Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-05-08

] Nondii are lhfohBu hilh bl Altil
wives and subject to forfeiture for
certain causes, the impression can-
not be otherwise than that the pro,
vision is either an arbitrary or a
thoughtless one, Such persons
being citizens Of the country by
the recognition Of Cherokee law,
and not by any right in them
selves or by right Of purchase or
inheritance, and the liability be-
ing dependent upon the quantity
Of acres the debtor may be in pos
session Of, to which he nor any
native citizen can claim an indi-
vidual title, the question becomes
pertinent, what kind Of title to
this excess Of acres can the court
convey TO the purchaser? Seeing
that our lands are held in COM
mon and no citizen entitled to
more than might be a pro rata
share Of the lands when equally
divided, which may take place in
the near future, what guarantee
Of continual possession can the
court give? An occupant title on
| ly, which the constitution gives
every citizen Of the country, and
only gives, is all there is in IL.
The idea is a foolish one, prompt
ed by inordinate greed and disre-
spect for the equal rights of all, 70
think that a citizen, native or
adopted, can hold to the exclusion
Of others more than about one
hundred and sixty acr es to each
member Of his family. A dis
gorgement, without the privilege
of dog to return to his yomit,
must inevitably, in the nature and
eternal fitness Of things take place
This digression from the purpose
of this communication was not in
tended, but it may be taken as a
sort Of an interludc to freshen
the performance-and to en-
liyen the perceptiye faculties Of
many of our citizens.
To continue therefore in line
with the original purpose the fol-
lowing is quoted from the remarks
of Senator Platt when the merits
Of the act were being debated pri-
or to its passage;
"Mr president, the senator from
South Carolina knows that | have,
with him, been determined that
the treaties of the United States
with the Cherokee Indians and
the other Indians belonging to the
five civilized tribes should not be
violated; certainly not until as it
may possibly become necessary to
take political jurisdiction over the
whole of the five civilized tribes,
but that time has not come: per-
haps it never viii. The senator
knows that l have intended and
have tried in the consideration Of
this bill relating TO the Indian
Territory and Oklahoma country
to preserve our treaty obligations
with the Cherokees and the other
tribes of the five civilized nations.
! think ifthere are any objections
against this conference report they
DO not lie in the ISOLATION Of the trea.
ties toith the Indians."
When we reflect that Mr.. Platt
was the chairman of the confer
ence committee and supervised its
deliberations, it must be conceded
that he was in a position to know
whether or not any treaty provis
ion with the Indians was actually
infringed by the act. Consider
ng likewise that half a continent
lies between his state and the In
dian Territory, it must be ac-
knowledged that no home polite.
al incentives could prompt a con-
cealment or an evasion Of facts.
Added to these reflections is a
name ranked among the greatest
Of American statesmen and upon
whom no honor could be wrong
fully conferred.
In the same debate upon the
bill Mr.. Cullum, a senate member
of the conference committee, said
Let me say that the committee
Of conference on part of the senate
tried to strip the bin Of everything
that was in it, as nearly as posi-
bic, that in any way conhicted
with any treaty obligations on
part Of the government to the
Indians occupying that territory,
and in my judgment they succeed
ed in doing it. I"
In another part of his argument
he says Il undertake 10 say
that the bill reported by the con-
ference committee violates no
treaty stipulation"
1t appears from these quota
tions that there is no intention on
part Of the senate conferees to
violate any treaty stipulation with |
the Indians Of the territory. This |
ought to be construed to be the in
tent and purviewof tho act. and it is