Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-04-06
ADVISES acc prAlct


ne, Harris Paw y. he Terms Foe the
Ope inr ~ he hcrokcs >trl.s -.il$ Hoe
sage - the & utci
TABLEQuAH, I. r., March 20. Cher
Jlsee ,onncil convened here yesterday
ard went to work with genuine good
feeling.
The interest manifested by III, In
dians In the closing scenes OF the strip
sale is unprecedented. The capital Is
so crowded with people from all por-
tions Of the nation that hotel accom-
mofations go at premium.
Many distinguished United States
citizens are present, nmong them Con-
grcssman Fields, whose advice will be
worth much to the Indians at this
time.
II is expected to-day that some definite
plan Of action will be mapped out by
the legislature, and II Is confidently
believed that the trade will be creed
TO within the next week or ten davs.
The chiefs message is as follows and
seems to give general satisfactioni
To the Honorable National Council in Special
Session
You have been convened In special session to
con slider and take such action as your wisdom
seems best In the modification made by con
rrcss IN the articles OF agreement entered into
by tho commissioners for the United States
and Cherokee nation for the cession Of land to
the United states belonging to the Cherokee
nation, lying west OF % dog west longitude, ac
ccptcd and ratified in part by the Cherokee M.
tion by an act OF the national council approved
January 4, ls)a
By the act of the national congress dated
March ?. herewith submitted for your informa.
tion. you win observe that this agreement was
amt ndcd 10 this extent, that before any In
truder or unauthorized person who entered
the Cherokee nation and commenced Improve
ment prior to August II, iSSi, shall be removed
from the limits thereof, as provided In the
agreement, such Improvements shall be ap'
praised by board OF appraisers, and the Chero'
kcc nation Is required to pay such intruder the
value OF his improvements, but the appraisers
may consider the rents and profits OF the land
used and occupied by the intruder in determin
ing the value Of his improvements.
or the ssh95,Tij agreed to be paid by the
Uni ed States IN the orig nal agreement with
the Cherokee nation, gq5. 73j Is Immediately
available upon the acceptance by the Chero.
kcc nation OF the modification made by
congress in the said agreement aud the
remaining ia3Jl,0U Is to be paid IN hve
equal annual installments, commencing OF
the lth day OF March. 1895. and end
ing on the 9TH day Of March, 1899, the
said deferred payment TO bear per cent inter
est per annum, which interest is TO be paid an.
nually. or, should the national council deem Il
TO be 20 the best interest OF the Cherokee peo
pie TO negotiate a loan on the principal and in
terCst OF the said deferred payment and thercb =
secure at once the full amount due on these
lands Il Is authorized by said act OF congress TO
do so. pledying the principal and interest to Sc
euro the payment OF the debt
Paragraph OF article % Of the original
agre, ment, giving exclusive jurisdiction TO the
courts CT this nation In all civil and criminal
rases where citizens Of the Cherokee nation,
eth r b. blood or adoption, shall be the only
parties in interest, was stricken out By the act
OF congress above referred to
recommend that you accept the agreement
as amended by congress- The act above re.
ferred to provides that the amount TO be paid
the intruders shall not exceed i25OOJ). While
l am OF the opinion that the intruders are tres.
passcrs without equity, and 10 whom the law
OF botlorment does not apply, and deprecate
the fact that congress has placed different In
depreciation upon the same, yet think we had
better accept this amendment for the follow.
ing reasons; While the number OF intruders Is
| not definitely known as contemplated tc
be paid by this act / am OF the opinion
that the Limitation to those commencing i'm
provements prior 10 August II, 1888 and the
| further provi-ion that the use and occupancy OF
the soil may be taken into consideration by tho
bolrd OF appraisers in making their award, will
result In a great advantage 10 the Cherokee
nation, in a and majority OF cases the balance
sheet will be In the nations favor The act OF
congress does not interfere with the right ol
| the Chert ktc nation to determine who are its
citizens but confirms that right and provides
| for their removal on demand Of the principal
chief.
cannot but think with the evidence before
me that only a small amount will be required "a
| pay for their improvements after deducting the
rent aud profit for the time the lands have beer
occupied
| re, mmenl in case you accept the agree
M mt as amended, that you make some appls
| provision whereby the fullest information car
be furnished the board Of appraisers OF the sus.
| toEary rental value and the cost Of improving
| the land In the community where such improve
menis are located, and such other information
% you may deem necessary, so that they ear
arrive q; On equitable adjustment Of variouS
mat ers.
Relative 10 striking out paragraph Of article
| . / will say that congress by an act approved
| Mas T. 1897 gives Us exclusive jurisdiction over
al cur citizens, whether by blood or adoption.
AMI this right Is now recognized by the United
States federal court az Fort smith, Ark, and
| Mussogec In their ruingA
| recommend that a comm 'ssion be appointed
| AM authorized TO proceed az once TO Washing
| ton with proper instruction 10 make and exc
cute con rActs with the secretary OF the interior
| for tbs payment Of the ts,3O,0Ol in addition e
the 2a5 Tjj available, as provided By the act OF
congress ana suggested by the secretary Of the
In crior IN his letter, herewith submitted FOL
| your informau n
| / fur.h, recommend that after the contract
! aforesaid Is fully consummnted the said com
m slion be further authorized 10 thoroughly
| advertise and receive propositions for ne
gotiaulg q loan on the principal and In
tcrest provided for IN the act OF con
gress TO be submitted to the national
council for approval or rejection. / have
| written several banking houses giving
the condition Of the loan. and am Of the opin
| ion that II the contract for the payment Of the
$3.50, 0o, which the secretary Of the interior Il
| directed TO make, be properly drawn with a
| States that the Cherokee nation will have nc
dificulty in negotiating such contract at a fair
and reasonable premium in the money market
You will have my hearty cooperation in en-
| deRyoring 20 realize for the people as large q
| premium as can be obtained / am satisfied
that the loan with fair premium can be made
| II these suggestions are carried out
| In the event Of your accepting the amend.
| ment an absolutely correct census Of the Cher
| okce IoOple ana intruders or Unauthorized per
| sons within our boundaries will mecca.
| sarilY follow, that a distribution OF the
! money may be made to the hrst and
a list Of the intruders be had that they
may be reported TO the president for removal
as provided for ia the agreement In order that
census rolls be correct suggest that Il would
be- pToTer 10 have them authenticated by the
| Cherokee council and a special session be called
as soon as the census takers complete their
work, 81 which session the commission befors
suggested viii have time 70 report such propO
sitiona 10 pur,hlse the indebtedness as they
| may have received q HAHRlg