Wichita eagle., 1889-08-03
LETTERS EXCHANGED.
The Cherokee Commissioners to Chief
Mayes and the Answer

TAHLEoUAH, /. r., August 2.-The first
correspondence between Chief Mayes and
the Cherokee commission have been passed
and the contents of the messages were
made public last night. The commission
forwarded the following letter to Chief
Mayes and the answer was received this
evening:
To Hon. J. B. Mayes. Principal Chief Of the Chero-
kees
The undersigned commissioners appoint
ed by the president of the United States
under act Of congress, dated March
l, 1880, to treat with Cherokee and
other Indians owning or claiming
lands west of the Goth de gree of long
;tude in the Indian territory for the
cession to the United States of all their
title claims and interest of every kind or
character in or two said lands are author
lied to submit to the Cherokee nation the
proposition that said nation shall cede to
the United States in the manner and with
effects aforesaid. all the rights of said
nation in said land upon the same terms
as to payment as provided in the agree
ment with the Creek Indians of date Jan
uary 9, 1889, and ratified by congress at its
last session.
The commission is now ready to submit
to the Cherokee nation the proposition
above stated, and they respectfully request
shat they be informed upon what terms
and to whom the same may be submitted.
[Signed.l LUCIUS FAIRCHILD,
ALFRED WILSON,
j. +. HARTRANFT.
The following reply was received by the
commissioners:
Hon. Lucirs Fairchild. j. f. Har;ranft and Alfred
Wilson.
Sirs:-I have the honor to be in receipt
60 Of ha CT MI ctot Z
you had been appointed by the president
of the United States under an act of of
congress dated March /, 1889, to treat with
the Cherokees and other Indians owning
Or claiming lands west of the Goth deg. of
longitude. in the Indian territory, for the
secession to the United States OF their
title claim and interest of every kind and
character in or to said land. and are au-
thorized to submit to the Cherokee ma
ton the proposition that said nation shall
cede to the United States IN the manner
and with the effect aforesaid, all the right
of said nation to said land upon the same
terms as to pay ments as is provided in the
agreement with the Creek Indians dated
January 10, 1889, and ratified by congress
last session, and requesting to be informed
on what day and to whom the same may
be submitted.
'In response to this inquiry you are
respectfully advised that at your convent
ence, i, as principal cnle1 OF the Cnero-
kee nation, can receive from you such
proposition as you may be prepared to
submit.
''In this connection it will be approved
by this department, if you Will make eX
plicit your presentation of the subject
which you wish to submit, giving full de-
tails of the law under which you act, your
authority under the instructions in the
premises, to obtain which the honorable
Cf nj rafar mo
to your honorable commission, as well as
the details and purposes of the proposition
itself. 1t will give me great pleasure
when l shall be advised properly in the
premises to act with intelligence. to advise
you of the statutes of our law in relation
thereto, whenever and however il may be-
come my duty rs principal chief under the
laws and constitution of the Cherokee
nation to hear your proposition. | have
the honor to be. j. b. MAYES.
The commission will soon submit their
proposition in detail.