Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-03-03

talking fight. Every Cherokee
Indian will enlist" The letter is
from a prominent man, in a promi-
nent town in the Cherokee nation.
***
The question of additional court
legislation for the Indian Territory
is in chaos. Nothing can be def
nitely learned about what will
probably be done, and no one can
be. located on any of the committees
here, who expect to press any
particular court measure. With
the exception of the measure for
the establishment of an additional
court at TishimingO, in the Chicka-
saw country, nothing is pending
before the committee. 1t is under
stood generally that the judges of
the United States courts in the In
dian Territory have agreed upon
bill for the reorganization of the
judiciary of that country, and in
fact prints of this bill have reached
Washington, through the territory
papers, but it is a fact that up 10
this time no such measure has been
presented to congress or the COM
mittees. | have discussed the
matter with many prominent
members, and it is not thought to
be likely that there will be any
additional court Legislation at this
session of congress.
***
The personel of the territory
representatives in Washington has
changed with the week. Judge NJ.
NJ. Beavers, of Chickasha, Hon. S.
NJ. Rutherford, of Muscogee, and
w. Z Halsell, of Vinita, have ar
rived. Delegate Bledsoe, of Ard
more, and Cherokee townsite dele
gate w. p Thompson, of Table
quah, have returned home. 1t is
understood that they will return
to Washington when the Curtis
bill reaches the senate or perhaps
earlier.
***
The statement of GovernorBroWn
of the Seminoles that he would
claim indemnity from the United
States for the burning of the two
Semi ole boys some time ago, has
created considerable comment. |
yesterday called on the governor
to get an expression direct from
him, as to what he and his nation
expected to do about the matter.
He said:
Under the treaties with my ma.
tion the United States guaranteed
US protection, and indemnity is un-
douDtedly due the Seminoles for
the burning of two of their citizens
by citizens of the United States.
| expect to make a claim for in
demnity, under our treaties. [
will present this claim direct to
congress, and will proceed with it
just as soon as pending Indian
Territory legislation is disposed of.
A provision is pending in the In
dian appropriation bill for the rati-
fication of the Seminole treaty, and
| have every reason to hope and be-
lieve it will become law with the
bill. When that is disposed of we
will present and press our claim
for indemnity"
*x#
The Cherokees have determined
to have the supreme court OF the
United States pass upon two ques-
tions of vital interest to their ma
ton: The validity of the law
abolishing their court jurisdiction,
and their treaty right of self gov
ernment. Tie first question will
be brought to the supreme court |
by an appeal of the Foreman ha-
beas corpus case, mentioned in my |
last weeks communication. 1t
was at first intended to apply di-
rect to one of the judges of the
supreme court for a writ of habeas
corpus for the release of the Fore
mans. who are now in Jail at Mus
cogee, but after many conferences
between the Cherokee delegation
and their attorneys, 1t was determ-
ined to apply to Judge Springer
for the writ, and if refused, to APP
peal to the supreme court of the
United States. The Cherokees
have employed the firms of Stuart,
Lewis, Gordon and Rutherford,
and Hutchings & West, of the In
dian Territory. Ex-senator Call,
of Florida, and ". p. Thompson
and D. w. G. Duncan, of the
Cherokee nation, have been en-
ployed to assist in presenting the
question to the supreme court of
the United States. The case will
be prepared and brought up as
soon as the details can be arranged.
The plan of the last named at
torneys will be to ask congress to
pass an act giving the supreme
court jurisdiction to pass on this
point. In discussing the matter
w. A. Duncan, chairman of the
Cherokee delegation, said:
In recent speech in the senate
Senator Morgan of Alabama, said
that all of these questions should
be passed upon by the supreme
court of the United States so that
hereafter there can be no dispute
about the authority of Congress to
act in these matters. The Chero-
kee nation desires nothing short of
having the supreme court pass
upon its rights under the treaties,