The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-11-16

N TSe Of Su hs RA Mss pSaparsd Sy
Thomas Donaldson. expert Special Agent for
the Office and the report was made under his
direction by Gen. Henry B. Darlington, U. S. &.
(retiredl Special Agent for this purpose.
The Eastern Band Of Cherokees have been
TINS officially recognized 10 distinguish them
from that portion of the nation which emf
grated West, between 1909 and 1877. and To-
Gated on the public domain at the headwaters
of Arkansas and White Rivers, now in CherO-
kee Nation, Indian Territory, The latter te-
came known as the Cherokee Nation West.
while the general term, the Cherokee Nation,
included both. Between 1885, when certain
boundaries were allotted to these Indians for
bunting-srounds, and 1909 when the move
ment westward was initiated of their own
deliberate choice, annuities were from time to
time granted by the United States,in consider
alton of the successive sales to the United
States of portions of their land.
By treaty made in 1917, the Cherokee Ma
fien ceded 10 the United States certain land
lying east of the Mississippi River, and in
exchange for the same the United States coded
TO that part Of the Nation on the Arkansas
River as much land OH said river, acre for acre,
as the United States received from the CberO-
kee Nation east of the Mississippi River aud
provided that all treaties then in force should
continue in full force with both parts Of the
Nation.
As early as 1909 the aggregate of annuities
due the Nation on account Of the sale OF lands
to the United States had reached the sum of
0000 and it was provided by articles OF the
treaty of 1917 that census should be taken Of
those east and of those west, aud of those still
intending TO remove west, and also that di-
vision Of the annuities shOnld be made raiahly,
according TO numbers as ascertained by said
census between those who were east and those
who were west. Thus the tribe or Nation,
although geographically separated, was treated
as unit. and all property owned by it was
treated as common property.
BY a treaty made in 1919 the formal census
was dispensed with, and for the purposes OF
distribution il was assumed that one-tbird bad
removed west and that two-thirds were yet
remaining east of the Mississippi river. At the
same time the Nation made further cession to
the United States of land lying east OF the
Mississippi. Upon the basis of this estimate of
numbers, in lieu OF CENSUS, annuities were dis
fFibuted until the year 1885.
By treaty made in 1928 with the Cberokees
West the United States guaranteed TO them
100000 acres, with perpetual outlet west as
far as the sovereignty snd right of soil of the
United States extended. This vast tract was
In what is now known as Indian Territory, and
the CbeTOkees al the same time surrendered the
lands occupied by them on the Arkansas and
White rivers, to which they had removed be-
=
treaty special inducements were offered 10 those
east 10 remove west, including rife blanket,
kettle five pounds OF tobacco, and cost of emf
grafton, with inst compensation for the prop
eriy which each might abandon.
The treaty of 1888 simply REDEEMED the
boundaries of the land mentioned in the treaty
Of 1928. In 1885 the CberOkees still held a
quantity Of land east of the Mississippi larger
than the States of Massachusetts,, Rhode Island,
and Connecticut. 1t had been agreed that the
United States should fix tho price that should
be paid for these lands in contemplation of the
cession of the same TO the United States. The
Senate fixed the price at s. 100000. The
original draft Of the treaty of 1885 authorized
such Cherokees rs so desired 10 remain east. aud
in such event TO SET apart certain lands to them.
BY supplemental treaty in 1886 the United
States initiated the policy of compelling the
Eastern CherOkees TO remove west Gen.
Scott employed troops for the purpose. 1t was
fearful policy. The Indians were hunted
over their native land. As many as escaped