The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-12-11

the eXecutory conditions contained in
treaties with these nations have for the
most part become impossible Of execution
Nor has 1t been possible for the tribal Gov
ernments to secure TO each Individual
Indian his full enjoyment in common with
other INDIANS or the common property of
the nations Friends of the Indians have
long believed that the best interests OF the
lndlan of the five civilized tribes would
be found in American citizenship with ali
the rights and privileges which belong 10
that condition.
The Dawes Commission.
BY section l6 of the act of March g. 1893,
the president was authorized TO appoint
three commissioners to enter into negotia-
saw, Muskogce Cor Creek) and Seminole ma
tons, commonly known as the Five CIV
ilized Tribes in the Indian territory. Brief
~, the purposes of the negotiations were
TO be: The exiting Iisbment of tribal titles
TO any lands within that territory now
held BY any and all such nations or
tribes. either by cession Of the same or
some part thereof to the United States or
by allotment and division of the same In
severalty among the Indians of such ma
tons or tribes respectively as may be en-
as may be agreed upon between the sew
eral nations and tribes aforesaid. or each
OF them with the United States, with a
view to such an adjustment upon the basis
of justice and equity as may, with the con-
sent OF the said nations OF Indians, so far
as may be necessary, be requisite ard suit
state or states of the union, which shall
embrace the lands within said Indian ter
ritory.
The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians were
very slow TO act, and those in control mani
tested decided Dissatisfaction 10 meet
with favor the propositions submitted to
them. A little more than three years after
this organization the commission effected
an agreement with the Choctaw nation
alone. y The Chckasaws. however. refused
"a a n %
a common interest with the Choctaws in
the lands OF said nations, the agreement
with the latter nation could have no ef-
tect without the consent OF the former.
on April g, 1897. the commission effected
an agreement with both tribss--the Chloe
laws and Chickasaws. This agreement,
1t Is understood. has been ratified by the
constituted authorities OF the respective
tribes or nations parties thereto, and only
requires ratification by congress to make
i binding. on the 9th OF September, 1897,
an agreement was effected with the Creek
nation, but i Is understood that the ma
tional council OF said nation has refused
TO be had with the Cherokees. the most
popuious Of the Five Civilized tribes. and
with the Seminoles the smallest in point
OF numbers and territory.
The provision in the Indian augmentation
act, approved June TO- 1886 makes II the
duty OF the commission TO investigate and
determine the rights of applicants for
citizenship In the five civilized tribes The
commission is at present engaged in this
work among the tribes and has made APP
pointments for taking the census OF these
people up to and including the t0ih, OF the
present month Should the agree nent be-
en- the Choct9ws and CEickasaws be
rati led by congress and should the other
trih fan TO make an agreement with the
commission. then IL will he necs ssary that
some legislation shall be bad by congress,
which, while Just and honorable 10 the In
dams. shall be equitcble TO the white peo-
pie who have settled upon these lands by
invitation OF the tribal nations. Hon. Hem
rs j.. Dawes, chairman of the con- mission,
in letter 70 the secret ary OF the interior,
under date of October II. 1897. says:
individual ownership is In their Che
commissions opirion absolutely essen
tial - any permanent IMPROVEMENT in
present conditions, and the lack of II is
the root Of nearly all the evils which so
grieVously atllict these people. Allotment
by agreement is the only possible method,
unless the United States courts are clothed
with the authority TO apportion the lands
among the citizen Indians for whose
use II was originally granted"
I concur with the secretary OF the interior
that there can he-Ro cure for the evils en-
gendered by the perversion OF these great
trusts excepting by their resumption by
the government which created them