The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-06
A SOLEMN PROTEST.
The ChIekasaw aHd Ch0etaw Washington
Delegates Vigorously Oppose the
Curtis BIN Resting on Treaties.

and house OF representatives, and is
as follows:
We, the undersigned, delegates and
representatives of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nation of Indians in the
Indian Territory, respectfully call
your attention to the provisions Of
Il. r. 1907, entitled "a bill for the
protection of the people of the In
dian Territory, extending the juris-
diction of the United States courts,
providing for the laying out oftowns,
the leasing of coal and other miner
al, timber, farming and grazing land,
and for other purposes"
Under the treaties now existing be-
tween the Choctaw and Chickasaw
nations of Indians and the United
States, the Indian courts, as estab-
lished under their local form of gov
ernment, have jurisdiction over all
OfIenses when committed by one
member of their tribe upon another
member, or in controversies arising
between members of the same tribe.
Section l of the bill referred to de-
priyes our courts of that Jurisdiction.
1t extends the Jurisdiction of the
United States courts now located
within our territory over all such Of
fenses, regardless of race or citizen
ship; which act. if made n law, will
be in direct conflict with Article Sew
en- of the treaty between said Indians
and the United States, executed and
proclaimed in 1856, which article
reads as follows:
"Article :. The Choctaws and
Chic ckasaws agree to such legislation
as congress and the president OF the
United States may deem necessary
for the better administration of JUS
tice and the protection of the rights
of person and property within the
Indian Territory; provided, howev-
er, that such legislation shall not in
any wise interfere with, or annul,
our present tribal organization, or
their respective legislatures or Judi
Charles, or the right, laws, privileges,
or customs of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations respectively"
(See Revised Indian Treaties; p. 2S9,
eth Article.l
We think that upon proper refiec-
tion and a true understanding of the
situation in our country, you will
agree with us that such violation of
our treaties is unnecessary, from the
fact that the United States courts al
ready located in our Territory have
jurisdiction over all offenses when
committed by citizen OF the United
States upon another citizen of the
United States, or by citizen of the
United States upon an Indian, or by
an Indian upon a citizen of the Uni
ted States, or between Indians of the
several tribes, which leaves the ju-
risdiction to our Indian courts only
in cases where the trouble arises be-
tween two Indians of the same tribe.
Upon examination it will be found
that the per cent. of all crimes COM
mitted in our Territory between In
dians of the same tribe is very small
" NAAuHE auONG AEGAAGAf
over which the United States court
has exclusive Jurisdiction. We in
sist that all crimes can be stamped
out in our country as well as in the
adjoining states. Therefore, we
hope that congress will not, for this
slight reason, violate the existing
treaties between the United States
and our people, as above cited.
/ Section of said bill extends the
I jurisdiction of the United States over
all civil cases arising between two
citizens of the United States, and be-
/ tween citizen of the United States
and an Indian, or between Indians of
the several tribes, and jurisdiction
over all appeals from any judgment
or determination of any Indian court
I in said Territory, which provision OF
1 said bill is also a violation of the
treaty above cited.
Our governments have an appel
late court similar to that of the
states, to which our citizens can ap-
peal from any decision of our lower
courts and have a fair and impartial
trial.
Sections s, 8 and 10 of said bill
confer judicial powers upon the COM
mission known as the Dawes com
mission to hear and determine the
right of citizenship in our country;
and if, in their judgment, any per
son is entitled to be enrolled and
thereby to share the estate now
owned by our tribes in common, to
enroll him as a citizen, against our
will. This is in direct violation Of