Dodge City times., 1889-12-05

by every moral agency, and those falling
should be compelled. The national
schools for Indians have been very sue
cessfui. and should be multiplied, and as
fa-as possible should be so organized and
conducted as to facilitate the transfer OF
the schools to the states or territories in
which they are located, when the In
dians in a neighborhood have accepted
citizenship and have otherwise become
fitted. This condition of things will
be attained slowly, but will be
hastened by keeping it in mind
and in the meantime that Co
operation between the government and
the Ilission schools which has
wrought much good should be cordially
and impartially sustained. The last con-
gress enacted two distinct laws relating
TO negotiations with the Sioux Indians of
Dakota for a REIMBURSEMENT of a portion
of their lands to the United States and for
dividing the remainder into separate re-
servations. Both were approved on the
same day, March I'd. The one submitted
TO the Indians, specific proposition, the
other (section 3, of the Indian appropria-
ton act) authorized by the president to
appoint three commissioners to negotiate
with the Indians for the accomplishment
of the same general purpose and require
ments that any agreements made should
be submitted to congress for ratification.
THE CHEROKEE OUTLET.
On the 10Th day of April last l appointed
Hon. Charles Foster of Chic, Hon. A. NJ.
Warner, of Missouri, and Maj. George
Cook of the United States army, commits
siOners under the last named law. They
were however, authorized and directed,
first to submit to the Indians the definite
proposition made to them by the act first
mentioned and only in the event of the
failure to secure the assent of the requi-
site number to that proposition to open
negotiations for modified terms under the
other act. The work of the commission
was prolonged and arduous, but the as
sent of the requisite number was, it is un-
derstood, finallyobtained to the proposition
made by congress through the report of
the commission has not yet been sub
mitted In view of these facts,sI shall not,
as at present advised, deem it necessary
to submit the agreement to congress for
ratification but it will in due course be
submitted for information. This agree
ment releases to the United States about
nine million acres of land The commits
sion provided for by section IA of the In
dian appropriation bill to negotiate with
the Cherokee Indians and all other In
dians owning or claiming lands lying
west of the ninetysixth degree
of longitude for the cession to
the United States of all such
lands was constituted by the appoint
ment of Hon. Lucius Fairchild of Wis
consin, Hon. John F. Hartranft of Penn
sylvania, and Hon. Alfred NJ. Wilson of
Arkansas, and organized on June go last.
Their first conference with the represen-
tatives of the Cherokees was held at
Tahlequah, July 90. with no definite re-
suits. Gen. Jno. +. Hartranft of Penn
sylvania, was prevented by i'll health from
taking part in the conference. His death
which occurred recently, is justly and
highly lamented by a people he had
served with conspicuous, gallantry
in war and with great fidelity in peace.
The vacancy thus created was
filled by the appointment of Hon.
Warren G. Sayre of Indiana.
A second conference between the COM
mission and the Cherokees was begun
November sixth, but no results have yet
been obtained, nor is it believed that a
conclusion can be Immediately expected.
The cattle syndicate now occupying the
lands for grazing purposes is clearly one
of the agencies responsible for the OBJ
struction of our negotiations with the
Cherokees
The large body of agricultural lands
constituting what is known as ''the Cher
okee outlet" ought not to be, and indeed
cannot long be held for grazing and for
the advantage of few against the public
interests and the best advan
tages of the Indians them
selves. The United States has under
treaties certain rights in these lands.
These will not be used oppressively but
it cannot be allowed that those who by
sufferance occupy these lands shall inter
pose to defeat the wise and beneficent
purpose of the government, l cannot
but believe that the advantageous charac-
ter of the offer made by the United
States to the Cherokee Nation for full
release of these lands as compared with
other suggestions now made to then will
yet obtain for it favorable consideration.
OKLAHOMA.
Under the agreement made between the
United States and the Muskogee Tor
Creek nation of Indians, on the 18th day
VI JduudIy, 1000, stu dusOlutc tltlc WAS Be-
cured by the United States to about three
and a half millions acres of land. Sec
ton 12 of the general Indian appropria-
ton act, approved March 2, 1889, made
provision for the purchase by the United
States from the Seminole tribe
of certain portion of their lands.
The delegates of the Seminole nation
having first duly extended to me their
power to act in that behalf delivered a
proper release and conveyance to the
United States of all the lands mentioned
in the act which was accepted by me and
certified to be in compliance with the
statute by the terms of both the acts re-
ferred to all the lands so purchased were
declared to be a part of the pubic do
main and open to settlement
under the homestead law But of the
lands embraced in those purchases being
in the aggregate about five and one-half
million acres, three and a half million
acres had already, under 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
appropriated to that purpose. The land
remaining and available for settlement
consisted of 1887, ,795 acres, surrounded
on all sides by lands in the occupancy of
Indian tribes. Congress had provided
no civil government for the people who
were to be invited by my proclamation
to settle upon these lands, except as the
new court, which had been established at
Muskogee, or the United States court in