Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-05-26
THH WHITn MANS RIGHTS.
Judge Clingan Takes Issue With
Captain Jackson.

must Say Capt Jackson handles
the subject extraordinary well to
have 40 foundation, as | perceive
except a distant scent Of the ex-
pected sale Of the strip; IN such an
event, NJ he was correct, bonus
OF several hundred dollars would
be roalized The manner and
way he spoke Of Dean as regards
his supposed Ignorance of the con
stiuution would rather create an
uulayorable impression, even If
the Captain was right in his views.
! do not attempt to decide this
matter only desire to present it in
its true light without prejudice or
expected favors In this | take
opposite sides to Jackson who
harps upon defending the Chero-
kee constitution; | cannot think
that any enlightend person claim.
ing allegiance to our country would
attempt knowingly to violate it.
Now Capt. Jackson, you are a
lawyer and expected to be well
posted, did you ever know among
civilized nations where they were
governed by a constitution, that in
their constitution a bonus was
given a foreigner by authority Of
the nation, or in other words there
are 25, 600 shares in lands of the
Cherokee nation and % 1000 people
own them; does the constitution
authorize one OF those indiyid-
uals, on account Of marrying for
eigner, a right to dispose ofa por-
ton OF every share in order to pur-
chase he or she d partner for
life ? What constitutes a right to
soil Il? First by compensation, by
will OF gift, by discovery and by
power. Now Captain have you
gotten the right claim by either
mode, did you ever pay the Cher
okees for land, did they by will or
gift give You land, did you first
discover our country and hold by
such discovery, or are you trying
to arbitrarily holding a right to
soil, or are you trying to bul!doze
right2 Constitutions are not
framed for the purpose of taking
away the property OF another and
giving il away without compensa-
ting the owners. You can become
a citizen OF a nation with all free
rights without requiring indiyid-
uals TO divide their inherited
rights with you Captain, your
marrying in the Cherokee family
only gives you the right to handle
your wife's portion OF this nation;
unless You think you deserve boot
you should be satisfied. The na-
lional council have said YOU had no
rights TO the soil when they |
passed a law allowing whites to
buy rights for $500, several years
ago, when Joe Bennett bought in.
Council seeing our country would |
De over run repealed the act; by SO
doing they have said you lad no
rights to soil and that they did |
hot want you to have, The Coun-
cil is the only authority to act Tor
tie nation and their acts are the |
nation s., same al the United States
congress acts for the United States.
Our constitution, like that of the
United States, gives all citizens
equal rights, civil and political and /
allows you to rustic for a living
without giving it to you. The
white adopted occupy a different
status to the Delawares and Shaw
nees, they paid for an interest in
the soil and with a specified un.
derstanding between the Chero-
KEGS, the United States and them
selves. The freedmen, by virtue
Of the treaty of 1866 has set apart
100 acres of land for each person,
complying with the provisions of
The fourth article. No record
ever names white adopted as be-
ing interested in soil. If Wm.
Jackson S view of the constitution
was correct, how long would we
have home, virtually Offering
about $1,000 to any one who will
marry Cherokee by blood. The
women could sec no peace for
such men as Jackson, suppose all
Chcrokees would marry whites
and all part and remarry, would
we not have a fast time giving
away our land for nothing? Only
buying white husbands and wives
we would get SO poor soon we
would be unable to buy. Can you
not see il is not the constitution Of
the Cherokee you are defending
j ackson, nor to the interest Of any,
one but self2 You ask Mr.. Dean
what he gave for his right and see
if you understand it; he gave up
his home in Georgia for this; if
that is true Mr. Dean gave his in
terest In that home and soil for his
interest In this home and soil
Different to white adopted he
does not sell his lands or exchange
.hem as did Dean for an interest in
.his soil. Indians inherit their
land from their forefathers as the
whites inherit their relatives es-
tate. The white man who comes
10 as Capt. Jackson to the Chero-
zee nation is similar to a foreigner
becoming a citizen of the United
who takes the oath OF allie
siance to the government and re-
.inquishes all right Of protection ,,
rom any other nation. In con- ,,
lusion if the adopted whites be-
ieve their rights are being tramp
ed upon there are chances for re-
iress, and no Cherokee will. think :
ess of them for contending, as the
Delawares. Shawnees and Freed
men, That in my opinion would
settle the matter lOr ever and sat
siactorily. Before saying more
VIII await further developments.