Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-01-16

are prohibited.
Article seven of this treaty pro-
vides expressly that a United
States court shall be created in the
Indian Territory and until created
the United States district and
circuit court nearest the Cherokee
nation shall have exclusive origi-
nal jurisdiction Of all cases, civil
and criminal, between the inhabi-
tants or the aforesaid district and
other citizens of the Cherokee na-
ton. All processes issued in said
district against a Cherokee outside
of said district shall be void un-
less indorsed by the Judge of the
district IN which the process is to
be served. A ike rule shall gov
ern the service of processes issued
by Cherokee officers against per-
sons residing in the aforesaid
district"
We respectfully call your atten-
tiOn 10 the act of congress passed
ard approved March 1st, 1889,
which Is "An act &c establish a
United States court in the Indian
Territory and for other purposes. ~
and we here state that said court
Is organized and located at Musko-
gee, about forty miles south and
west of the south boundary line Of
the aforesaid districts; and there
is no United States district or cir
cult court created and located in
the Cherokee nation nor in said
district; that the said district and
country and the inhabitants there
Of are without the benefits and ju-
risdiction of any court of the Unit
ed States except the limited juris-
diction given the Muskogee court
aforesaid, and doubtful limited
criminal jurisdiction Of the same,
retained by the United States dis
trict court for the western district
of Arkansas. located at Fort Smith,
Arkansas, 40 miles distant from
this district and country.
Your mem0rialists further state
that the Cherokee citizens living
and residing in the southern, east
ern and southeastern portions of
the Cherokee country are in com-
paratively n much shorter distance
from the courts at Muskogee and
Fort Smith than those living in
the country and districts occupied
by these memorialists, and that
the rules and laws created and
adopted requiring these people to
attend the courts at Muskogee and
Fort Smith do bear oppressively
on the citizens of the CherOtee ma
ton, residing in the aforesaid dis
tricts. and that the same is dis
eliminating against these citizens
in comparison with other districts
and inhabitants of the Cherokee
nation.
And your memOrialists further
show that there is located and sit
ualcd in the aforesaid districts and
country at the crossing Of the
aforesaid railroads, 4 town or vii
lage named and called Vinita.
This town is incorporated and or
ganized under the laws OF the
Cherokee nation; that it has a
mayor, town council and a mar
shal; that it contains 1900 inhabi-
tants; that it is the largest town.
and that it contains the largest
business interest, and that there is
a.largsr volume Of business annu-
ally transacted at this town than
at any other in the Cherokee na-
tion; that it has a healthiul loca-
ton and a commendable location
to create a town; thatitis situated
quite near the geographical center
OF these districts aforesaid; that il
Is about thirty miles south Of the
south line of the state OF Kansas
and about the same distance from
the east line Of the Indian Terri
tory; about fifty miles east of the
Usage line
In consideration Of the facts
herein set forth these memorial
lists state that they have a right TO
have and respectfully ask con-
gress 10 create and locate a United
States court with full, ample and
adequate jurisdiction at said town
of Ninita, in said district and
country; that said court is now a
necessity to protect and preserve
the rights of the Cherokee citizens
and to secure to them and all the
people herein, and these memo
rialists, a lawful and proper juris-
dietiOn 70 redress the wrongs and /