Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-08-04

utiuIC tlle IemONW Oh any lntTuu-
er who came prior to the 11th day
of August, 1886, the value of his
improvements shall be ascertained
by appraisers appointed by the
president of the United States,
and paid to him by the Cherokee
nation, such improvements upon
payment therefor to become the
property of the Cherokee nation.
In testimony taken before the
committee, parties representing
the nation and the intruders alike
stated that approximately the sum
of $3.50, 600 would be a full cash
value of all the improvements
made by such intruders; and it
seems to the committee that the
Cherokee nation can we'll afford to
pay the just value of such inn
provements and become the owner
thereof, and that the same can be
done without ultimate loss to the
nation.
The third paragraph Of article 2,
in which exclusive jurisdiction
over citizens of the nation either
by birth or adoption is guaranteed,
the committee refuse to recon-
mend for adoption. We do not
believe that the United States
ought to place itself where it can
be claimed that it has guaranteed
any new or enlarged jurisdiction
of the courts of the Cherokee na-
ton or indeed that it is now re-
affirming any guaranty of juris-
diction whatever. The anomalous
condition of five separate, inde-
pendent Indian governments with
in the government of the United
States must soon, in the vety ma
ture of things, cease. The guar
antees heretofore granted to In
dian nations grew out of the policy
adopted by the British govern
ment and was maintained until
1871. Our whole policy of deal.
ing with the Indians since that
time has been changed. 1t is now
the purpose of the government to
mafe them citizens as rapidly as
possible and to wipe out all lines
of distinction. 1t is evident the
day is rapidly approaching when
the Indians constituting these in
dependent governments must be
absorbed and become a part of the
United States.
In regard to the question of land
in severalty the committee be-
lieves that a considerable number
of Cherokee citizens would be glad
at the present time and under the
present circumstances to take land
in severalty, and thus become fully
clothed with United States citizen
ship. The committee, in view of
these facts, recommend that they
be allowed to do so at the earliest
possible moment and adds the
following section to the agreement.
The consent of the United States
is hereby given to the allotment
of land in severalty within the
limits of the country occupied by
Cherokees, Greeks, Choc taws,
Chickasaws and Seminoles; and
upon such allotments the individ-
uals to whom the same may be
allotted shall be deemed to be in
all respects citizens of the United
States. And the sum of twenty
FIVE thousand dollars, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is
hereby appropriated to pay for the
survey OF any such lands as may
be allotted by any of said tribes of
1T - isilts td4of unouIuOts %
said tribes. And upon the allot-
ment of the lands held by said
tribes, respectively, the reversion-.
airy interest of the United States
therein shall be relinquished and
shall cease.
With reference to the present
relation between the United
States government and the five
civilized tribes, and the advantages
to be derived by the Indians as
well as the United States by the
surrender of such governments and
their incorporation into our sys-
tenn, the committee submits the
treaty stipulations bearing upon
that question, and providing for
such a change whenever it should
become expedient. The 22nd art.
of the treaty of 1866 provides for
the survey and allotment of the
lands of the Cherokee nation when
ever the national council shall re-
quest it. That the present anom-
alous condition cannot continue
for ever must be apparent to every
one. The day is passed when
these Indians can be kept to and
by themselves, free from the in
termingling Of the whites. They
have themselves allowed and in.
yited white persons to come among
them, until now the white people
outnumber them, and they do not
differ materially from other white
communities. The reason of the
guaranty that they were to be al
lowed to live to themselves has
long since ceased to exist. They
have Of their own choice become
nothing more nor less than white
people. II is believed that the
Indians themselves feel that the
time is rapidly approaching when
they must become citizens of a
state. Doubtless some of them
would prefer to have it delayed,
but the logic Of events is RAPIDLY
Fastening the time when this
question must be solved. Better
qualified to become citizens OF the
United States than any other In.
dians, the sooner they take their
lands in seVeralty the better it will
be for them is the judgment OF the