Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-09

A
ernments and courts
The Secretary Of the Interior reports
that leading Indians have absorbed great
tracts OF land to the exclusion of the com
mon people, and the government by an
Indian aristocracy has been practically es-
tnblished to the detriment of the people
II has been found impossible for the
United States to keep its citizens out OF
the territory, and the executory conditions
contained in the treaties with these ma
lions have for the most part become I'M
possible Of execution. Nor has II been
possible for the tribal governments TO Sc
cure to each Individual Indian his full en-
| joyment in common with other Indians oil
the common property OF the nations.
| Friends of the Indians have long believed
that the best interests of the Indians OF
| the Ave civilized tribes would be found In
| American citizenship, with all the rights
and privileges which belong to that con-
| dition.
BY section 16, OF the act Of March 3,
| 1893, the President was authorized to APP
point three commissioners to enter into
| negotiations with the Cherokee, Chocta~,
4 Chickasaw, Muscogee Tor Creeh), and Sem
mole nations. commonly known as the
Five Civilized Tribes in the Indian Ter
| ritory. Briefly the purposes OF the nego-
tiations we're to be: The extinguishment
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 oil the
same in seyeralty among the Indians Of
such nations or tribes respectively as may
be entitled to the same, or by such other
| ha hetAeen
the several nations and tribes aforesaid,
or each of them. with the United States,
with a view to such an adjustment upon
tho basis CT justice and equity as may
with the consent OF the said nations oil
Indians so far as may he necessary, be re-
auisite and suitable to enable the ultimate
creation of a state or states OF the Union
: which shall embrace the lands within
said Indian Territory.
The commission met much opposition
I from the beginning. The Indians were very
g slow to act and those in control manifest
ed decided disinclnation to meet VIII
g favor the propositions submitted to them
: little mere than three years after thu
. organization the commission affected al
q agreement with the Choctaw nation alone
! The Chickasaws, however, refused TO agree
to its terms and as they have common In
e terest with the Choctaws in the lands o
i said nations, this agreement with the lat
ter nation could have no effect without IN
g consent of the former. On April 20, 1871
7 the commission effected an agreement Wit
It both tribes-the Choctaws and Chiekasaws
n This agreement, it is understood, has bee
II ratified by the constituted authorities Q
: the respective tribes or nations partie
thereto, and only requires ratification b
Congress to make it binding.
IS On the 9th of September, 1897, an agree
II ment was effected with the Greek nation
e but 1t is understood that the National Cour
IS Gil of said nation has refused to ratify tn
If same. Negotiations are yet to be had wit
l. the Cherokees the most populous OF the nv
10 civilized tribes, and with the Seminole
lie the smallest in point of numbers and teri
/. terry
Or The provisions In the Indian approprit
r ton act, approved June 10, 1896. makes
Id the duty of the commission to investigal
I'd and determine the rights of APPLICANTS Il
g. citizenship in the five civilized tribes, an
& to make complete census rolls OF the cit
is zens OF said tribes. The commission is
30 present engaged in this work among II
Creeks and has made appointments for tai
be ing the census of these people up to and IL
~ oiuuins SnS So - h,t,,,a,,,, 40 r,ho
by taws and Chckasaws be ratified by Co
- sress, anu shouiu the ~,
. make an agreement WIN the 'oiii'',i'" , :,
% then u VIII ne necessary thae SUM ~,
r ton shall be had by Congress. which, viii
ii lust and honorable to the Indians, shall
a equitable to the white people who ha
1t, settled unon these lands by invitation
IT. the tribal nations.
ID Tba unn Henry L. Dawes, chairman
ng the commission. in letter to the Secreta
laI ~ the Interior. under date of October
ba 1eo7 s.ys.
IN .I,d,,,dusl ownership is in their It
~ o,n,r,issicn,s, oninion absolutely essenti
lat to any preneHuht iliipi oNethSnt ~ 49,
he conditions, ana the lack OF IL III lhe loo'
az, tbose neople. Allotments by agreeme
IL ,s tbn only nossible method, unless t
,J,,tad states courts are clothed with t
,lto authority to apportion the lands among !
~. at,t,,ar Indions for whose use 1t was or
=, inaII,, Granted y
= = an,,on, With tho Secretary of the Int
III ,hat there ran he no cure for the ev
g.. snrod N, tho neryersion of these gre
t.ms,s oxcentinp nv their resumption
- tha Government which created them.
-, -
YELLOW FEVER iN TIE 49,
The recent prevalence of yellow fe'
- in a number Of cities and towns throught
=, the South has resulted in much disturbaI
= ~, ~ NJ commerce and demonstrated the nee
~" sity of such amendments to our quarant