Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-07

but to some extent appropriated to Indian
uses BY the Government amounting 70
,277, e5O.i9
For the lands which are not only Unassigned.
but are unoccupied, and which have been In no
way appropriated 1t appears clearly just and
right that price OF at least LES should be al
lowed TO the Creeks. They held more than the
ordinary Indian title, for they had q patent in
fee from the Government. The Osages Of Kan
sas were allowed s1.25 per acre upon giving up
theirreservation, and this land Of the Creeks IL
reported by those familiar with it to be equal
to any land in the country. Without
regard to the present enhanced value OF
this land, and il reference be only had to
the conditions when the cession was made no
less price ought to be paid for IL than the
ordinary Government price. Therefore, in this
provisional agreement which has been made
with the Creeks the price Of .25 has been set
tied upon for such land with the deduction of
the thir y cents per acre which has already
been paid by our Government therefor. As to
the remainder Of the unassigned lands, in view
OF the fact that some use has been made OF
them OF the general character indicate ted by
the treaty Of 1866, and because some portion OF
them should be allotted to Indians under
the General Allotmentcact and to cover the ex-
penses of surveys and adjustments diminish
ment OF 20 cents per acre has been acceded to-
1
lands, thus combining the unassigned and en-
iirely unappropriated land being the Oklahoma
country containing 1872 7O4 20 acres at 95 cents
per acre and the remainder which has been ap-
propriated to the extent above stated being
i,277 10 acres at 80 cents per acre the total
price stipulated in the agreement has been
reached-S2 go 057.
But as it was desirable that the Indian title
should be beyond question extinguished to all
parts of the lands ceded by the Creeks in 1866.
with their full consent and understanding the
agreement OF cession has been made to en-
brace q complete surrender of all claim
to the western half Of their domain. including
the assigned and the unassigned lands for the
price named. So the agreement takes the form
in the first article Of such q cession and in the
second article is stipulated the price in gross Of
Ii the lands and interests ceded with no de-
cailed reference to the manner Of the ascertain
nent
The overtures which led to this agreement
were made by repres entatives of the Creek
Nation who came here for that purpose. They
were intelligent and evidently loyal to the
interests of their people. The terms of the
agreement were fully discussed and concessions
were made by both parties. 1t was promptly
confirmed by the National Council of the
Creek Indians, and its complete contamination
only awaits the approval of the Congress Of the
United States. l am convinced that such rati-
fcation will be Of decided benefit to the Gov
eminent, and that the agreement is entirely
free from any suspicion Of unfairness or injus-
tice toward the Indians.
desire to call especial attention to the fact
that to become effective the agreement must
be ratified by the Congress prior to July i. 1882
The draft Of an act of ratification is herewith
submitted. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, February s. 1889.