Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-07-17

is guaranteed that each Delaware
shall have one hundred and sixty
acres. II each is not to have less
how cal, each claim more? a
CherokeN may get much less in
the event Of an allotment, but Mr..
Delaware is guaranteed one hun
dred and sixty acres, let cuts 90
MS they may, and that too of the
best lands in the country, because
they already have them. "lt is
indeed a poor rule that wont work
both Ways lin case of allot-
ment the Delawares are not to get
any more than Cherokees, there
might he some sense in the Della
wares claiming an equal interest
in all the lands with the Chero-
KEGS.
Because the agreement referred
TO contains likewise the following:
"And that there may be no
"doubt as to the amount to be
Contributed to the Cherokee ma
"tional fund by the Delawarcs, it
"is agreed by the parties hereto
"that the whole amount of the in
"vested funds Of the Cherokees,
"after deducting all just claims
thereon, is s67S,000."
"And the Delawares further
"agree that in calculating the to-
"tal amount of said national fund
"there shall be added to the said
"sum OF S67S, 900 the sum Of ST.
1000, 900, being the estimated val
cue of the Cherokee neutral lands
Sin Kansas, thus making the
"whole Cherokee national fund
"$l ,67S,000, and the last mention
"ed sum shall be taken as the ba-
isis for-calculating the amount
(Which the Delawares are TO pay
Unto the common fund" y
This quotation shows that the
basis for calculating the amount
the Delawares were to put in the
common fund did not include an
estimate of our western lands as it
did of the neutral in Kansas.
The inquiry is, why?
Because as stated in the begin
ming OF this argument, they had
been set apart for the settlement
Of friendly Indians; because such
settlement was so indefinite as TO
time, as already proven, and be-
cause the price per acre to be fixed
by the parties in interest was so
uncertain and subject to disagree
ment between them, and to inter-
ference and decision by the presi-
dent Of the United st ates, that no
definite value Of the lands could
be arrived at, so that the amount
to be paid in the common fund by
the Delawares was more a matter
Of conjecture than any thing like
mathematical calculation.
Because the Delawares, accord
ing to common sense and the prin-
ciples OF right and justice, have
an interest only in the one hun
dred and sixty acres each has
paid for, and in the invested fund
of s67S, 900 and in the 81 ,000,000
the estimated value of the neutral
lands in Kansas, increased by the
amount they contributed to these
sums.
Because the "equal terms in
every respect with native citi-
zens," mentioned in article Is Of
our last treaty. to which any civ
ilized tribe of Indians incorporat-
ed into the Cherokee nation is en-.
titled to, depends upon 4 pay
ment "into the Cherokee national
fund" Of ga sum of money ~which
"shall sustain the same proper
"Gon to the then existing
"national fund that the number Of
"lndians sustain to the whole
"number Of Cherokees then resid-
ling in the Cherokee country"
This "rule OF three" manner OF
determining the amount the Della
wares had to pay into the common
fund to entitle them to "equal
terms in evory respect with native
citizens" clearly demonstrates the
fact that any civilized tribe that
wishes to be incorporated into the
Cherokee nation must pay for an
interest in the national funds and
property before the tribe or any
part Of it can claim such an in
terest. If equal terms in every
respect with native citizens mean
that the Cherokees cannot hold
money or property outside Of its
adopted citizens, advantages are
all on the side Of the Delawares,
because they receive annual sums
outside Of the Cherokees, aud
would kick up a h of fuss
should the Cherokees claim any
part Of it. Such terms as "un-
principled scoundrels and
thieves" applied to the Chero-
KEGS for such an outrage, would
be but faint expressions Of dis
gust and indignation and Of explo-