Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-06-07


Being opposed to the allotment of
your lands, he hoped, as he had
reason to hope, that opposition by
the Chickasaws to such allotment
might in some way, tend to pre-
vent OF delay the allotment. Be-
ing opposed to the abolition of
your national government he hoped
as he had reason TO hope that OPP
position by the Chickasaws to the
abolition Of their national govern
meut might tend to prevent or de-
lay its abolition.
But the report of the Teller
committee which certainly pre-
sages the action of congress, prac.
tically closes both of these ques-
tons. They are no longer open
questions. That report discloses
new condition. II presents
case which did not exist when the
governor sent me his letter of in
struotions. The Teller committee
declare that your system of gov
ernment must be Abandoned and a
better one substituted; that, if the
Indians decline to treat with the
Dawes commission, and decline to
consider any change in the present
condition of their land titles and
in their government, the United
States must, in their own way, set
tie the question of their land ten
ures, and establish form of gov
ernment over both Indians and
whites in your country.
When you recall the well-known
fact that Senator Teller is one of
your most earnest and steadfast
friends, you will at once compre-
hend the grave significance of
this report. Its declarations are
not mere empty. meaningless
words. Nor are they threats of
your enemies. They express the
well-nigh unanimous sentiments of
the members of both houses of con-
gress. They express too the SEN
timents of your staunch support
ers and faithful friends. Their
unmistakable meaning is that a
law is to be enacted next winter
with or without your consent. pro-
viding for the allotment of your
lands and a change in your form Of
government. So far as your land
tenures and your form of govern
ment are concerned. the only open
question now is whether you will
shape your own destiny by treat
ing with the Dawes commission, or
will force congress to wind you up
in its own way. You are abso-
lutely powerless to resist the tidal
wave which is now close upon you.
You might as well attempt to ar
rest the tide of the Atlantic with
your hat, or to turn back a freshet
in the Big Blue with your foot
| humbly pray that your people
will very carefully examine the
report of the Teller committee, and
that you will consider the ques-
ton whether il will not be wise
and patriotic for you to modify
your programme TO meet the new
condition disclosed by that report,
so as not to hring upon yourselves
the evils which will inevitably re-
suit from your persistent refusal
to treat with the Dawes commits
sion. The changed conditions,
wrought by the report of the Tel
Ter committee seem to me not only
to justify but imperatively to re-
quire you to consider the proprie-
ty of a change in your own pro-
gramme. That same sense of duty
to your country which impelled
you to resist allotment and a
change of government, so long as
such resistance was possible, ought,
/ think, to impel you to consider
whether it is not incumbent on you
to secure the best terms attainable
for your people, now that resist
ance has become impossible. If
the Chickasaws "take time by the
forelock" and negotiate with the
Dawes commission, they will be
generously treated, in the final
settlement. IT they decline to ne
gotiate they will, of course, be
compelled to submit to such ar.
rangements as may be prescribed
by congress. Respectfully,
[signed] H. f. PAINE.