind
whether it would not be best to
entangle our status rs to these lands
somehow, and in the meantime to
avoid as much and many comuli-
cations in their regard as We Gun.
Taking the whole thing into con-
sideration, the fact that we know
the company now there, that they
have dealt fairly by the nation, and
fully know the conditions we and
they are placed in when the grass
is licensed, and accept them with
assurance Of assistance should our
right TO license be attacked-that
they might and probably would
put us to a heap Of trouble in ex-
cluding them by force should they
decide to question our right them
selves before it is defined by the
highest courts-that the other
compauy-the one that offered
$4,000 does not propose to give
what the privileges are north but
only raises the bid slightly in or
der, seemingly, to furnish an ex-
cuse to reject the bid of the 9th er
companies, besides being unwill-
ing to take the responsibility of
the situation on themselves, but
want to throw it entirely on the
nation-thus making their bid al
most worthless in my opinion.
Taking these and other facts into
consideration and what | see here
of wish to make use Of our graz
ing lands to getup a quarrel and
make US commissioning all this
and much more which has no
doubt also occurred to you-I ad-
yised Chief Mayes to take the bid
OF the present company II they
would raise it. OF course he
could not take it at the old sum of
sl25, 600 nor could / advise him
to take it, both of Us being COM
mitted against it and in fact, that
bid being less by sl5, 900 than what
they have been paying. That is,
they have been paying 500 600
for the five years plus S2OO,OOJ
worth Of improvements they have
been putting on the land in the
form Of fencing during that time
which makes really the sum of
(sl40, ,OO0l one hundred and forty
thousand dollars year that they
have actually paid under their ar
gument that the nation should
keep the Improvements made.
Well, il is useless, ! think, 20
talk about getting the most dollars
for the grazing privileges Of those
lands as though our title and siiua-
tiOn WAS unencumbered and uncm-
barrassed. They are both encum
bered and much embarrassed, and
think the license mot lease)shOuld
be granted with the view OF avoid
ing future complications as much
as possible until our situation can
be cleared Of its present entangle-
ments. Hence my advice to Chief
Mays. aud hence this letter to
you. The offer If sl75, 900 by the
Cherokee Strip Live Stock asso-
citation is full victory for Mayes,
and now the question is whether
the nation would not lose more by
making an enemy out Of that com
pany, with no assurance OF gaining
other friends, by refusing their
bid Of si75 900 than IL (the nation)
would gain By contracting for the
Sls5, 600 bid. With the absolute
certainty Of complieating our pos
session Of the lands in question.
Ynn and | hnvn a. far hlllv