Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-02
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
The Cherokee Commissioners Addres
Chief Mayes Officially.
Uncle Sans Proposition to the Indians TO Sell
Out Win be Submitted To-Day-Per
Capita Money at Hand.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
TAHLEQUAH, 1. T. Aug. 1.-The chief
is considering the proposition made by
the commissioners last night who declare
shat its contents viii not be made public
until the chief is ready to answer it. 1t
was left with him to decide when the
next business session would be held, and
the agents of the United States govern
ment are quietly awaiting his action.
On being asked by a reporter when he
would call the meeting he said ''I do
not know, but just as soon as have time
to consider this proposition, for 1 do not
want to delay the business of the COM
mission. -
At this moment the chief opened a
copy of the Fort Worth GAZETTE and
said he wanted to correct a mistake
in regard to not having received
any information from any member of the
Cherokee commission of their coming
He said: 81 received letter fresL Gen
Fairchilds written at Fort Gibson and.
dated July %, but did not receive it
until last Monday, the day the commits
sion arrived. The people are in the
midst Of a great political fight and are
not giving their attention only to the
business of the commission, but mostly
to the coming election, which is next
Monday -
Each member of the commission recog-
niZed this fact and did not feel the least
discouraged on account of their actions.
Gen Fairchild and Ex-Governor Hartealt
spent the day in reading. Judge Wilson
engaged himself by walking about and
cOnversing with his friends at this place.
He is well acquainted here and is a great
friend Of every Cherokee.
At late hour a reporter secured
copy of the first letter of business be-
tween Chief Mayes and the commission.
The letter from the commission was sub
United last night and was answered late
this evening.
To Hon. Joel B. Mayes, Principal Chief of the
Cherokee Nation.
The undersigned commissioners, ap-
pointed by the president of the United
States under act of congress dated March
81, 1889, to treat with the Cherokee and
other Indians owning or claiming lands
west Of the SO longitude in the Indian
Territory for the secession to the United
States of their title, claims and interests
of any kind or character in or to
said lands, are authorized to
submit to the Cherokee nation PROPOSE
ton by which they shall cede to the
United States in the manner and with the
effects aforesaid all their rights in said
land upon the same terms as provided III
the agreement made with the Greek In
dams of date July 9, 1889, and rati-
fed by congress at its last ses-
sion. The commissioners are now
ready to submit to the Cherokee nation
the proposition above stated, and they
request that they be in
formed when and to whom the same be
submitted. Your obedient servants,
TSigned. LUCIUs FAIRCHILD,
ALFRED WILSON,
J. F. HARTEALT .
The following is the reply of Chief
Mayes:
Hon. Lucius Fairchild, Alfred Wilson, J. F.
HarteaIt:
"SIRs-I have the honor to be
in receipt of your favor of the
3lst ult., stating that you had
been appointed by the president of
the United States, under act of congress
of March 81, 1899, to treat with the
Cherokees and other Indians owning or
lands west of the Goth degree
of longitude in the Indian Terri
tory for the cessIOD to the United
States of their title, claim and interest
of every kind and character in said land,
and were authorized to submit to the
Cherokee nation the proposition that said
nation shall Cede to the United States in
the manner and with effect aforesaid all
the right of said nation in the said land
upon the same plan as is provided in the
agreement made with the Greek Indians,
dated January 10, 1889, and ratified by
congress at its last session, and request
ing to be informed upon what day
and to whom the same may be submit
ted.
''In response to this inquiry you are re-
spectfully advised that any hour con-
yenient as principal chief of the CheTo-
kee nation l can receive from you such
as you may see proper to
submit. In this connection it will be
approved by this department if you will
make explicit your presentation of the
subject when you submit it, giving full
details or the law under which you act.
- have the honor to be very respect
fully. Signed J. B. MAYEs. -
Horace Seed, secretary of the commits
sion, said that the commission would
make their proposition in full tomorrow
giving in full every detail as
regards to title, etc.
Hon. r. B. Ross, treasurer of the |
Cherokee nation, arrived here this even
ng with 500 600, the annual fund from
The United States government.