Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-07
CHEROKEES FILE A APROTEST.
SAY THEY ARE WILLING To TREAT
WITH THE COMMISSION.
Lay All Their Correspondence With
the Commission Before Congress-
-SeminOIes Make Similar
Showing-Quapaw Lands.

Washington, Feb. 6.-(Special) The
Cherokees say the insinuation that they
are unwilling to treat with the Dawes
commission is unjust. They have laid be-
fore congress, through Representative Cur
tbs, a transcript of the correspondence on
the subject of surrendering their tribal
government. This correspondence they
say, is not published in the spirit of criti-
cism, but for the purpose of refuting the
current charge that they are not sincere
in their public manifestations of a desire
to negotiate, and are playing for advant-
age through delay. They say that spe-
cial session of the legislature was called
TO meet August 10, 1896, and an act was
passed August o. providing for the ap-
pointment of such commission. Nothing
was done, however, beyond receiving the
proposition of the Dawes commission. The
Cherokee commission was continued by an
act approved December 4, and was made
TO consist of seven members, besides the
principal chief. 1t met the Dawes commits
sion at Muskogee and on December l6 they
addressed a letter to the commission which
set forth that, by virtue of the authority
vested in the Cherokee commission, they
considered themselves empowered to make
an agreement, which was accepted as sat
isfactory, as shown by a letter from the
Dawes commission dated December II. An
attempt was Inen made to decide
date of meeting between the two commits
SionS. After some negotiation, the Chero-
KEGS asked that the conference be de-
ferred until after January 1, 1897 as it
would be more convenient to them to
which the Dawes commission consented in
brief letter, dated December IS, 1886. They
say they received the impression that the
conference was to take place on January
3, on which day the Cherokee commission
met and remained in session several days.
until informed that the Dawes commission
% oil in hi 4
Journed, subject to the call of the chair
man. The Cherokees say: Justice to our
people and our posterity demands that this
record be made. Should it indict us of
the policy of the United States. with this
information before them, is congress JUS
titled in ignoring their wishes? We think
not
a memorial addressed to congress. They
say they are ready TO treat. and add: We
earnestly request that Il fair opportunity
be given our people before any injurious
legislation be taken against us. and we do
not hesitate to earnestly declare that the
Seminoles will do all that can be reason
ably asked The memorial is signed by
Chief John f. Brown.
The Pontatoc County Alliance No. 90,
of the Indian Territory. has sent to con-
gress a series of preambles and resolutions
touching the prospective absorption of the
territory as territory of the United States,
setting forth that it has nothing to do with
the Non-CitiZenS' League. and that it will
await the final action of congress before
taking any steps whatever in regard to i'm
proVementS.
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, to-day offered
an amendment to the Indian appropriation
bill providing that nothing in the act shall
be construed as in any wise to ratify or ap-
prove the so-called allotment of lands
made by committee of Quapaw Indians.
o. to apply to the lands of the Quapaw In
dians. This pretended allotment the secre-
tary of the interior is directed to investi-
gate, with full power to revise or oYerrule
any departmental action heretofore taken.
in the event that it shall be found that the
allotments do not partition the land be-
each member would have a tract of land of
equal value.
In that event the secretary is directed to
cause partition to be made of the Quapaw
reservation among the members, share and
share alike.