Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-22
THE CHEROKEE OUTLET.
chief Mayes Replies to the Offer of tn.
commissioner Pointed Rejoinder of the

Pointed Rejoinder OF the
Commissioners
IAHLEoUAH. L T, Aug 16-The Com
missioners have at last received Chief
Mayes' answer tot their proposition. he
consumes 1000 words in discussing the
Cherokee title TO the Strip. II +. refuses to
cal! the National Council in extra session,
, saying that such step would not hasten
matters any, as the Cherokee Constitution
would have to be changed in case the
: Cherokees should desire TO cede part OF
their lands 10 the United States aud a
change in the Constitution could not be
made until the general election in
August 1891. He saws that
the term ''outiet" wasused unadvisedIy by
the Commis siOnerS, as il is known to.
the CheTOkeeS and by the United
states treaties as the Cherokee country. 4"
de asked for an explanation as to the
.ands occupied by the PonCas, Pawnee.
Nez Perces and Cites and MiSsouris and
concludes the request by asking the Com
HllsSloners to submit proposition that the
people can understand. The letter con-
cIudes with the desire that the Commits
sloners convey to their Government the
confident belief Of the Cherokees that the
most august legislative assembly on
earth" will NOT, at the behest of clamorous
boomers, Gespoil the Cherokee people of
their rights
The Commissioners returned the follow
ing reply, after which they left for the
Choctaw agency:
Hon. joel B Rqyes. PrineipaI CkisT Cb,roE..
Nation, TdhisQaad:
TAHLEQUAH. T. Aug. I3-Sir: We have
the honor TO acknowledge receipt of your letter
OF yesterday In reply thereto we beg to say
That the Commission intended to and we think
did make an explicit and exact offer on the
part OF the United States TO pay the Cherokee
Nation S1.25 per acre for its title. claim or in
terest, good or bad TO all the land embraced in
what Is known as the Cherokee Outlet west
OF the Arkansas river including the lani on
winch other Indians are now located deduct
lug from the amount OF purchase money the
sums the United States has already paid 10 the
CherokeeS on account Of the lands in the outlet
west OF the river and that offer covered all the
lands west Of the Arkansas river within the
oouhGares OF the Cherokee patent or the six
teenth article of the treaty OF 1866
Your Government knows and so does the
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 tb,
Government Of the United States know lust
how much mone- has been heretofore pad on
account Of lands in the outlet west OF the Ar
kansas river. There can be no possible mlsun-
Outstanding on that point The act Of Congress
and the instructions OF this Commission which
nave been outlined in a former letter, show ex-
actly the extent OF the authority OF this Com
mission So there can be no misunderstanding
on that point
we note your observations upon the history
OF the claim title or interest Of the Cherokee
NnTT in I
fully call your attention TO the fact that these
effects do not raise the question OF the offer OF
SiS5 per acre whether the title, claim or
interest is good bad or Indifferent The ques-
hOn as 10 what if any title the Cherokee Ma
tion has to these lands would come up for dis
cussion If the United States were negotiating
for this purpose with the question of title
IN view, but in making this OFFER
and for the purposes of this offer
only, 1t valves any aud ell advantage it might
have in such negotiations given TO the Cherokee
Nation for this occasIon-advantage OF any
trouble or question which may exist in the ma
ture of their title claim or interest in or to the
lands Of the Poncas, PaWnees, Nez Perces and
Otoes and Missouris. The object OF the United
states in including those lands in its offer 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 TO
their land perfect beyond question and
give to the Cherokee Nation the advantage Of
receiving Sl.25 per acre for such lands Waiv-
ing for this occasion the right of the United
States TO settle for these lands at the appraisal
thereof heretofore made by the President also
for the remainder Of the Outlet which by the
same treaty and appraisal the Government has
the right to settle friendly Indians upon; the
reason for including these lands in the offer
was so apparent that we did not think and do
not think now any explanation was necessary.
We do not see how any misunderstanding is
possible on that point.
We also note your observation as 70 the
necessity Of q change in certain provisions Of
your Constitution dating from 1879 before the
Cherokee Nation can take effective action upon
This offer. This proposition is a surprise to US
The treaties since 1899 make transfer OF lands in
Kansas and lands in this Territory, and pro-
vide for transfer by the National Council Of
other Cherokee lands in Arkansas and States
east of the Mississippi. The validity OF this
transfer has never been questioned by the
Cherokee Nation and it has received and re-
tanned the purchase money therefor without
question The transfer under the present offer
would, we think, be as valid Us those were, and
the United States will be entirely satisfied
With transfer confirmed by the National
Council.
1t will be the duty OF the Commission and
will give the members thereof pleasure TO re-
ura TO Tahlequah when the National Council
meets in November next and be ready to com
1lete treaty eInbodying this offer in case the
,ner is accepted by that body. The Commits
ion will leave Tahlequah tomorrow morning
o pursue its labOrs in other parts of the Terri
DRY. It's address will be for some time in care
Il DR.. Bennett, the Indian agent.
Returning our thanks for the hospitable en-
ertainment which has served TO render our
tay in this Nation so agreeable to US. We have
he honor to be yours, very respectfully.
LUCIUS FAIRCHMD,
A VI. WILSON,
Commissioners.