Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-12-10

change as to render the continuance Of the
system thus inaugurLted practically Inn
possible.
The total number of the five civilized
tribes, as shown by the last census Is 49,
~ and this Number has not materially
Increased. while the white population is
estimated at from 10000 TO 2so.0Oo which,
by permission Of the Indian government.
area of the Indian Territory contains 25.-
694 5s4 acres much Of when is very fer
tile land. The United States citizens re-
siding in the territory. most Of whom have
gone there by invitation or with the con-
S. mt OF the tribal authorities. have made
perm arent homes for themselves. Num-
erous towns have been built In which
from SOD to 5000 white people now reside.
/ Valuable residence and business houses
have been erected in many OF them. Large
business enterprises are carried on 10
and yet these people. who have invested
their capital in the development OF the
productive resources of the country. are
| without the title to the land they occupy
and have voice whatever In the gov
eminent either Of the nations or tribes.
Thousands of their children who were
born In the territory are OF school age.
! but the doors OF the schools OF the ma
tons are shut against them and what
education they get is by private contri-
button. No provision for the protection
! OF life or property OF these white citizens
is made by the tribal governments and
courts.
/
! that leading Indians have absorbed great
| tracts OF land to the exclusion Of the
common people and government by an In
/ dian aristocracy has been practically es-
| tablished, to the detriment OF the people
| 1t has been found impossible for the
! United States to keep It's citizens out OF
contained in treaties with the nations.
| have. for the most part. become tmpos-
sible of execution. even had II been pos
oh Ind oil na Ia NJ o
| In common with other Indians. OF the
common property OF the nations Friends
OF the Indians have long believed that
the best interests OF the Indians Of the
five civilized tribes would he found IN
American citizenship. with all the rights
and privileges which belong to that con-
dttion.
Work Of the Commission.
1893. the president was authorized to APP
point three commissioners to enter into
negotiations with the Cherokee Choc.aw:
Chickasaw. Muskogee Tor Creek and
Seminole nations. commonly known as
the five civilized tribes in the Indian Ter
ritory. Briefly. the purposes OF the ne
gotiations were the extingushment OF the
tribal title to any lands within that terri
tory, now held by any and all such ma
tions or tribes: either by SESSION ion Of Of the INC
States. or by allotment or by division OF
the same IN severaity among the Indians
of such nations or tribes respectively. as
other method as may be agreed upon be-
tween the several nations and tribes
aforesaid or each OF them with the United
States. with view to such an adjust
J ment upon the basis of justice and equity
as may, with the consent OF the said ma
lions OF the Indians so far as may be nee
essary, requisite and suitable. enable tn,
ultimate creation of a state or states O
the Union which shall embrace the land.
) The commission met much opposition
from the beginning. The Indians wer,
very slow to act and those in eon,ro
$ with disfavor the proposition submitted t.
9 them. little more than three year
, after organization. the commission ef
I nation alone. The Chickasaws. however
Z refused to agree to Its terms and as the.
: taws in the lands OF the said nations, tn
agreement with the latter nation coul'
not have been J, With 40, the consent Of tn
1 fected an agreement with both tribes
2 the Choctaws and Chckasaws. Thi
y agreement. L is understood. has bee
: ratified by the constituted authorities o
: thereto and ouly requires ratification b,
n congress to make 1t binding.
: ment was effected with the Creek nation
n but II Is understood that the nationH
!. council refused to adopt the same. Ne
n Cherokees. the most populous OF the fiv
= civilized tribes. and with the Seminoles
n the smallest In point OF numbers ana ter
= ritory.
4 The provision in the Indian appropria
Il ton act approved June 10. 1876, makes !
= the duty Of the commission to investigat
and determine the rights Of applicant
for citizenship in the five civilized tribes
l The commission is at present engaged !
this work among the tribes and has mad
4 appointments for taking the census o
these people up to and including the %,
OF the present month.
Should the agreement between tn
ChoctawS and Chickasaws be ratified b
e congress. and should the other tribes IA
>. to make an agreement with the commits
i sion. then II will be necessary that som
n which. while just and honorable to tn
e Indians. shall be equitable to the whit
n people who have settled upon these land
n by invitation OF the tribal nations. Hor
y Henry l.. Dawes. chairman OF the com
y mission. In a letter to the secretary OF tn
l. interior. under date Of October II. lS9
IS individual ownership Is in our 9Th
II commissiOne) opinion absolutely essentis
e to any permanent Improvement In cond
l. tions. and the lack of 1t II the root G
r iously AFFLICTED these people. AllOtmer
20 by agreement Ii the only possible metl
le cd. unless tho United States courts al
clothed with the authority to apportio
l. the lands among the citizen Indians Il
" whose use II was originally granted.
r. l concur with the secretary OF the II
,r terror that there can be no cure for tt
10 evils enEendered by the prevers!on {
4 these great trusts. excepting by their N
n sumption by the government which crea
.e I'd them.