Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-06-02

away Its vested tights thereto,
guaranteed by such treaties" Since
this decision the Executive depart
ment have held that the question
of citizenship was properly under
Cherokee jurisdiction, but in spite
of urgent and continual appeals,
has not taken the necessary steps
to eject these violaters OF law. To
remedy this abuse one OF the i'm
portant stipulationS of this agree
ment is to secure action 10y which
the United States will certainly
fulfil its too long delayed obliga-
tions. This is one OF the impOr-
tant reasons Tor making the sale
Its urgent necessity, otherwise,
must be apparent to every candid
man. Senators and members of
Congress of the United States, and
executive officers continually urge
on our people the necessity of di-
viding our lands among our peo-
pie. This 1t will be seen can
not be done as long as number of
iawless intruders are allowed to
hold possession of large and vaiu-
able tracts. After this sale the
reserved lands of the Cherokee ma
ton will be barely sufficient for
the support of her large and in
creasing population. The home
tract to be reserved is largely COM
posed of rocky broken land, not
making even good pasturage,
fiinty and sandy hills covered to
great extent with scrubby timber.
In division there probably would
not be 20 acres of tillable land to
each of its present population.
If we are to take this step, the
wisdom of which you urge upon
US, the necessity for removing the
intruders will be apparent. The
real purpose of these intruders Is
to ultimately secure a considera-
ble portion OF our most valuable
lands, and to persist in their law
less occupancy until they can get
it. We presume no one would
sustain them in such a fragrant
claim, nor can any good be
secured for any interest, yours or
ours, by continuing this bad and
unsettled condition of affairs. In
asking this we ask nothing but a
right formerly guaranteed to us,
and the required performance OF
which is in your own statute
books. In all the cessions Of land
made by the Cherokees one of the
valuable considerations was a re-
newed pledge for the integrity of
the remainder and when reduced
to what will be no more than a
living for our people, we asked
this pledge, which Is an important
part of the ST pulatlon for which
we sell our land at low price.
These intruders stand confessed
violaters of your own law (see p.
H1S, Revised Statute.)
Every person VINO makes
settlement on any lands belonging,
secured or granted by treaty with
the United States to any Indian
tribe, or surveys or attempts to
survey such lands, or to designate
any OF the boundaries by marking
trees or otherwise, is liable to a
penalty of one thousand dollars. "
Also p. 2l17)
Every person who drives, or
otherwise conveys any stock of
horses, mules or cattle, to range or
feed on any land belonging to any
Indian or Indian tribe, without
the consent of such tribe, is liable
to a penalty OF one dollar for each
animal OF such stock" and Sec
ton 2l43, If any person who has
been removed from the Indian
country shall thereafter at any
time return or be found within the
Indian country, be shall be liable
to penalty OF one thousand dol
lars. ,"
Paragraph 2164, provides that
the property OF any
friendly Indian is taken by an in
.ruder. the latter shall pay to the
lggrieyed party twice the am cunt
n value.
If these intruders pretend to
claim Cherokee blood, they vio-
ate the Constitution and law of
he nation by attempting TO act as
citizens until their claim has been |
determined, and by seizing poses
ion of property, cutting or sell
ng timber, grazing cattle, etc, are |
vilful depredators, without an eX-
use or apology. The Commits
ioner of Indian affairs in his re- /
'ort accompanying this agreement
ays:
" | do not see that any new OBJ |
lgation in respect TO removal of |
ntrnders is entered into by this
greement, and it seems to me
My a reiteration of obligations
lready in force" (p. Z, Senate,
*. Doc, So
He refers and quotes the decis-
on of the Supreme Court on page
&, as follows;
" One of the highest preroga-
ives of a government is the right
D declare who are its citizens and
he Supreme Court in the case of
he eastern band of Cherokees, etc.
U. 5. Reports, p. 2oo) declared
q effect that this right of self gov
rnment, which has been secured
D the Cherokee nation, gave that
alton the right to determine who
re entitled to citizenship therein
The Commissioners sent out by /
be United States, making many
isits during two years while ne
otiating this agreement say : (p.
l, Elk Doc. 5o.)
" There can be no doubt that
uch persons are here without
ight aud only as naked trespas-
srs." They cannot legally ac-
uire right in the soil, nor its
roducts, nor any improvement
ley may make thereon"
In reference to the proposal that
"a 4arp,c Of this arraan,apt shot,ld