Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-07-18
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
AZ the Mass Convention Held In VI
nita July Isth, 1901.

NNNNN anu NboAouoiy hioSuasNNt anu
adopted at the Cherokee mass conven-
ton held in the federal court room ia
Vinita July 18TH, 1901:
Whereas, The president Of the United
States has vetoed our treaty bill, and
thereby given us to understand that
there is nothing before us for the future
but the Curtis law, with all its oppressive,
provisions; therefore:
I. Be ii resolved, by the Cherokee siti
zens in mass convention assembled at !,
Vinita, Cherokee nation, on the I3th day
Of July, 1901, that we respectfully, and
Jet most earnestly, demonstrate against 4
the enforcement of said Curtis law, so
far as the same pertains to reserving and
disposing of townsites, the reserving and
leasing Of mineral lands, and the reserv-
ing of lands for any other purpose what
soever, except cemetery uses.
II. BE it further resolved, That we will
assent to any plan Of allotment Of our
common lands that shall contain the fol-
lowing provisions, and We will assent to
no other; to-wit:
/. That all lands shall be appraised by
a competent committee of th,ee men to
be appointed, two by the secretary OF the
interior, and one by the principal chief
Of the Cherokee nation; the rural lands
TO be appraised ocre by acre, town lands
lot by lot, and all at their real value, ac-
cording to their fertility, location and
mineral and vegetable resources; the ex-
preston real value" as used herein to
mean the amount of money the said land
will bring in the market of the world, ,tb .
fee simple title to the same being ce N
sidered Immediately available.
2. That the aggregate valuation he A.
vided automatically by the nu' .rb.r Of
rightful Cherokee citizens, and The re-
suit thus found be adopted the cash
value of each citizens allotm en-,
). That each citizen shall he allowed "a
select at his own discre ,;o,, ~ -,
acres Of rural land or lot =, a,,,, s,r,..,sa
town, as will amount 10 dhs s.sI, -.
of his allotment; Pro ,;ded ,hst no S c;,;.
zen shall be allowe A 10 eneToaeh uno,,
the claim OF anoths citizen until the Iat.
ter has had a reS ,ouable time 10 select
ms own ailo.ihen :; all selections Of lands
- ~ ~ ,iana HSus "SS riding to surveyed 4boun.
q lhaI IN all cases where one town
lot, OF ruIM S, acre Of land, at its appraised
NaIue' sn.i amount to more than the ave-
eraBe Sasn allotment, the person who
1Hes O,,o. sur acre, or such town lot, for his
Miouleh shall have the right 10 pay the
ainerem e into the sub-treasury OF the
OHveu States at St. Louis, to the credit
ol ule Cherokee uation, and be entitled
IeS sive a warranty deed made in due
iolin to said town lot, or rural acre.
D. That all appraisements shall be
ma de without including improvements.
9. That every allottee over ~ years Of
&c and Of sound mind shall have a fee
imple title TO his or her allotment: thai
all title deeds shall be made by the prir
cipal chief Of the Cherokee nation, ava
guaranteed by the United States, convey
ing all the common interest Of the Cher
okee nation to the allottee in severalty,
and that all allottees under the age of 81
years, and all allottees over the age of 2I
years and OF unsound mind, shall have
lee simple title 10 his or her allotment.
evidenced by warranty deed made and
guaranteed as aforesaid, said allotment
to be inalienable until said allottee shall
attain the age OF 2I years; provided that
all minor allottees, and all allottees Of
unsound mind shall be represented by
duly appointed guardians whose acts
| shall be under the supervision Of the
probate court Of the United States: pro-
yided further that said court shall have
the power TO order the sale of the allot-
ment, or any part thereof, Of any minor
allottee, or any allottee Of unsound mind,
whenever the necessities of such allottee
shall, in the judgment Of the court, re-
| guire such sale.
7. That no allotment shall take place
until the Delaware claim and all other
claims that may be pending against the
Cherokee nation shah have been finally
settled and disposed Of.
8. That all allotments shall be selected
by the allottees within one year from ana
after the day fixed for the beginning Of
the work OF allotment, or the selection Of
allotnents; all lands remaining unselect
ed at the expiration OF one year shall be
subject to be selected by any riPhtful
citizen who may not, at that time, have
selected his allotment; provided, that All
lands remaining unsolicited at the end of
SIX months after the expiration Of saidl
one year, shall In the least practicable
time be put up and sold, upon due no.
tce, at public auction to the highest bid.
der, the proceeds Of such sale to be car
ried 10 the general fund Of the Cherokee
nation, and be paid into the sul-treasury
OF the United States at ST. Louis, TO the
credit Of the Cherokee nation.
III. BE il further resolved that IL Il
our sense that, IN order that a speedy and
final ending OF a most vexatious agitation
may be had, all Cherokee invested funds
together with all claims and debts due
from the United States TO the Cherokee
nation be paid over aud distributed per
capita among the Cherokee people. All
such funds and claims to be paid witbiu
SIX months alter the conclusion Of the
work Of allotment
~. BE Il further resolved that, in case
the United States should disregard our
wishes as herein expressed, and enforce
the Curtis law in reference 10 the segre.
cation Of townsites, aud mineral iaiida
then we shall deem ourselves Justly en-,
titled TO fair compensation at the hands
OF the United States for all the lands Tins
appropriated against our consent
V. BE Il further resolved that. whereas
certain OF our Cherokee fellow citizens
owners OF the occupant title Of town lots
nave, as we have been informed, made
numerous conditional sales Of said lots Id
persons VINO have no legal, or equitable
interest IN our common estate, with obi
cations 10 make good the title as soon =
they shau have acquired the absolute
ownership 9i the same under the provis,
IONS OF the Curtis law; aud whereas we
IegaIa sueh practice a fruitful means ii
llis1htt9fses 10 antagOnize the Cherl.
fe IN their honest endeavor
cir own rights Of property,N
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