Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-04

Review of the Work of the Sioux and
Cherokee Com

Cherokee Commissions.
The last Congress enacted two distinct laws re-
lating to negotiations with the Sioux Indians of
Dakota, for portion of their lands to the United
states and for dividing the remainder into sepa-
rate reservations. Both were approved on the
same day-March 2 The one submitted 10 the
Indians specific proposition; the o her (section
= OF the ln01an appropriation acD authorized the
President TO appoint three commissioners TO ne
g0tiate with these Indians for the accomplish
m me OF the same general purpose and requiIed
to Congress Tor ratification On the 10th day of
April iast | appointed Hon. Charles Foster, of
Ohio; Hon. Wm. Warner. OF Missouri, and Maj
Gen. GEO. Crook, of the United States army COM
missjoners under the last named law. They were,
however. authorized and directs d first to submit
to the indians the definite proposition made to
them by the act first mentioned. and only in the
event OF a failure 10 secure the assent of the
requisite numbec to that proposition to open ne
got1at!Ons tor modified Terms under the other
act. The work of the commission was prolonged
and arduouS. but the assent of the requisite
number was, II is nuderstOod, finally obtained to
the proposition made by Co gresS, though the re-
port of the commission has Tot yet been submit
ted In view OF these facts shall not, as at pres
ent advised, deem 1t necf ssary tC submit the
ag-eement TO Congress for atlticati0n, but it WILL
III due course, be submitted Ior ratification. This
agreement reeases to the United ct ties about g..
coo 900 acres OF land.
the commission pI divided for by section IA OF
the Indian appropriation bill TO negotiate with
the Cherokee Indians and all other Indians own
ing or claimiDg lands /, ing west of the ninety
sixth degree OF longitude, Tor the cessiOn to the
United states Nj such lands, constituted
by the appointment OF Hon. Lucius F aichild, of
WISCONSIN,: Hon. John r. HART amt, of Pennsyl-
vapis and Hon. Alfred NJ. " ilson of Arkansas.
and organized June - last. Their first COD
ference with / representa- YES of The Cherokeee
was held at 1ableguah, July 20, with no definite
results. Gen. John r. Hartranft, of PenDSyl-
vania. was prevented by ILL., health from to king
part In the conference. His death, which oc
Cured recently, is justly and generally lamented
by people he had served with conspicuous
gallantry in war and with great fidelity in peace
The vacancy thus creaied was filled by the ap-
pointment of Hon. Warren q. Sayre, OF Indiana.
A second conference between the commission
and the Cherokees was begun Novemb Der 8, but no
results have yet beer oblaned nor Is it believed
that conclusion can be Immediately expected.
The cattle syndicate low occupying the lands for
grazing purposes Is Gle .rly one OF the agencies
responsible lOr the obstruction OF oQr negOtia-
lions with the Cherokets. The large body of
agricultural lands constituting what is known
as the "CherOkee Outlet ought not to be, and
indeed cannot long be held for grazing. and
for the advantage of q few against the public
interests and the best advantage of the Indians
themselves. The United States has now under
the treaties certain rights in these lande These
will not be used progressively, but 1t Cannot be
lowed that those who by sufferance occupy
| these lands shall interpose to defeat the WISE
and benehcent purposes of The government L
cannot but be ieve that the advantageO us char.
aeter OF II e offer made by the Un1led states
to the Chez okee Nation, for lull release of
these lands compared with other sugges-
ttons now made to them. Will yet obtain for 1t
q favorable consideration.
Under the agreement made between the United
States and the MuscOgee (or Creekl Nation OF Inoi
ans on the 18th day of January. 1889 an absolute
| title was secured by the United ates 10 about
three and a half millions OF acres OF lana. Sec
ton ~ of the general Indian appropriation acr,
| approved March >, 1882 made provision Tor the
purchase by the United States from the Sena1nole
tribe of certain portion of their lands Fhe
delegates OF The Seminole Nation, having first
duly evidenced to me their power to act in that
capacity. delivered proper release and convey
ance TO the United States OF all he lands men
toned in the act. which was accepted by me and
certified to be compliance With the statute.
Sy the terms OF both the acts re erred TO all the
lands so purchased were declared to be a part of
the pubic domain and open to settlement under
| the homestead law. But OF the lands embraced
in these purchases, being in the aggregate ABOUT
$500 900. S500,000 acres had already. ander the
terms of the treaty of 1866 been acquired By the
United states for the purpose OF settling other
Indian tribes thereon. and had been appropri-
ated to that purpose The land Remaining and
| available Tor settlement consisted OF I.SSI19~
acres, surrounded on all sides by lands in the oc
| cupancy of Indian tribes. Congress had pro-
videu no civil government for the people who
were TO be invited by my proclamation to settle
/ upon these lands, except az the new court.
i which had been established at Muscoyee. or the
United States courts in some OF the adjoining
states, had power 10 enforce the general laws OF
| the United states. In this condition OF things
was quite rel uctant to open the lands to settle
menI. But i'll view of the fact that several thou
| sand persons. many of them with their families,
| had gathered upon the borders of the Indian Ter
| ritory, with view OF securing hOmeSteadS on
| the ceded lands, and that delay would involve
| them in much loss and suffering, | did, on
the sd day OF March last. Issue u proc
| lamation declaring that the lands therein oe-
/ scribed would be open TO settlement under
the provisions OF the law On the 22d day of ApIll
following, al l. O'Clock noon. The land districts
| had been established, and the offices open
| for the transaction OF business when the ap-
pointed time arrived. 1t is much to the credit of
| the settlers that they very generally observed
| the limitation 10 the time when they might
enter the territory. Care viii be taken that those
who entered in violation of the law do not secure
| the advantage they unfairly sought. There was
| good deal OF apprehension that the strife for
| locations would result in much violence and
| bloodshed, but happily these anticipations were
| not realized 1t is estimated that there are now
in the territory about 1000 people; and several
| considerable towns have sprung up, for which
| temporary municipal governments have been
org anized Guthrie is said TO have now popu-
| lation OF almost 5000. Eleven schools and nine
| churches have been established and three daily
and five weekly newspapers published in
this city, whose charter and ordinaries have the
| sanction of the voluntary acQuiescence Of the
| p opIe from day to day. Oklahoma has popu-
| lation of about 5000, and is proportionatey as
well provided as Guthrie with churc hes, schools
| and newspapers. Other towns and villages hav-
ing populations of from 100 to 1000 are scattered
| over the territory.
In order to secure the peace of this new COM
munity in the absence OF civil government, L
| directed Gen. Merritt, commanding the Depart
/ Missouri act in conjunction with the