Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-06-20


---svr---~---~~s---~~s s.-s-r.-stzs.-..rr.rs.su
States, concluded at Washington
on the 18th of November. 1873,
which reads rs follows.
The Cheyenne aud Arapahoo
tribes Of Indiana hereby code, re-
linquish and convey TO the United
States al their right, title and in
terost in and to the lands cedod to
them by article second Of treaty,
October %, 1867, in the Indian
Territory, and included in the fol-
lowing boundaries, viz. Com
mencing at the point whore the Ar
kansas river crosses the 07th par
allel of north latitude; thence west
on said parallel, the said line being
the southern boundary Of the State
Of Kansas, TO the Cimarron river
sometimes called the Red Fork Of
the Arkansas river;) thence down
the Cimarron river, in tho middle
of the main channel thereof, TO the
Arkansas river; thence up the Ar
kansas river in the main channel
thereof, 10 tho place of beginning.
Mr.. J.W. Powell, director Of the
Bureau Of Ethnology, in his fifth
annual report, says:
BY the treaty Of October %, 1867,
with the southern Cheyennes and
Arapahoes the United States un.
dortook to set apart as a reserva-
ton for their benefit, all the coun.
try between the State Of Kansas
and the Arkansas and Cimarron
rivers. The bulk OF the tract was
within the Cherokee limits west Of
90 degrees. As a matter Of fact,
however, the Cheyonnes and Arap-
ahoes could not be prevailed upon
TO take possession Of THE tract and
were finally,by executive order, 10.
Gated on territory to the southwest
and outside the Cherokee limits.
Pursuant TO the act of May 20,
the Commissioner of Indian AT
fairs negotiated an agreement with
the southern Cheyennes and Arap-
ahoes in the following autumn, by
which they ceded TO the United
States all interest in the country
set apart for them by the treaty Of
1867, and accepted in lieu thereof, a
reserve which included within its
limits o portion Of the Greek do
main lying between the Cimarron
river and the North Fork Of the
Canadian.
This agreement with the south.
ern Cheyennes and Arapahoes not
having been ratified by congress,
m agreement was concluded late
in the following year by the Com
missioner Of Indian affairs with
both the Cheyennes and Arapa-
hoes, whereby they jointly oeded
the tract assigned them by the
treaty OF 1867, as well as all other
lands to which they had any claim
in the Indian Territory, in consid-
Grafton Of which the United States
agreed to set apart other lands in
that Territory for their future
home.
In the light ofthese facts it ap-
pears that although the United
States made several attempts, with
out the knowledge or concurrence
Of the Cherokees, TO appropriate a
portion of the latter's domain TO
the use OF other tribes, yet as a
matter Of fact these tribes never
availed or attempted to avail
themselves of the benefits thus
sought to be secured to them, and
the Cherokoes were not deprived
at any time Of an opportunity to
sell any portion Of their surplus
domain for the location Of other
friendly tribes.
Now, in the sublime language OF
the Arapahoe what right have
they and The Cheyennes TO claim
100000 acres Of our western
lands9 Tho yillainous suhter-
fuges resorted to, 20 wrong the
! Cheiokeos out OF their lands, be-
cause they ore not willing TO take
q dollar and a quarter an acre for
them, are many evidences that
their title 20 them cannot be dis
turbed. II this were not the case,
proverbial straws would not be
caught at TO accomplish des-
perate purpose.