The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-02-10
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
HE URGES the ChIckasaw LeaIsIature 70
Have Representation at washing
toa-Freedmen Question
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, I
CHICKAsAw NATION. !

GENTLEMEN II have deemed it ad-
visable to call your honorable body
together in extra session by the au-
thority of law in me vested.
|. first call your attention to an act
passed March 1, 1897, creating a del
egation to negotiate with like dele
cation from the Choctaw nation and
delegation from the congress of
the United States, to enter into an
agreement with a view to a change
in relation to our tribal organization
and an allotment of our lands, which
agreement was consummated on the
23d day of April, 1897, at the town of
Atoka, Choctaw nation, wherein said
agreement was ratified by the Chick
asaw legislature on the 30th day of
October, 1897, and by an act OF the
Legislature of the Chickasaw nation,
passed an1 approved November 8,
1897, empowering the governor to
issue his proclamation to call an
election to be held for the purpose of
accepting or rejecting the terms of
said agreement by vote of the peo-
pie. In compliance with said act an
election was held December 1, 1897,
and it was made to appear that said
treaty was rejected on that date. /
am satisfied in my own mind that
tile result of said election was and is
not the will of the people at large,
but that the defeat of said treaty was
brought about by the pressure of
outside influence, by people whose
personal and private interests were
at stake and its reiec ion, as we all
know, is working a hardship and is
a positive detriment to the best in
terests of the nation as a whole, and
as there is no provision made by our
legislature for any representation at
Washington, ID. C., the seat OF the
United States congress, during its
present term, assumed personal re-
sponsibility and visited said city
with the express purpose of satisfy
ing and acquainting myself with the
actual condition of our affairs by a
personal visit, and find it very nee
essary that our nation should have
competent and able representatives
before that body of congressman
now in session in the above named
city.
i therefore recommend that vour
honorable body create an act author
izing and empowering a delegation
of Chickasaw citizens to proceed at
once to Washington, ID. c., with
FIJI and complete instructions to
look into and guard the best inter
ests of the Chickasaw nation. And
in this connection would impress
upon your minds that the freedmen
question is being constantly agitated
before congress, and 1 recommend
that you in gour wisdom suggest
and devise some method whereby
this important issue may be AMIGA
bly, and equitably adjusted and set
tied at once.
would further direct your atten-
ton to the fact that the last regu-
lar session 0f our legislature failed
to make any provision for the pay
ment of outstanding witness and ju-
ror tickets aggregating four thous-
and four hundred and fifty-one dol
lars and fifty-two cents, and there
fore ASK you to enact a law provid-
ing for the payment of same.
My attention has been called by
Z . h.aa - .l,r.aNs,., 10
repairs are badly needed on the
/ buildings at Collins institute, and l
recommend that you ascertain from
the school superintendent the actual
make an appropriation necessary to
cover same and that you also appro-
pirate any reasonable sum to pur-
chase furniture necessary for con-
Quoting the Wapanucka institute,
which can also be ascertained from
the superintendent of public instruc-
ton.
In conclusion call your attention
to the fact that it is utterly impossi
BILE for our agents to collect the local
revenue due the nation, the lack Of
which is causing the Chickssaw ma
ton serious financial embarrassment
and hereby recommend that you
effect some legislation that will re-
lieve the Chickasaw nation Of this
restraint.
In the consideration of these
measures / have the honor to be
your obedient servant,
r. M. HARRIS,
| Governor Chicxaaaw Nation