Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-03
The TOYS.


and benetcent purposes of the govern
ment. l cannot but believe that the
advantageous character of the offer
made by the United States to the
Cherokee nation for full release of
these lands, us compared with other
suggestions now made TO them, will yet
obtain for II favorable condition.
THE NUsCoGEE NATION.
Under the agreement made between
the United States and the Muscogee
(or Creek) nation of Indians on the
10Th day OF January, 1889, an absolute
title was secured by the United States
TO about three and half millions acres
OF land. Section IL of the general In
dian appropriation act approved March
q, 1889, made provision for the pur.
chases by the United States from the
Seminole tribe of a certain portion of
their lands.
THE SEMINOLE NATION.
The delegates of the Seminole ma
ton, having first duly evidenced to me
their power to act in that behalf, de-
livered a proper release and conveyance
TO the United States of all the lands
mentioned 10 the act, which was ac-
cepted by me and certified to be in
compliance with the statute. BY the
terms of both the acts referred 10 all
Wiz AtNAho ~ MtAC uCCldlNu
10 be a part OF the public domain aud
open TO settlement under the home
stead law, but of the land embraced in
those purchases, being III the aggre.
gate about i've and a half million
acreS. thrae-did half million acres
had already. under the terms of the
treaty of 1866, been acquired by the
United States for the purpose of set.
Ting other Indian tribes thereon and
had been appropriated TO that purpose.
The land remaining and available for
settlement consisted of So, 100 acres,
surrounded on all sides by lands in the
occupancy of the Indian tribes. Con.
gIesS hadproyided no civil government
for TIE people who were To be invited
by my proclamation To settle upon
these lands, except AS the new court
which had been established at Musco-
gee, or the United States court in some
of the adjoining stAtes, had power to
enforce the genera laws of the United
States. In this cGhditiOn of things |
was quite reluctant TO opening the
lands 10 settlement
nj PROTECTION or SETTLERS.
But IN view of the fact that sew
eral thousand persons, many of them
with their families, had gathered upon
the border of the Indian Territory
WIN a Wow VI NNNAtAA lux hOAlNcNNttuo
on the coded lands, and that delay
would involve them in much loss and
suffering, 1 did, on the 23d of March
last, issue "a proclamation declaring
that the lands therein described would
be open TO settlement under the pro
visions of the law on the 22d day of
April, following, at - O'Clock noon.
Two land districts had been estab-
lished, and the offices were open
for the transaction of business when
the appointed time arrived. 1t is much
to the credit of the settlers that they
very generally observed the limitation
as TO the time when they might enter
the territory. Care will be taken that
those whO entered in violation of the
law do not secure the advantage they
unfairly sought. There was a good
deal OF apprehension that the strife for
location would result in much violence
aHd -D1OOdshed, but happily these antic-
." ipatious were not realized.
POPULAT1ON OF THE TERRITORY.
1t is estimated that there are now in
the territory about 10000 people and
several considerable towns have sprung
up, for which temporary municipal
governments NAYS been organized.
Guthrie Is said TO have now a pOpula-
ton of almost eight Thousand. Eleven
schools and uiue churches have been
established and three daily, and five
weekly newspapers are published in
this city, whose charter and ordinances
have only the sanction of the voluntary
acquiesceuce OF the people from day 70
dag. Oklahoma City has a population
of J.0NO, ana IS prOpOrtlOnately as well
provided rs Guthrie with churches
schools AID newspapers. Other towns
and villages having populations of l0C
TO 1000 are scattered over the territory
MILITARY Orders.
In order to secure the peace of the
new community In the absence of civil
government / directed Gen. Merritt
commanding the department OF the
Missouri, to act IN conjunction with the
marshals of the nited States to pre-
serve the peace ana upon their requisi-
ton to use the troops to aid them in
executing warrants ana in quieting any
riots or breaches of the peace that
might occur. lie was futher directed to
use his influence to promote good order
and 10 avoid any conflicts between OF
with these settlers.
ARDENT SPIRITS PROHIBITED.
Believing that the introduction and
sale of liquors where no legal restraints
and regulations existed, would en-
OF the fact that such liquors must first
be introduced into the indian reserva
tons before reaching the white settle
ments. ] further directed the general
commanding To enforce the laws relat-
ing TO the Introduction of ardent spirits
into the Indian country. The presence
of the troops has given a sense OF Sc
curity to the well disposed citizens, and
na<>-d 10 restrain the lawless. IL
one instance the officers In immediate
command OF the troops acted further
than ! deemed justlliable in support
ing the defac.o municipal government
of Guthrie, and he was so Informed
and directed to limit the interference,
of the military to the support of tn,
marshals on tine lines indicated In tn,
original act.
TIE NEED OF COURTS.
very urgently recommend that con
gress at once provide territorial gov
eminent for these people. SeHOu
questions which may at any tifle leat
feJVaDfenU Utttbfeaks are awaiting TIN
institution of courts for their peaceful
adjustment. The American genius 10
self government has been well illus
trated in Oklahoma, but II is nelthe
safe nor wise 70 leave these peopl
longer 20 the expedients which hav
temporarily served them.
LAWS FOR ALASKA.
Provision should be made for tina
ACQUISITION of titles to town lots II
towns now established IN. Alaska TO
locating town sites and f0t the estab
lishment of municipal governments
Only the mining laws have been ex
tended to that territory, and no othe
forms of title TO lands can now be oh
a L..