Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-13

no
OF the American navy for sao' re credit
courage and generosity was mnon;a NIP,
sustained in the storm-beaten shua,inl'centy
Apia. naroor of
The Interior Department.
The report of the secretary of the into,.
exhibits the transactions of the goyernmaN.
with the Indian tribes. Substantial nronsal
has been made in the extension of tho sehl
age and il. the allotment of lands - -,
Indians. 1t is to be regretted that tho .a, u''
of breaking up the tribal relations and =,
dealing with the Indian as an individna, ~, =,
not appear earlier III our legislation I, Wv
tenance of the authority of chiefs and lam IAN,
men, have deprived the individual of e lreaa
incentive to the exercise of thrift. ana d'e .,y
annuity has contributed an affirmative VI; .ae /
pulse towards a state of confirmed nona .l'
ism. e"uper-
Our treaty stipulations should be obserr,,
with fidelity, and our legislation shonid ha
ignorant and helpless people. The reserv aa
tlons are now generally surrounded bv
white settlements. We can no lonnerI n,, ~
the Indian back into the wilderness an t1us n
remains only, by every suitable agency ~
push him upward into the estate Of
SELF SUPPORTING AND REspoNs1Br,E c,r
ZEN.
For the adult the first step is to locate hin,
upon farm. and for the child to place h ,,m,
in school. School attendance should bo n r,rn
NOTED by every moral agency, and thoso
failing, should be compelled. The national
schools for Indians have been very success
full and should be multiplied and as far %
possible should be SO organized and con-
of the states and territories in Which,
they are located, when the I'M In
accepted citizenship and have become u ot have
wise fitted for such a transfer. This con
dition of things will be attained slowly. Int
it will be fastened by keeping it in mind md
and in the meantime, that cooperation be
tween the government and the mission
schools which has wrought SO much good
should be cordially and impartially sus'
tanned.
THE SIOUX RESERVATION.
The last congress enacted two distinct
laws relating to negotiations with the Sion,
Indians, of Dakota, for REIMBURSEMENT Of
a portion of their lands to the United States
and for dividing the remainder into separ,
ate reservations: Both were approved on
to the Indians a specific proposition. The
other (section of the Indian appropriation
act) authorized the president to appoint
three commissioners to negotiate with these
Indians for the accomplishment of the same
general purpose. and required that any
agreements made should be submitted to
congress for ratification.
On the 10Th day of April last appointed
Hon. Chas. Foster, of OHIO; Hon. VIM.
Warner, of Missouri, and Maj.-G Gen. George
Crook, of the United States army, commits
sioners under the last named law. They
were, however, authorized and directed
first to submit to the Indians the definite
proposition made to them by the act first
mentioned, and only in the event of fail
ure to secure the assent of the requisite
number to that proposition to open negotia-
tions for modified terms under the other
acts. The work of the commission was pro-
longed and arduous, but the assent of the
requisite number was. it is understood,
finally obtained to the proposition made by
congress, although the report of the com.
mission has not yet been submitted.
In view of these facts, shall not. as at
present advised, deem it necessary to SUBJ
init the agreement to congress for ratifca-
ton. but it will III due course be submitted
for information. This agreement releases
to the United States about 5000, 000 acres of
land.
THE CHEROKEE COMMISSION.
The COMMISSION provided for by section
IA, of the Indian appropriation bill, to ne
gotiatc with the Cherokee Indians and
all other Indians owning or claiming lands
lying west of the 96th degree of longitude
for the cession to the United States of all
such lands, was constituted by the appoint
ment of Hon. Lucius Fairchild, of Wis
consin;. Hon. John T. Hartranft, Of
Pennsylvania, and Hon. Alfred NJ. Wilson.
of Arkansas, and organized on June % last.
Their first conference with the representa-
tives of the Cherokees was held at Tahlequah,
July 20, with no definite results. Gen.
John f. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, was
prevented by ill-health from taking part IN
the conference. His death, which occurred
recently, is justly and generally lamented by
a people he had served with conspicuous
gallantry in war and with great fidelity in
peace. The vacancy thus created was filled
by the appointment of Hon. Warren G.
Sayre, of Indiana.
A second conference between the commits
sion and the Cherokees was began Novem-
Der 6, but no results have yet been obtained,
nor is it believed that conclusion can be
immediately expected. The cattle syndi-
purposes, is clearly one of the agencies
responsible for the obstruction of our nego-
tiations with the Cherokees. The large body
of agricultural lands constituting what IS
known as the Cherokee outlet,' ought not
to be and cannot long be held for grazing
oAet 1OE Gilc advantage OF u lew HSdluSU VIZ
public interests. and the best advantage OF
the Indians themselves The United States
has now, under the treaties, certain rights
in these lands. These will not be used
oppressively, but it cannot be allowed that
those who by sufferance occupy these lands
shall interpose to defeat the wise and benetl-
cent purposes of the government. Icannos
but believe that the advantageous character
OF the offer made by the United States to
the Cherokee nation for full release OF
these lands, as compared with other sugges-
tons now made to them, will yet obtain Tor
1T favorable consideration.
THE MuscoGEE AGREEMENT.
Under the agreement made between the
United States and the Muscogee Cor Creek
natlon OF Indians, on the 18TH day of Jan
uary, 1855, an absolute title was secured ny
the United States to about 3, 800, 900 acres Oh
land.
THE SEMINOLE PURCHASE.
Section - of the general Indian approo-
prlatlon act. approved March 2, 1882 maes,
provision for the purchase by the unite"
States from the Seminole tribe of cer!..n
portion of their lands. The delegates OF 1he
Seminole nation. having first duly evidences
to me their power to act in that behalf de-
ilvered proper release and conveyance
to the use of all the lands mentioned IN ens
act, which was accepted by me and certlneeu
to be In compliance with the statute. Dy