Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-01-03

investigated
The subscribing representatives
of the Cherokee and Creek nations
in the Indian Territory would beg,
on behalf of the people whom they
have the honor to represent before
the government of the United
States, to say it is with great dis.
appointment and real pain that we
learn the contents of the report re-
Gently submitted by what is styled
the Dawes commission touching
the condition of affairs in Indian
Territory. That report, basing
many of its asseverations upon
mere rumor and inference, is GER
tainly unfair, not to say untrue,
and well calculated to place our
people and country in such unfav.
orable light before the Govern
ment as the facts in the case will
not warrant.
While we would feel extreme del
icacy in giving utterance to word
of dissent in regard to a report
made to the government by its
chosen Commissioners, we feel
impelled by a sense of duty as
well as that of self.preservation to
seek escape from the evils that are
likely to be brought upon us as
the result of such report. For
this reason we would respectfully
ask that such measures be adopted
as will effect an investigation of
the said report of the honorable
commissioners.
Some of the statements which we
think are not well founded, and to
which we refer in justification Of
our request for an investigation,
are, in substance as follows:
1st. The arrest of progress on
the part of some of our people.
2nd. The Indians have deterior-
ated instead of advancing.
3rd. This deterioration has gone
so far as to give rise to "a most
deplorable and dangerous condi-
ton Of affairs in the territory,
causing wide spread alarm and de-
manding most serious considera-
ton"
4th. The government of the
five tribes powerless.
9Th. Violence, robbery and muir
der of almost daily occurrence and
no effective measures of restraint
or punishment putforth to suppress
crime.
9th. A reign of terror exists, and
barbarous outrages almost impos-
sible of belief are enacted, and the
perpetrators hardly find it neces-
sary to shun daily Intercourse with
their victims.
7th. Permission of the Five
Tribes to govern themselves "has
proved failure"
Sth. A general invitation given
for emigration of whites into the
Territory.
9th. Corruption of the grossest
kind, openly and unblushingly
practised, has found its way into
the public service of the tribal
governments. All branches of the
government reeking with it, and
so common has it become that no
attempt at concealment is thought
necessary.
We have no disposition to shun
investigation of the affairs in our
country so far as our legal rights
under treaties with the United
States may authorize such investi-
cation. But claiming the ordinary
rights, privileges, and immunities
of free people, and appealing to
the enlightened "Christian con-
science of the age IN which we
live," we would most solemnly re-
monstrate against arraignment and
condemnation at the bar of the
American Congress without an op-
portunity to be heard, or without
a full, fair, and patient inquiry
into the grave charges alleged
against our people and country.
We beg not to be understood as
attempting to impugn the motives
of the honorable commissioners
who framed the report, but would
simply insist that parts of their re-
port, having been based on mere
rumor and inference, are not well
founded and are, hence, fitted to
entail great and unmerited injury
upon our people.