Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-12-11

lne last congress- enacted twth distinct
laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux
Indians. of Dakota, for REIMBURSEMENT Of
a portion OF their lands to the United States,
and for dividing the remainder into separ-
ate reservations. Both were approved on
the same day. March 2. The one submitted
| to the Indians specific proposition. The
other (section of the Indian appropriation
act) authorized the president to appoint
three commissioners to negotiate with these
Indians for the accomplishment of the same
general purpose, and required that any
| agreements made should be submitted to
congress for ratification.
On the 10th day OF April last appointed
| Hon. Chas. Foster, of OHIO; Hon. VIM.
Warner, of Missouri, and Maj Gen. George
Crook. of the United States army, commis-
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 fail
| ure to secure tles assent Of the requisite
| number to that proposition to open negotia-
tions for modified terms under the other
| acts. The work of tho commission was pro-
ionged aud arduons, but the assent Of the
| requisite number was. 1t Ia understood,
| finally obtained to the proposition made by
congress, although the report of the COM
! mission has not yet been submitted.
In view of these facts, l shall not, ns at
present advised, deem it necessary to sub
| NIT the agreement to congress for ratifca-
| ton. but it will IN due course be submitted
for information. This agreement releases
to the United States about 600, 900 acres of
land.
| THE CHEROKEE COMMISSION.
| The COMMISSION provided for by section
| IA, of the Indian appropriation bill, to ne
gotiate with the Cherokee Indians and
| all other Indians owning or claiming lands
| lying west of the 3bth degree of longitude,
| for fko &x>f %aI Sfo%a x,e ,H
such lands, was constituted by the appoint
ment of Hon. Lucius Fairchild, of Wis
| consin: Hon. John +. Hartranft, of
! Pennsylyania, and Hon. Alfred NJ. Wilson,
of Arkansas, and organized on June % last.
Their first conference with the representa-
| tives of the Cherokees was held at Tahlequah,
July %, with no definite results. Gen.
John +. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, was
| prevented by ILL health from taking part IN
the conference. His death, which occurred
recently, is justly and generally 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 9.
Sayre, of Indiana.
second conference between the commits.
sion'and the Cherokees was began Novem-
ber G, but no results have yet been obtained,
! immediately expected. The cattle syndi-
cate now occupying the lands for grazing
purposes, Is clearly one of the agencies
responsible for the obstruction of our nego-
tiations with the Cherokees. The large body
| of agricultural lands constituting what is
known as the Cherokee outlet,'' ought not
to be and cannot long be held for grazing,
and for the advantage of few against the
public interests, and the best advantage of
the Indians themselves. Tho United States
has now, under the treaties, certain rights
in thesa lands. These will no. be used
| 1o hat
those who by sufferance occupy these lands
shall interpose to defeat the wise and benefi-
| cent purposes of the government. l cannot
bst believe that the advantageous character
of tho offer made by the United States to
the Cherokee nation for full release OF
| tions now made to them, will yet obtain for
it favorable consideration.
ADMINISTERING THE LAND LAWS.
In the administration of the land laws the
policy of facilitating in every proper way
the sdiaetmsnt Of the honest claims Of in
pursued. me number Of pending cases
had, during the preceding administration,
been greatly increased under the operation
! of orders for time snspending final action
| in large part of the cases originating in the
west and northwest and by the subsequent
| use of unusual methods of examination.
Only those who areSfamiliar with the condi :
been settled can appreciate the serious and
often fatal consequences to the settler of a
policy that puts his title under suspicion, OF
delays the issuance of his patent. While
care is taken to prevent and TO expose fraud,
it should not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose of the homestead
and presumption laws was to promote the
settlement of the public domain by persons
| having bona fide intent to make home
on selected lands. Where this intent is wei
established and the requirements of Law
have been substantially complied with. the
claimant is entitled to a friendly considera-
ton to his case, but where there is reason to
believe that the claimant is the mere agent
of another who is seeking to evade the law
intended to promote small holdings and to
secure by fraudulent methods large tracts oi
timber or other lands. both princi-
thwarted IN their fraudulent pur-
pose, but should be made to feel the full
penalties of our criminal statutes. The
laws should be SO administered as not to
confound these two clauses, and to visi,
penalties upon the latter.
TO PERFECT TITLES.
The unsettled state of the titles to large
bodies of lands in the territories of New
Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded
provision should be made by law for the
prompt trial and final adjustment before q
judicial tribunal or commission Of all claims
based upon Mexican grants. 1t is not just
to an intelligent and euterprising people
that they should be disturbed and theil
prosperity retarded by these old conten-
tons. 1 express the hope that differences
of opinion as to methods may yet give way
} to the urgency Of the case.
Pensions.
The law provides pension for every sol.
der and sailor who was mustered into tht
service of the United States during the civil
war, and is now suffering from wounds O.
disease having an origin in the service ant
line of duty. Two or three necessary facts
viz; muster and disability, are usually sus
! ceptiblo of easy proof: but the third, origin
in the service, is often difficult and in man,
deserving cases are impossible to establish
That very many of those who endured tn
| hardships Of our most bloody and arduou
campaigns are now disabled from diseases
that had real, but not traceahle origin il
the service, do not doubt. Besides, Their
, ! is another class composed of men, many o
I whom served an enlistment of the three ful
years and Of re-enlisted veterans, who adde'
fourth year of service and who escapes
the casualties of battles and tn
| NsSIult3 vi QISestSS WHO WCA'
: always ready for any detail
, who were in every battle line Of their com
, mand and were mustered out in sount
health, and have. since the close of the war
while fighting with the same
, INDoMITAEr.E AND INDEPENDENT sPIRr
, the contest of civil life. been overcome b.
disease or casualty. nm not unnwar
that the pension roll already involves yer,
large annual expenditure. Neither am
deferred by that fact from recommending
. that congress grant a.pension to such honor
ably discharged soldiers and sailors of tn
civil war az, having rendered snbstantia
service during the war, are now depcnden
upon their own labor for a maintenance
and, by disease or casualty, are incapaci
! tated from earning It, Many OF tho me
who would be included in this form Of relic
are now dependent upon public aid. an
. IL does not, in my Judgment, consis
!. with the national honor that they shal
49, ttx<