Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-03-15
THn ApoPrKp o1TIznNs.
Synopsis of the Muskogee Meet.
ing with the Commission.

Mr.. Jackson, for. the White
| Adopted citizens, said: II desire
to say this is commission repre-
senting the White Adopted citizens
Of the Cherokee nation. They are
representatives from all over the
country. We had a meeting on
the 10th day of February at Vinita
and this commission was appointed
at that time to come before you
and state what they felt about this
country and to get the opinion Of
the commj u n. Some of us have
lived in Il s COUNTRY for number
of years. Ne married into this
country and we to-day represent
1000 families. Our wives and
children are Cherokees. Since 1888
there has been a difference be-
tween the Cherokees and white
men, but prior to that time no diff
ference was ever recognized. This
difference first occurred when it
came to paying what was called
the Strip money. In this the
adopted citizen was not partici-
pant. This caused a chill to run
through the country and it contin-
ued until 1886.
AT payment time there was a
definition placed upon the treaty
by the Cherokees as to the mean
ing of the treaty. There is an ex-
preston in the treaty which says
that the adopted citizen, of all
classes, should have all the rights
of native Cherokees.
The time has come when the
people this committee represents
think they are in DANCES, and it is
not right, they think, to say that
they have no rights. In May last
meeting of the White Adopted
citizens was called and | was
elected chairman, and since that
time we have had several meet
ings.
1t has been represented to the
United States that the adopted cit
izens are opposed to allotment.
This is about the way it mas been
represented. The newspapers in
speaking of us call us renegades
and say they have driven the full
blood Indians back into the hills,
for the purpose of their own per-
sonal aggrandizement, and are op.
posed to this change. Now, at a
meeting we had, there was a vote
taken and it was unanimously
agreed that they were in favor Of
a change"
Question 10y commissioner Nc
Kennon-"Capt. Jackson, when
was that?"
Answer-"lt was on the 10Th of
February, and they were in favor
of having this country placed on a
more substantial basis" Capt.
Jackson further remarked, "That
he had lived among these people
for thirty years and had gotten
along well with them. | cannot
help but see that a change is COM
ing. We have a committee here
to speak for themselves and no one
of them will do anything against
the Indian. They represent one
half the wealth and 1000 families
of the Cherokee nation. There
are to-day in the Cherokee nation
1,25S white voters. Some of them
have sold their farms in the state
and invested their money here.
Now the White Adopted citizens
want to be represented. and this is
the reason Of our visit here"
Commissioner McKennon then
addressed the delegation in sub
stance Is follows:
Gentlemen:-On part of the
commission | am glad to meet and
welcome you. As you say, you
are a different class OF people from
those We nave been meeting.
Those we have heretofore met
were Indians proper; you are In.
dians by adoption, and, as | un-
derstand, have become citizens OF
the country according to Indian
laws, and who have, in an honor
able way, acquired rights and
property in this country, who
could not, and would not, of
course, be disregarded by US in
our dealings with the Indians. We
are here to do right with these
people, and all those who are con-
cerned in matters with which we
have TO deal, whether they be red
men or white men. You are, to
all intents and purposes, Indians,
and should Of course be respected
as such. We could not treat with
the Indians without dealing with
you and your rights. We have
been criticised in the papers be-
cause we have not visited the white
people OF non-citizens in the coun.
try. 1t would have been very
pleasant to US to haye done so but
we have been so engaged in our
duties that we could not, and be-
sides we are sent 10 the Indians,
and of course our dealings are di-
recly with them. We have moth
ing to do with the rights and inter.
ests Of the white people ia this
territory until there is an agree
ment for allotment made, then the
non. citizen who has property in
the territory will be interested in
that proceeding, and il will be our
duty 10 see and consult with them,
which We will certainly do. Our
failure to visit them does not arise
from a want Of respect for them.
They have acquired rights here,
having been invited in your terri
tory By you, and ] am sure your
people would not be willing that