Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-04-20


settled east of 90o Of west longi-
tude, but mind you, notfyest of
said line.
Now in the case Of the Della
wares, the agreement reads: "The
Cherokees, parties of the first part,
for and in consideration of certain
payment, and the iulfillment of
certain conditions hereinafter
mentioned, agree TO sell to the
Delawares for their occupancy a
quantity of land east of the 900,
west longitude, &C." This To-
Gates the land sold to the Della
wares, and locates it east of
900 according to the treaty of 1866
Now we will next notice the case
of the Shawnees; they became cit
izens of this country under the
same treaty (that OF 1860 as did
the Delawares and bought their
lands east of 500. The wording of
the agreement is as follows:" And
il is further agreed by the parties
hereto, that in consideration of
certain payments and acts agreed
upon, as hereinbefore stated, that
the said Cherokees will receive
the said Shawnees X into the
country of the said Cherokees upon
unoccupied lands east of $50. :"
After the land question is defn-
itely settled and located, then the
agreement recites that they shall
be a part of the Cherokee nation
ON equal terms in every respect
with native citizens. Such is the
treaty and agreement with these
people, and they know as well as
the Cherokees do that they bought
no land from the Cherokees west
Of 900.
Now as to the freedmen: Sec
ton 5, of amendments to article 3,
of the Cherokee Constitution, is as
as follows: All native born
Cherokees, all Indians, and whites
legally members of the nation by
adoption, and all freedmen who
have been liberated by voluntary
act of their former owners or by
law, as well as free colored per-
sons who were in the country at
the commencement of the rebellion,
and are now residents therein, or
who may return within six months
from the 18th day Of July, 1866,
and their descendants, who reside
within the limits OF the Cherokee
nation, shall be taken and deemed
to be citizens of the Cherokee ma
ton" This and this alone gives
the negroes rights in this nation.
The Cherokees sold them no land,
neither did it give them any; it
only gave them citizenship which
does not necessarily carry with it
ownership of land or an interest in
the moneys Of the nation. So long
as the nation holds her lands in
common, they may occupy land
the same as Cherokees, but have
no individual interest therein. As
to the white adopted citizens, the
law that provides for the inter-
marriage of white men and for
eigners, fixes their status beyond
cavil. That part of the law re-
lating to the point in question is
as follows:-aiter reciting the vari-
eds-eeaditieRs-sadE dEeeeiEsalsnts Of
law-"Provided also that the
rights and privileges herein con-
ferred, shall not extend to the
right of soil or interest in the
vested funds Of this nation. "
The white mans rights are iden-
tical with that of the negro, and
nen'her extends to rignt OF 'sofi or
vested funds east or west OF 96'
This question is no longer too
delicate 20 discuss as II is fairly
before the peopis and already in
the courts. Many citizens, both
native and adopted, do not under
stand the status of the different
classes of citizens here baving ncv-
er examined into the treaties, laws,
and agreements bearing upon the
subject. 1t is not with any desire
to stir up strife amongst the differ.
ent classes of our citizens that |
have written this article, but that
the attention Of all interested may
be called to the laws and agree
ments governing. and by which
the whole matter will be ultimately
settled In the light of the facts
in the case, council could not
have consistently done otherwise
than pass a "blood bill"
HENRY CLAY DEAN.
POINTERS ron WORLD's FAIR.