The Red Cloud chief., 1889-08-23
THE CHEROKEE OuT.cT.

Chief Mayes Replies to tho OT~r Of :as
C0mmissi0n-POinte0 Rejoin,ier q: TIE
Commissioners.
TAnLEQCAH, L T., Aug G-The Com
missioners have at las; Received -.
Mayes' answer totheir proposirion. II
consumes 1900 words in discussing 49,
Cherokee title to the Strip. II refuses 80
cali the National Council in extra s-s-ina,
saying that such q step would not hasten
matters any, as the Cherokee Conssi. u;io::
would have to be changed in cas-, III"
Cherokees should desire TO cede a pat e.:
their and to the United States ard c
change in the Constitution could rot t.
made until the general election Z
August, 1881. He saws TIA
the term 'toutiet" was'used unalviseGly "
the Commissioners, as it is known to
the Chsrokees and by the United
States treaties a. the Cherokee country"
He a'ked for an explanation as to the
lands occupied by the Poncas, Pawae-.
Nez Perces and Cites and M~issouris AL
concludes the request BY asking the Con-
missioners to submit . proposition that tie
people can understand. The letter cor
c:udes with the desire that the Comnis-
sioners convey to their Government tEs
confident belief Of the Cher0kees that ths
most august legislative assembly on
EARTH will not. at the behest Of c.anorous
boomers. despoil the Cherokee people Of
their rights
The Commissioners returned the follow
ing reply. after which they left for tie
| Choctaw agency:
Hon. Joel h Mcy.s, Principal CAi.f Ci>ro1ee
Nation. 7ahisq1ah:
TAHLKQUAH. I T., Aug. 1a-Sir: We have
the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter
] ~ WAeeoHfnu In YoRlv fhnpotsN vgs b.,r IN Say
| that the Commission intended TO and we th,nI,
did make an explicit and exact offer on the
part Of the United States to pay thu Cherokee
Nation ne per acre for its title. claim or in
terest, good or bad. to all the land embrace; in
what IL known ~ the Cherokee Outlet. ives,
OF the Arkansas river including the Ian 90
which other Indians are now located. dsrirct
ing from the amount Of purchase money tie
sums the United States has already paid To TIE
CherOkees on account Of the lands In the OItlet-
west Of the river and that offer covered all he
lands west Of the Arkansas river within tbe
boundaries of the Cherokee patent, or the SIX
teenth article Of the treaty Of 1854.
Your Government knows and So does thu
Government Of the United States know what
lands lie west Of the Arkansas river To which
the Cherokee Nation make any claim There
can be no misunderstanding ON that point.
Your Government knows and so does the
Government of the United States know JUS,
" A10Cu u4OuCy Hay UCCu HSTttoIOFc Pa "a Oh
account Of lands in the outlet west of the Ar
kansas river. There can be no pOssIb e mIsng-
Outstanding on that point. The act vi Congress
and the instructions of this Commission. which
have been outlined in a former letter. show ex-
actly the extent Of the authority of this Com
mission. So there can be no misunderstandias
ON that point.
We note your observations upon the history
OF the claim, title or interest OF the Cherokee
Nation in or TO said lands. but we mos; respect
fully call your attention to the fact that these
enecfs do not raise the question OF the on-r 81
SIS per acre whether the title. claim or
interest Is good. bad or indifferent. The ales-
ton rs to what il any title the Cherokee NJ
ton has to these lands would come up for dis
cuSsiOn II the United States were neCo.iaticc
Tor this purpose with the question of ME
in view, but in making this Offer
ana for the purposes OF this C.Ier
only. 1t valves any and all advantage il nigh,
have in such negotiations given to the Cherokee
Nation for this Occasion-advaniage of Any
trouble or question which may exist in the na-
ture OF theif title, claim or interest in or to the
lands OF the POncas, PAwnecs, Nez Pcrces and
OcOes and Missouris. The object of the United
in including those lands in its o:Ic- was
to clear away any possible claim OF title on The
part OF the Cherokees to those lands now or
hereafter and to make the titles of the tribes ~
their land perfect beyond question and
give to the Cherokee Nation the advaniagsA
SIS per acre for such ian"s.
ing for this occasion the right of the L
to settle for these lands 1T the appr
heretofore made By the President
Tor the remainder Of the Outlet which b!1lhe
same treaty and appraisal the Government has
he right to settle friendly Indians upon: the
reason for including these lands in the OFF,
Ias SO apparent that We did not think and do
think now any explanation was necessary.
do not see how any misunderstanding is
possible on that point.
We also note your observation as 20 the
necessity OF . change in certain provisions o.
'our Constitution dating from 1s39 bef-. the
cherokee Nation can take effective action upon
his offer. This proposition is q surprise 10 Us.
The treaties since 1889 make transfer of lauasin
Kansas and lands in this Territory. and nr,-
ride for transfer by the National Council Of
'ther Cherokee lands in Arkansas and States
OF the Mississippi. The validity OF this
ransfer has never been questioned By the
'herokee Nation and it has received ana re-
aimed the purchase money therefor w,thou.
The transfer under the present Offer
would, We think, be rs valid rs those were. and
he United States will be entirely satisfied
nth a transfer confirmed by the National
,ouncfl
1t will be the duty Of the Commission and
ill give the member thereof pleasure 10 re-
urn TO TahleQuah when the National Council
meets in November next and be ready to corr
'lete q treaty enbOdying this offer in case the
d1er is accepted bv that body. The Commits
ion will leave Tahlequah tomorrow morning
o pursue its labOrs in other parts OF the Tern
Org. Its address will be for som. time in care
DR.. Bennett, the Indian agent.
Returning our thanks for the hospi:ab,e en-
which has served to rcn ,er car
tay in this Nation so agreeable to Us. We lave
ne honor 10 be yours, very respectfully.
LUCIUs F~AIRCHiLD,
A. n. WILSON.
Commissioners.
he Pres1dents Return tn Washington.
FAIL RIVER. Mass. Aug. Is-Fron
to Fall River the Presidential
rip was . series of ovatiqns. the numbzr
'eing limited only by thes stops that wer-
and each having q peculiar charac-
eristic Of its own.
Nashua was the one city where, after
the President left the train. Ac-
by Governor Goodsll and Other
men he was driven through til.
lty, from one depot to tbs other. und-=
10 escort Of the Grand Army posts ami
lilitia amid the usual demonstrations