Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-05-17
THE WHITE MAN" BILL,
AS Prepared by the Adopted Citi-
zens' Attorney.

NenS Attorney.
Attorney McCorry prepared a
bill for the relief of the white
adopted citizens of this nation and
upon the oath of April it was in
troduced by Mr.. Enloe in the low
er house Of congress and a similar
one in the senate. 1t is entitled
ga bill to refer to the court Of
claims certain claims Of the white
adopted citizens of the Cherokee
nation and for other purposes, "
and recites that,
WHEREAS, there are a large
number of white men who have
married women of the Cherokee
nation of Indians who are native
Cherokees by blood, and also a
large number of white women who
have married men of the Cherokee
nation OF Indians and who are ma
tive .Cherokees by blood; and
WHEREAS, the husbands of said
Indian women and wives of said
white men assert and claim that
under the the constitution of the
Cherokee nation they are citizens
of said nation, and as such citizens
are entitled to all rights, civil, po-
litical and personal, as native
Cherokees, and that the national
council of said nation is prohibit
ed under its constitution from
making discrimination concerning
the common property of the nation
between different classes Of citi-
zens, which exist only in blood
and race; and
WHEREAS, it is most desirable
that such contentious and disagree
ments be settled and determined
in a just, certain, and impartial
way. Therefore,
Be Il enacted by the senate and
house of representatives Of the Unit
ed States Of america in congress as
sem5Ied, That full jurisdiction is
hereby conferred upon the court Of
claims, subject to an appeal to the
supreme court OF the United States,
as in other cases, to hear and de.
termine what are the just rights in
law or in equity of said white
adopted citizens Of the Cherokee
nation, Indian Territory, who are
settled and incorporated therein.
SEC. 2. That said white adopt
ed citizens shall have the right,
either separately or jointly, to be.
gin and prosecute a suit or suits
against the Cherokee nation and
the United States government to
recover from the Cherokee nation
all moneys due, either in law or
equity and unpaid to said white
adopted citizens, which the Chero.
kee nation have before paid out or
may hereafter pay per capita, and
which was or may be refused to or
neglect to pay TO said white adopt
ed citizens out of any money or
funds which have or may be paid
into the treasury Of or in anyway
have come or may come into the
possession Of, the Cherokee nation,
Indian Territory, derived from the
sale, leasing, or rent for grazing
purposes, OF Cherokee land west
Of ninety.six degrees west longi-
tude, or from the sale OF the Chero-
kee Strip, and which have been or
may be directed to be paid out per
capita by the acts passed by the
Cherokee council, or other authori.
ty Of the said Cherokee nation,
and for all moneys, amounts, and
rights which shall appear to be
due TO said white adopted citizens
by reason Of citizenship.
SEC 3. That the said suit or
suits may be brought IN the name
of the executive committee of said
adopted white citizens in behalf
and for the use Of all such white
adopted citizens as may give them
authority to act as their trustee in
this matter. And the exercise of
such jurisdiction shall not be
barred by any lapse OF time here
tofore, nor shall the rights of said
adopted white citizens be impaired
by any acts passed and approved
by the Cherokee national council,
if the court shall adjudge such acts
to be unconstitutional and against
the constitutional rights Of said
adopted white citizens. The law
and practice and rules of procedure
in such courts shall be the law and
practice in these cases, and copies
of petitions filed in the case at the
commencement OF the suit shall be
served upon the attorney-g general
of the United States and on the
principal chief Of the Cherokee ma