Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-05-26

1917 the United States bnly
agreed to remove but ~ pro
ceed against them," for intrusion,
( p. 80, revision of treaties In
the sixth article OF the Treaty of
1885, p. 20, revision, treaues.) it
is stipulated that they q" shall be
removed by the order of the Pres
ident"
In Article 20 of the Treaty of
1866, the United States guaranteed
the Cherokee Nation against all
interruption or intrusion from per-
sons attempting to settle in their
country. and in the 9th Article
all persons not citizens Of the
Cherokee Nation aie To be prohibi-
ted from coming in or remaining
in the nation, (p. SO, Revision of
Treateis.) All of these provisions
and others not enumerated, are
still of binding force and effect and
obligatory on the United States.
Up to 1874 the Government
had in the main faithfully executed
its obligations when called on by
the Cherokee Nation. At that
time not less than 10000 persons
had invaded the nation and thous-
ands of cabins were built by law
less persons determined to take
possession. Then the troops drove
them off burning the cabins. In
many instances since that time on
the request of the authorities of
the nation, intruders were forcibly
removed, notably in 1879 and in
1881 from these very lands we
now propose to sell. In doing
this, as treaties require, no more
is done than is continually done
in other States when msS, invade
the property of other people.
Since 1875, however, intruders
have been endeavoring to find
Judgement in the lands east of 500.
1t is provided in many ofthc treat
les with the United States that
these regulations should not pro-
hibit the employment of non-citi-
zens as farm laborers or hired me-
chanics. Under this system for
many years these laborors, on per-
nit, were hired under the laws. of
the Cherokee Nation, usually a
small fee or tax being exacted from
the Cherokee employer. All these
parties were perfectly aware that
their sojurn there was Temporary,
and required them to remove at
the close of their engagement.
Many Of them in a peaceful and
orderly manner did so remove.
A few others were determined law
lessly to remain under a vague
hope that the country might be
opened for white settlement, and
that they would gain some advan-
tage from theiI lawless intrusion.
The greater part of the intruders
however, came in laWlessly in the
first place on various preteXts.
Usually the preteXt was that they
had some small modicum OF Indian
blood through some ancestor.
Many Of them would go into court
and not being able to show any
blood were decided lntruders, but I
refused to remove. Others, now
ever, knowing they had no claim
would not even 20 to court, but |
proceeded to appropriate all the |
benefits of occupancy. Many of |
them cut and sold valuable timber I!
walnut and oak. Others ship |
ped coal; others drove in herds to
Craze free of pasturage and tax on .
our lands; others opened farms on |
Cherokee land, paying neither |
rent nor tax and selling the pro- |
ceeds, making money out " Cner; /
okee property So long Is they /
could remain it was to them a
source of profit. There are intru-
Gers in the Cherokee Nation who /
have made fortunes In this way, /
and it j. safe to say that not one |
of them would loose anything he |
took there if be was removed to-
morrow. This intrusion was law
less in the beginning and in all of /
its subsequent stages, and now |
they merely seek to further profit |
by their wrong.
(TO b. c0RiiHUcd.)