Wichita eagle., 1889-10-25

| council chamber, which is a small,
| well constructed wooden building. At
this place the commissioners met them
| and public negotiations began. The inter
view did not last long, since most of the
Indians did not seem disposed to talk, and
it did not take the commissioners long to
tell them what they were there for. The
entire council sat wrapped in their blank
cts, maintaining a stole silence, while
their countenances stolid rs though cast
in bronze, gave no sign either of dissent or
approval throughout the colloquy. No
! where was anything like lively interest
manifested. except on the part OF the COM
missioners.
General Fairchild addressed them, stat
ing that the Cherokee commission was
appointed by the president, under act OF
congress. to buy lanos west of the ninety
sixth meridian. To that fact the Sacs
owed this visit, and for that purpose they
had come among them to confer with
mission originally consisted OF three mem
bers, but owing to the recent death Of Gen
eral Harcranft, it left but he and Mr.. Will
son, with Mr.. Speed, secretary, to fulfill
the trust. Judge Wilson spoke as
follows: 1T is not desired by US to buy
lands which Indians for their comfort
ought to keep Congress desires now and
and keep as much land as they need But
the Sacs and Foxes here number 525 and
hold 479,66S acres reservation. Part of it
is very good for farming; large portion is
not frst-class farming land. There are
over 100000 acres now doing you little
good. None, except what you get for
grass lease from the Saginaw and other
cattle companies. Now the United States
wants you to consider whether it is best
for you to keep 100000 acres doing yol
little or no good or withdraw to the good
land and take it up among yourselves
and own something, and sell the
remainder to the government
The government wants you to sell
for white settlement what you do not
need for yoursel yes. for which it will pay
in cash fair price, or large interest for
ever. The government will allow you to
take 100 acres for every head OF family;
eighty acres for each person oyer Ia: forty
acres for every one under IA. If father
and mother die, the land goes to the chill
dren; if children die, the land goes to the
next of kin; this much land is to belong to
you and you alone forever. This would
take up about AZ, 500 acres, leaving you
about 437, 0CO acres to dispose of to the
government. This would bring at least
$500, 900, over 81 600 for every man. woman
and child, or. if you leave it on interest,
it would bring in about so per head every
year in interest. This would give each
family large farm and the interest on
more than 81 900.
THE president thinks it is best for US
to talk to you now, before the whites come
in too close. so you have time to choose the
best land. 1t is very difficult to keep the
restless, pushing white man away from
your reservation. Many of them have no
homes and are very Door and want homes;
you have great deal of land here doing
you no good, and which would bring
you heaps of money if sold We think it
best for you to sell. We are here as friends
to make bargain good for both sides. We
have spoken to you so you may think OF
what we have said and council among
yourselves We will be here again next
winter and you can reply to us then after
you have talked over it,
Chief Keokuk arose and said that he did
not understands; the government gave
them all money alike, in like amounts, yet
they now proposed when they divided the
land to give some of them 100 acres and
some only forty acres; he thought they
should have AL like amounts. The new
born babe drew as much money as
the grown man-it should have been as
much land. He said they felt flattered and
glad that they were honored with this
visit, and they would think over what they
were told and answer next winter"
No further replies were made by the
councilmen, but your reporter overheard a
group of them talking, and on question
ing an interpreter found they were saying
that their ancestors for ages had made
bargains with the white man, and each !
time were beaten-the Indians receiving
beads or blankets and the white man get |
ting their land and moving them farther |
away Late that evening the commission |
left for the Kickapoo village.