Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-01-11
A CoNGRBsSMAN'S PLAN
For Purging this Country of Law
lessness.

- pam WV RN' HN'N 'N SNNf - -
his bill to organize the state of
Oklahoma bv including the region
now in the jurisdiction of Oklaho.
ma Territory and the five civilized
tribes. Mr.. McRae has the repu.
taton of being one of the most
level-headed men in the house and
is entirely familiar with the pub
lie lands of the United States and
also with the Indian Territory.
He said:
81 am now in favor OF breaking
up and destroying in toto the
anomalous, demoralizing and un-
American condition Of affairs in
the Indian country, a. condition
which impeaches alike the wis
dom and foresight of our ante
bellum statesmen, and, if per-
mitted to exist, will continue to
battle, harass and trouble the leg
islators of the future. In the
very heart of our great country
there are about 100000 acres OF
the choicest agricultural lands,
capable of sustaining many mill.
ions of people, reserved for only
about 10000 persons of Indian de-
scent and used in part as an abid-
ing place for outlaws, murdercrs
and thieves. do not wish how
ever, to be understood as saying
that all the residents of the Indian
country are OF this character.
The district | have the honor to
represent adjoins the Choctaw Ma.
ton, and | have lived all my life
near the Indians and | know that
many of them as well as some of
the whites who reside there are
men Of character and education.
"All they need is American cit
izenship and statehood. This my
bill will give them. 1t will allow
the Indians to take all their lands
in severalty il they wish, but il.
they refuse then the government
undertakes to make the allotments
OF part and to sell the remainder
to the highest bidder, the proceeds
to be held in trust for the Indians
| think we should protect all the
personal and property rights Of
the Indians except their supposed
right to maintain independent
tribal governments within the linn
its of the United States. / advo.
Gated this policy in the Fillieth
Congress, but public sentiment
was against it. Since the opening
and settlement of Oklahoma, pub.
lie sentiment has changed and the
people now demand statehood for
all the Territories aud more par.
ticularly for getting rid Of the In
dian Territory.
81 propose TO get around the
treaties of 1885 and 1856, by which
the United States agreed never TO-
annex the Indian country without
the consent Of the Indians, just as
congress got around the Burlin-
game treaty with China and AZ /
would get around any similar act
repeal it. | make no claim Of
right to organize a state under
treaties, but it has been repeated.
ly held by the supreme court that
treaties are of no greater legal OBJ
legation than acts of Congress.
lllconsidered treaties can and
ought to be repealed just as bad
laws can. The Indian country is
a part of the United States, and
the sovereign powers to govern It
by Congress has not and cannot be
abandoned, surrendered, traded
off or contracted away by any
treaty.
"Just as Congress asserted its
power to disincorporate and dis
solve the Mormon church, because
incompatible with the American
idea of religious freedom, so it
should use the same power to
break up all tribal governments Of
the Indians and compel them to
take their property in seyeralty
because inconsistent with our idea
of a republican form OF govern
ment and hurtful to the prosperity
and growth Of the adjoining states
"My bill provides that the com
mission recently provided TO treat
with the Indians (Which is com
posed OF three men of great ability
and high character } shall be con
tinued, and shall make allotments
and determine contests over i'm
proyements, lay out the Territory
into counties and precincts, make
the appointment of delegates. hold
the elections for delegates and pass
Upon the question Of the adoption
of the constitution when submit
ted. "
"How does it leave the jurisdic.
ton Of the Fort Smith and Paris
courts?"
1T provides that all the juris-
diction OF these courts over the
country shall cease upon the ad
mission OF the state except in such
cases as may be pending at that
time"
"Will you antagonize the bill
reported by General Wheeler for
the admission Of Oklahoma sep
arately with your measured"
81 will ask the committee on
Territories, of which General
Wheeler is chairman, to adopt my
hill nr n..n liLo Ia nnd | AlilaI