, 1889-10-31
THECHEROKEE OUTLET
A Cattle Company Buoking
Against the United States.
NOBLE TAKES A FIRM POSITION
He Denies the Right of Cor
poration to Lease Indian
Lands.

WARRINGTON, Oct. 20. - Secretary Noble
has addressed u long letter to Governor
Fnirohild, chairman OF tho Cherokee
commission, In which he defines certain
positions the department will maintain
In negotiating with the Cherokees for
the purchase Of Indian lands In the
Cherokee outlet. The secretary refcrs to
tho illcgitimate influence OF the Cherokee
strip Live stock Association In attempt
ing to thwart the bcneiicent purposes of
tho government, and reaches tho con-
clusion that the syndicate proposes to
outbid the United States for these lands
and to enter tho arena as citizens con-
tending with the national government.
The secretary insists that the cattle
syndicate falls within the law pro-
liblting citizens from making lenses
with Indians; that leases of the Cherokee
outlet ure unlawful and illegal; that the
president has authority 10 declare In
valid an agreement or lease for grazing
purposes made contrary to the pro-
visions OF the law, which provides that
purchase, lease or grant OF Indian lands,
to be valid. must ba made by treaty pur-
siiunt TO the constitution, and that the
president has authority to remove un-
authorized persons from the reservation
whenever their Presence is believed to bc
detrimental to the peuce and welfare Of
the Indians.
The secretary shows that the syndicate
proposes to possess and lease the land ut
|2OW,OOO year for the first tive years,
$lDO.OoO for the next five years and $72D, :
OO for the last five years. The govern
melit proposition shows that the uher-
okccs VIII get from the United states at
least $I,OOO,OO0 after dcducting pay nonts
says, Is presumably one of the ordinary
Kind of which hundreds have heretofore
existed and disappeared with loss Of
their assets, No responsibility attaches
To tile individuals composing the cor
poration, and IL 1t did, they are persons
whose fortunes, however great they may
be to-day, ure liable to fluctuations al.
tcniant upon such ventures.
The prices offered as rental arc deemed
by all acquaintcd with the subject us cx.
trivagant from first to last. The gov.
crnmtnt of the United states Is seeking
land only for the good OF the people--to
furnish new honies tor n vast number
who wish by their labor TO redeem IL
from n wilderhcss or plains roamcd over
by scattered herds.
The secretary, In conclusion, says that
the proposition of the United States is
not only lair but muniiicont, while
title To use OF the land, even by tho
Chcrokecs, is precarious that the cattle
syndicate has no authority to make q
leuse such as Is proposed, and by It's evil
dcnt intention TO rival anu defeat the
government OH which 1t depends Tor all
claim TO indulgcnt consideration, IL can
and ought to be expelled from the outlet.
The secretary therefore announces, In
order that II may be communicated
without delay to the Cherokee nation,
that In his opinion those who propose
to make leases will do so with tho
knowledge that such leases arc unauthor.
lied and may at amy time, within dis
cretion of the United States government,
the negotiations of the United States
gives occasion for tho government 10 con.
slider the propriety of f1aying Its hands on
these citizens acting In defiance Of law
and against the public interest,
and to restrain them from proceed.
ing further in this direction. II is
deemed necessary that such lcsseos
with their property on or before the 1st
OF June next II it be deemed proper not
to fix a time earlier, that they may
escape without injury or suffering tn
their cattle and herds. IL Is deemed TO
be to the best interests of the Cherokee
people TO receive at the hands of the
government fund the interest on
which will give them n steady, reliable
and abundant amount for improvement
and advancement in place OF the future
payments offered by "a transient corpora
ton which has no claim or authuTIty 10
take these lands, but that no right IA
hereby waived. If the Cherokces do not
wish 10 sell they are at liberty to keep
their lands under the broad burdens
rt~ tt,.t hnr t,. <.E e..I
States, unless the United States sees tit
hereafter 10 assert its right by superior
title, and that tho Cherokees shall re-
ccive under any circumstances the same
indulgence and generous treatment they
have heretofore ana so long enjoyed