Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-01-25

ertyl
We think not, except by agree
ment Of the tribe. When he
ceased to be a member Of the tribe
as he would upon becoming a cit
izen Of the United States he would
probably lose all interest in prop
erty held in common by the tribes
Again you ssk, "If 5000 Cher
okees should ask for the allotment
Of tneir portion of the tribal lands
and their prorata share of the in
vested funds could it be granted9"
Not by any action or agreement
with this commission. The lands
being held IN common by the
tribes, title ownership could only
be conferred with the consent of
the tribal governments.
That your readers may fully
understand the object in appoint
ing this commission and its pow
ers and duties, it might be well to
publish the following portions of
the law creating it.
Section 16. The president shall
nominate, and BY and with the
advice and consent Of the senate,
shall appoint three commissioners
to enter into negotiations with the
Cherokee nation, the Choctaw ma
ton, the Chickasaw nation, the
Muskogee nation, the Seminole
nation, for the purpose of the ex-
tinguishment of the national or
tribal title to any lands within
that territory now held by any and
all of such nations or tribes, either
by cession of the same or some
part thereof to the United States,
or by the allotment and division of
the same in severally among the
Indians of such nations or tribes,
respectively, as may be entitled to
the same, or by such other
methods as may be agreed upon
between the several nations and
tribes aforesaid, or each of them,
with the United States, with
view to such an adjustment. upon
the basis of justice and equity, as
may, with the consent Of such ma
tions or tribes OF Indians, so far
as may be necessary, be requisite
and suitable to enable the ulti-
mate creation Of state or states
of the Union which shall embrace
the lands within said Indian Ter
ritory. y =
Such commissioners shall, un-
der such regulations and direc.
tions as shall be prescribed by the
president, through the secretary
Of the interior, enter upon nego-
tiations with the several nations.
of Indians as aforesaid in the In
dian Territory, and shall endeavor
to procure, first, such allotment
of lands in severalty to the Indians
belonging to each such nation.
tribe, or bands, respectively, as
may be agreed upon just and prop
er to provide for each such Indian
a sufficient quantity Of land for his
or her needs, in such equal distri-
button and apportIonment as be
found just and suited to the cir
cumstances, for which purpose, at.
ter the terms of such an agreement
shall have been arrived at, the
said commissioners shall cause the
lands of any such nation or tribe
to be surveyed and the proper al
lotment to be designated, and
secondly, to procure the cession,
for such price and upon such terms
as shall be agreed upon, of any
lands not found necessary to be so
allotted or divided, to the United
States, and to make proper agree
ments for the Investment or hold
ing by the United States of such
moneys as may be paid or agreed
to be paid to such nation or tribes
or bands, or to any Of the Indians
thereof for the extinguishment OF
their interest therein. But said
commissioners shall, however,
have power to negotiate any and
all such agreements as, in view OF
all the circumstance affecting the
subject, shall be found requisite
and suitable to such an arrange
ment Of the rights and interests
and affairs of such nations, tribes,
bands, or Indians, or any of them,
TO enable the ultimate creation OF
a territory Of the United States
with a view to the admission o
the same as state in the union. "
1t will be observed from a careful
reading of the foregoing that a
wide discretion is given the com
mission in the means to be adopt.
ed to reach the end desired by the
government, which is to put an
end to the anomalous condition in
the territory of the five civilized
tribes, and put the affairs of the
territory in leading to territorial
condition and finally to statehood
1t must be apparent to the observ-
ing that the present condition oI
government can not long exist
and the wise thing for all interest
ed to do is to cooperate with this
commission, and make the coming
change as little detrimental anC
iDconvenient as possible to the
parties at interest, and with theil
concurrence and consent.