Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-13
AN ANCIENT INDIAN
A Cherokee who Signed the Treaty.
of Generation Ago.

Samuel Houston Benge, the only sur
viving signer of the Indian treaty OF
1866, is in Washington, where ne was
summoned as a witness before the
court of claims. Mr. Benge is a full
blooded Cherokee and is in his sixty
eighth year. His home is near Fort
Gibson. Indian Territory and since his
twenty-second year he has been prom
inent in the affairs of his people. being
hOnored by them with important posi-
tions of honor and trust. In the civil
war Mr. Benge served with distinction
as lieutenant in the Third Indian regi-
ment, company \. Speaking of the
condition of the Cherokee country. Mr..
Benge said:
1T is not pleasure for me to say that
the affairs OF the Cherokee country are
in very unsatisfactory and unsettled
condition. and this state of affairs is
due almost entirely to the Curtis act,
an act which has been anything but
beneficial to our people and our coun-
try. 1t was not and is not necessary
to make a new treaty with our people.
the Cherokee nation. The treaty OF
1866, which l had the honor of assist
ing in making. provides that when the
national council shall so request the
secretary CT the interior shall cause
land to be allotted among the people OF
the nation. This is construed to metn
legitimate citizens of the nation. and
not those intermarried or adopted
without compensation 10 the Cherokee
nation. There are also a great many
people in the Cherokee nation who are
taking their lands in Kansas. North
Carolina. Georgia and Tennessee.
thereby Withdrawing all the interest
they ever had in the Cherokee nation.
Now these 'reservators' wish to share
with the rest of the Cherokees in the
division of the land. which you can
readily see is very unjust to those who
are the real owners of the country. The
United States sold this land to the
Cherokees. and reserved no minerals
except the salt on the Salt Plains, and
we believe that all the minerals ought
to 90 with the allotment of land. and
do not believe that any person or
corporation should acquire leases
which would interfere with vested
rights. y great many of our people ar
opposed TO allotment. They claim the
government ought to protect them
under treaty stipuIations of 1856 DIS
guaranteed TO them. As has been be-
fore stated. there are a great many
tiocking in hunting minerals, oils, etc.
and if matters are permitted to con-
tinUe this way the time is not far dis
tant when we will have To rights
whatever. Our legitimate people ar.
bitterly opposed TO leasing the oil
fields. We claim that people living at
a distance of 200 Or. 300 miles have no
right to give their sanction TO the Ieas-
ing of these lands. There are few
of these people who are now trying "a
lease these lands to parties n Men
York and other places, and it is cur
opinion that they have no legal or
moral right to advocate such leases.
because they are interesting them
selves in something which VIII result
injuriously to the people directly liz
terested. We are opposed also To the
leasing of large tracts of land for past
urage. We need these lands FOR our
selves, and the people vino own these
lands should be protected. regardless
of the say so of parties who live at
distance We claim that we bought
the Cherokee country from the UniteI
States government. and most assure /
ly all minerals and oils belong to Us
and we should reap the benefits. l am
firmly of the belief that we are not be-
ing treated as we should be, and car
tainly not as the treaty of 1866 stipu-
lated we should be.
Yes. it is true we have some little
trouble in the territory about the il
legal sale of whisky. and again
would impress upon those not familiar
with the facts that these violations
are by white men. 1t is a very unusual
thing for an Indian to be caught selling
the stuff. White men come there AMI
sell what they call mist but which is
known in the states as beer. and I may
say a very poor quality at that. Other
drunk-mallers sell what is called 'di-
lutte, a mixture of alcohol, Simple
strip. blackberry wine and water. This
concoction will make drunk come. quick
and is regarded as a very dangerous
drink. but yet it is sold almost openly
Then comes the common 'bOot-legger.
who is simply a walking bar-room.
dealing out the very meanest quality
OF whisky and carrying trouble and
bloodshed in his wake. Why are they
llOL DIOSECultU- SIMPLY -iOiil lIIE Ae~N
that if you determine to report ana
prosecute one of these ViOlators yoIi
must give bond in a sum sufficient to
cover all cost of prosecution in the
event of n failure to convict. Our pen
pie are about as patriotic as you Will
find anywhere. but in no section of the
country viii you find men who are
willing to neglect business. go to a
heavy expense. any amount of trouble.
and run the risk of making lifelong
enemies of d very dangerous class by
taking such steps. 1t is easily under
stood why these Violators are left IN
punished under such conditions. and it
is not to the credit of the United
States government when l say that the
officials in the Indian Territory are not
very alert in prosecuting these viola
tors.
While some people claim that there
is d very large amount of crime III
the Indian Territory. 1 tell you that
such is not the case. bur ] viii say
that the larger portion of crime IS
committed by the whites and negroes.