St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-16
CHIEF OF THE OaoOrAws.

His Views on the Interference of
the United states Government.
WASHINGTON, July 15.-The secre-
tary of the interior today received from
Chief Jones, of the Choctaw nation, the
following letter, in which he pointedly
expresses his views as to the interfer-
ence Of the government in the execu-
ton of the nine Indians sentenced to be
shot on Aug. 4:
Executive Office, Choctaw Nation,
Tushkahoma. Choctaw Nation, Indian
Territory. July 5, 1S93.-To Hon. Hoke
Smith, Secretary of the Interior of the
United States, Neutrality-suspicious. Sir:
On July 2, 1898, message from Hon. j.
/. Hall, of your department, was re-
ceived at Tushkahoma, being at said
place at special session of the Choctaw
nation general conference, desiring to
know if l had, as governor, power to
commute the sentence of any one con-
victed of murder and sentenced to
death under the laws of this nation.
10 this message answer was returned
in the negative. There is no law or
constitutional provision authorizing the
principal chief to commute or stay the
sentence of any one convicted of MUIR
der and sentenced to the death penalty
under the laws of the Choctaw nation.
No power whatsoever by our cOnstitu-
ton and laws is conferred upon the eX-
ecutive to grant reprieves, communications
of sentence and
PardOnS in any Case.
Thereafter, on the 4th day of july,
1898, Col. FalsSon. United States Indian
inspector, called on me at said place.
and presenting your letter OF the Goth
ult. with the request that your wishes
should be complied with, and that at
least suspension of the execution for
thirty days be ordered, aud claiming
that we had the power under the treaty
of 1856 in the interest of the domestic
peace. Col. Faisson was advised
that there was no law or consti-
tutiOnal provision authorizing anv
such course. However, after fully dis
cusslng the matter with Col. FaiSsOn, a
conference was had with Hon. w. VIII
son, national auditor; Green McCurrin.
national treasurer, and jacob b. Jack
son, national secretary, in regard to the
matter which had been so suddenly
presented, 1t being almost upon the eve
of the time fixed for executing the
death penalty upon the parties SEN
fenced to death as aforesaid.
AS a result OF said conference I have
arrived at the conclusion that it would
be advisable and polite to have the
execution OF the aforesaid parties STAYED
by the Judge OF the court in which said
parties were tried, to wit: The First
Judicial district court of the Choctaw
nation, until Aug. 4. 1898, if at NV re-
quest he saw fit so to do, and at once
have requested Hon. n. J. Nelson.
judge Of the aforesaid court. to star
execution until the aforesaid date.
Notwithstanding that the right of
SeIf-GOvernment
has been guaranteed to us by treaty
and that our laws are being fairly and
impaTtially enforced, the United States
has for three times in succession. and
without Just cause, we think, interfered
with and thereby INSTRUCTED the due
proper administration and execution of
law; and this, without there existing
any domestic strife" to authorize and
excuse such interference on the part of
the United States.
However, they. being anxious and de-
SirOus clustering amicable ana friendly
relations with the United States
through your department. and TO as
certain where the lines will be drawn
when through its departments{it will
cease from interfering with the execu-
ton and administration of our laws. s0
that we could govern ourselves inteJIi-
gibly and feel assured of the effective
and moral support Of the United States
in the enforcement of our laws and nun
IShment OF crimes. and Of ascertaining
if the autonomy of the ChOctaW nation
would be respected and fully preserved
and upheld. L concluded, as herein adj
YIsed, to request the judge of the
aforesaid district court to STAY eyecu-
ton OF sentence until Aug. 4, 1898. so
that the fullest investigation could he
made by you, and the evidence ana pro-
ceedings had in our court on the trials
OF the parties aforesaid could be OBJ
tanned and forwarded to you: assuring
you that we court and challenge investi-
cation, without fear or favor. This course
is further deemed advisable in Justice
to my people and to myself. feeling GER
tain that you will be fully and amply
convinced that in these cases Justice
mas been dealt out to the parties fairly
and impartially by our courts, and that
they had melted to them a merited and
deserved sentence.
Kindly permit ME to call your atten-
ton TO the fact that if these parties
have been convicted without authority
at law. or without due process of law.
the courts of the United States have
ample power to protect them. Very re-
spectfully, W. n. JONES
Principal Chief Choctaw Nation.