Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-06-30
< AsUB-ooMMIrrEE REPORT.
Extract From Cherokee Commits.
eioner 6ayre's Statement.

resenting the Cherokee Citizenship
association):
@. You mention this Citizenship
association; do you know anything
personally in regard to that body
of people or Cherokees, as they
are calied2-A. No, sir; not as
body. am personally acquainted
with several Of the persons who
claim to be members of the Citizen
ship association.
q. The statement you have
made here, il | understand you
correctly, is derived from infor-
nation you have received while
you were in the Indian Territory
| A. Largely from information.
@. Was that information prin-
cipally from Cherokees who were
recognized citizens and authorities
of the Cherokee NATIONAL. The
information was principally de-
rived from persons in authority in
the Cherokee nation and persons
recognized as Cherokees by Cher
okee authority; and some of the
information was obtained from
persons who are denominated IN
truders.
@. Can you say whether those
persons have had a fair and inn
partial trial or not?-A. l never
saw the court in session and never
saw the record of the court.
Q. Now, you propose, under
this first article, that these people
shall be evicted as intruders upon
the demand of the principal chief
of the Cherokee nation2-A. Yes.
@. Would that include persons
that have never had any trial in
the Cherokee nation and who are
there?-A. 1t includes every per-
son who does not come within the
classes that are exempt under the
provisions of that article.
BY Senator Platt:
@. As l understand by this arti-
Gle, the persons to be elected are
those not recognized as citizens of
r the Cherokee nation by the consti-
tuted authorities thereof; before
anybody can be taken | suppose
it must be established that he was
not recognized as citizen of the
nation by the authorities thereof.
That is preliminary question be-
fore you eject MANA. Ger
tainly.
BY Mr.. Hubbard;
I @. Do you consider that the
constitution of the Cherokee ma
ton is one of the constituted au-
thorities OF the Cherokee nation, "
or what are the CONSTITUTED au-
thorities of the Cherokee nation?''
A. | have to say, right there, that
, 1 did not write that part of the
contract; but adopted the Language
that was insisted upon by the
Cherokees. The question came
up there as to what were the con-
> slituted authorities; and it was
concluded that the constituted au-
thorities were those that were in
authority under the constitution
: and laws of the Cherokee nation
4 By Senator Plat:
I, q. Was there any hearing be-
, fore your commission given to per
sons who were called intrudersi
e A. No, sir; and there were 10 ap'
e plications by anybody to be heard
that | now recall.
@. Where were these negotia
tions held?-A. They were helC
in the supreme court room a
Tahlequah, and the negotiations
resulting in this agreement wer,
I largely open to the public, that is
e many persons besides the com
missioners were there at differen
] times.
e @. How long did the negotia
: tions continue?-A. They contin
I. ed from about the 18th of Novem
4 Der last until probably the 18th o
{ December-one month.
/. Q. How far did this body, th'
D Watts family, reside from Table
( quah?-A. They were probably
= fifty miles from Tahlequah.
: By Mr.. Hubbard:
: @. How is it to be determine,
b, who are intruders and who are not
2 A. / suppose that when the prin
5 cipal chief would make a demand
upon the executive department o
n the government 10 remove an in
i truder the executive department
/ would ascertain in its own wa.
4 whether he was a recognized cit
: lzen of the Cherokee nation; woul'
4 ascertain whether he came within
S any of these exemptions; whethe
e the person was in the employment
v of any railroad or telegraph com
J, pany; or whether he was there a
t i missionary; or whether he wa
y there under the provisions Of an.
Il law of the United States or an
i law of the Cherokee nation, or o
! any of the treaties between tn
G Uherokees and the United States
Q and when satisfied of the fact tina
: ne did not come within any o
e these provisions he would be or
dered to go, and l suppose h
J. would 60.
}; Y. Ihat would necessitate, then
d some further legislation or som
b plan by which this fact, Of thes
d people being intruders or other
}. wise, could be determined?-A
d Well, / should think there wa
e nothing for the executive depart
Il nent to do except TO ascertain
= hose facts whether he came with
y in any of the inhibitions Of tn
o contract.
y By Senator Plat: