Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-02-20
OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE.

WAsHISGrox. d C., Feb. II. $50
ED.TnR CHIEFrAIs 1T may be
interesting to your readers to learn
what the times and Indications
portend here, so l viii give you a
short chapter on probabilities as
they relate to the Indian Terrific
" and to Indian matters.
There is nothing just now more
ominious than the establishment
Of the numerous courts in the ter
ritory, as provided in the Springer
bill The ugly appearances are in
the envasive jurisdiction of the
courts and the enforcement Cf laws
of which the natives of the country
are wholly ignorant. What the
bill proposes in the establishment
Of the courts, no far-seeing man
viii fail to discover to be aggres-
siye and progressive in their tend
ences, and that in them gradual in
vasion of the old order Of things
and usurpation of native authority
are not only possible but probable,
to say the least. Comparatively
1t is conquest of a country and
sUbjugation of a people by hos
tile invasion by foreign laws
which in their execution are TO be
applied according to the definition
the general Of the invading forces
may be pleased TO put upon them.
The jurisdiction Of these courts
viii certainly never grow less, nor
remain fixed as TO limits The
wedge Is partly in and is being
gradually driven home. The es-
tabiishment of the court at Musko-
gee by an act of last congress. and
those that are 10 be, with increased
jurisdiction, is undeniable proof of
this. A surer way and one more
ultimate in its efforts could not be
better devised, under any plea of
right or privilege.
1t is like kicking against pricks
to demonstrate against snch meas
ures, when you are confronted By
the assertion that it is no usurpa-
tiCn of privilege, but treaty right.
Jurisdiction may be SO defined
that the In.1ian governments may
control of all specifically
theirs, yet constructions in the nice
determinations between the rights
Of the nations and the rights of the
United States viii always be in IA
vor Of the latter. Conflict and un-
accommodating conditions, and
the Ill temper of harrsssing rela-
tons viii certainly have their ten
dencies.
These reflections are occasiOned
by looking over Mr. Springer's
bill TO organize the territory of Ok
Iahoma and to establish courts in
he Indian Territory, which has
been amended and printed several /
lines. 1 have Just been to the /
room Of the house com
nittee on territories where | was
presented with a copy by Mr.. |
Springer himself. This bill closes /
'urther consideration Of the sub 4
ects that are proposed to be /
.ffected. j
It divides the Indian territory 1
ntO three judicial districts. The
irst consists Of the Indian tribes
n the Quawpaw agency, the
Cherokee country east Of the 96lh
meridian and the Creek nation.
With district courts at Vinita and
The second, Of the Choctaw eoun-
~, with a court at AtOka.
The third, OF the Chickasaw and
seminole nations, with courts at
irdmOre and Purcell. These
'Ourts have exclusive original ju-
.isdiction within their respective
districts. In addition to these
here is to he one supreme court to
which appeals may be made, and
f the matter in controversy is Of
iuch a nature, from it TO the SUI