Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-02-20
THE TERRITORIAL BILL.
Several Senators Speak for Chero-
kee Rights.


From Fridays Globe Democrat,
are taken the following notes on
speeches made by different sena--
tors on the Oklahoma bill. 1t is
evident that the territory Of the
five civilized tribes will not be in
cluded in the bill, nei ther will
No "Man's Land -
Mr.. Dawes opposed the amend
ment, although he said he agreed
with the senator from Missouri as
to the importance and inevitability
of the Cherokee outlet becoming
soon a part Of the public domain
and TO become so, not by spolia-
tion, but by reasonable and fair
compensation. He believed that
that end could have been accom-
plished long ago, and could have
been accomplished last summer If
there had not been threats mingled
with the negotiations. There had
been held up to the Indians nego-
tiations in the one hand and
sword in the other. That had
been the radical defect in all nego-
tiations with the Indians. 1t had
been announced within the last
six months by those who had been
sent to negotiate with the Chero-
kee Indians that unless they ac-
cepted the proposition to part with
their land at s1.25 sn acre the land
would be taken from them; and a
distinguished statesman had
thrown out the idea Gas if it would
help the negotiations that Il was
within the power of the United
States to condemn the land for
public uses. He added that he
had also seen in newspaper that
the secretary Of the interior had
supplemented that threat by II
statement that the Cherokees had |
no title at all.
Mr.. Jones defended the commits
sion. He did not believe it had |
threatened the Cherokces in any
way.
Mr.. Plat remarked that when it
became evident that the Cherokee
nation was determined not to cede
the land, but to hold it, because
they were backed up by cattlemen
or others, he did not believe that
there was a member of the senate
or of the house who would not be
ready to say that if that were the
position that the Cherokee nation
occupied, the United States would
be justified in abrogating the trea-
ty and taking the land.
Mr.. Teller said the Cherokees
could not be divested of fee title
by legislative action. He was as
tonished by the suggestion of Mr.,
Platt. He realized that the lands
held by the Cherokee Indians
would have.to become the homes of
white men; but the Indians would
have to be paid what the lands
we're worth. The lands in the
Cherokee outlet could be sold to-
in bulk at s5 per acre
and what right, he asked, had the
United States to say that the In
iians should part with them at a
price less than their value ? If the
government could not afford TO !
bay fair price, and give away
he land, it should buy il. from the q
indians aud sell it to the settlers.
Mr.. ingalls, opposed the amend
nent. The imputations that had I
'een cast upon the social condi-
ions in No Mans Land and Okla ;,
iona in this debate were not borne t,
nut by history. They were not il
'laces of refuge for convics, crimi- e
als and malefactors. On the +,
ontrary, during the past six or
light months those communities
ad been in existence, they had
FINISHED additional proof of the
apacity Of the American people
,r self-government. Without any
rganized institutions, without
-atutes, without force, without -,
ny OF the ordinary appliances Of A.
overnment, they had maintained r
in condition Of soci al 90
rder that might be an example to il
lrrounding communities. He M
ad been surprised at the state esi
Ients and concessions made by an AZ
Ir. Dawes and Mr.. Plat that it Be Is'
light be necessary for the United
iates 10 take possession Of the
herokee reservation; that their
nds stood in the way of oiviliza- II
on. The senate, which repre- II
nted the conscience and convic- II II
ons Of the American people, was
Id that, because there was a Ca
amor for more land, the govern
snt had a right to say to that peo- sr'
e that their lands we're needed, wi
d that they had to sell them for OI1
latever the government saw fit mo
pay for them. Aud when any me
IN stood mp in the senate or Gs