Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-08-06

nish the Dawes commission with a
certified copy thereof, and further
recommend that each nation en-
ploy able counsel to represent its
interest before said commission, to
prevent any fraudulent claims be-
ing admitted to citizenship.
We further recommend that a
bureau of information be estab-
lished which shall have for its OBJ
ject the matter of publishing to
the United States congress and 10
the various state legislatures, such
literature or newspaper as will ed
ucate or inform them as to our true
condition and wants, and reiute
the vile misrepresentation to the
world against us by the newspa-
pers among us and in the adjoin-
ing states in the hands of design
ing men and spectators.
We also recommend that each
nation send one or two delegates
to its proportionate number of the
state legislatures and secure from
them resolutions or memorials to
congress asking that body to keep
faith with its pledges and treaties
with the various Indian nations
and to take every precaution to
prevent Legislation detrimental to
their rights and interests.
The report, after being read and
reread, was adopted.
THE CHoCTAws.
The Choctaw delegates were not
allowed a voice in the council, but
explained that the following would
have been presented by them had
they been fully recognized:
To the members OF the International Council.
We, the undersigned represent
tives of the Choctaws, beg leave to
submit their views of the present
situation of the FIVE civilized tribes
and what they think is best for all
all of US, and especially for the
Choctaws. And we want to say
that it gives us pain TO separate
from yosall, and that if we could
see any hope of perpetuating our
present tribal governments, we
would not take this step. But we
are bound in duty to ourselves and
to our people to present the follow
ing facts as our reasons for the
course pursued by us:
1st. The large number of white
people in our country and the ad-
vancement we, as Indians, have
made in education and all the va
rious pursuits of a civilized life,
have changed us as people and
as a nation, so that what was con-
genial and satisfactory to us as a
people fifty. or even twenty five
years ago, no longer suits US or
agrees with our present ideas of
prosperity. Land in common may
do for all inactive and uneducated
people, but when free schools have
existed among people as long as
they have been among US, the de-
sire to own and control our own
property will be so strong that
changes will be demanded. even
though it involve the change of
our former government.
2nd. 1t is plain to us that the
United States is no longer friendly
to our present form of holding our
lands, and is moreover, desirous
as our guardian, to modify our
present tribal governments, that
they may conform to surrounding
circumstances, and the United
States desires that we do our part
in Strengthening out and correcting
this anomaly Of minority of fifty
thousand people owning all the
land and controlling absolutely the
entire government, and that too in
spite of the presence in our midst
of three hundred thousand white
people non citizens.
3rd. Without saying who is to
blame for the presence of so large
a number of whites in our midst,
it is sufficient for our purpose to
say they are here and that they
will remain, and that it is our duty
to seek that aid and advice from
the United States which will put
US in possession of our lands.
4th. The Choctaws cannot, from
a pecuniary Interest. and which
pecuniary interest strengthens our
patriotism, agree to not treat with
the Dawes commission. We have
six hundred and seventy acres of
land to every man, woman and
child, including forty acres to our
negroes (the amount allowed them
by our treaties and laws) while the
Cherokees have only about one
hundred and sixty acres, and the
Creeks about two hundred acres,
and the Seminoles twelve acres by
the same division. 1t is plain that
in the passage by congress of law
allowing only one hundred and
sixty acres TO each Indian, that the
Choctaws would be the only losers
and :hat while the bravery of the
Cherokees, Creeks and Seminoles
in holding out for their present
tenure of land in common may, in
the absence of any real danger of
loss, be called patriotism, it must
be confessed that for the Choctaws
to take such a position with so
much to lose, can only be ranked
as folly.
9Th. We hope by treating with
the Dawes commission to settle
our landed interest and to renew
our tribal government with limited
and necessary changes for fifteen
or twenty years.
The above reasons impel us to
adopt our present course, and
while we are loath to turn our
backs on you, still we would have
you remember that our faces are
towards the impending danger and
that we intend to meet it as men
and trusting to the honor and good
Il 4