Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-04-11
ANSWERS SPRINGER.
Says Judge Springer Threatens the
cherokees With a Sword In One
Hand and a Tomahawk
In the other.

through the columns OF Inc
Chieftain to answer briefly the
"Advice Of Judge Springer"
which is just now being unfurled
as banner to the breezes, by the
non.citizsn press of the Cherokee
nation. ! say the non-citizen
press, for it seems that all the
newspapers run by non citizens are
against tho Cherokees, like Judge
Springer, namely; Threatening
us with a sword in one hand and
a tomahawk in the other. 40.
oording to the judge and these
newspapers, we are like the lamb
to be slaughtered. We are drawn
up before the block and given by
the great government of the
United States the blessed privil.
ege (2) of a choice between having
our heads cut off with a sword or
a tomahawk. That is, we can
either take the treaty or the Cur.
It's act. But must confine my re-
marks to the judge and leave
these newspapers for a subsequent
article TO themselves.
Now if the judge is, or was a
just judge, he would, like Judge
John Il. Thomas, declare the Cur.
tis act unconstitutional, which it
is on the very face of it. He,
Judge Springer, would make it ap.
pear that it is foregone conclu-
sion that if this treaty is voted
down the Curtis act with all its
evils and threatenings will be en-.
forced upon us. Now let all the
Cherokees, like the Ketawah part
Of them, not he scared before we
are hurt. While the Ketawahs
have felt uneasy and displeased
with the Curtis act, they have
never Been frightened out Of their
senses by it. OF course the polit-
ical part of it is being enforced
and we are not kicking so very
much on that part Of it, but when
it comes to the property part Of it,
when it comes to laying of a lot
Of our land into towncites and
leasing our minerals, etc., without
our consent then the part Of it re-
lating to our property, when test
ed in court, may turn out like
the laying of and selling lots in
the Muskogee townsite did. The
Dawes commission undertook TO
lay of and sell lots under the Cur
tis act in the Muskogee townsito,
but Mr.. Sewers, believe it was, a
citizen Of the Greek nation, asked
an injunction in the United States
court 10 have such a proceeding
stopped until the consent of the
Creek nation was obtained. The re-.
suit was that Judge Thomas had
the grit, backbone and justice IN
him to declare II unconstitutional
and had it stopped. OF course this
will apply as well in the Chero-
kee nation as in the Greek. When
it comes to the government, orany
corporation, company or indIvid-
ual laying of townsiles OF leasing
minerals on lands patented in fee
simple, without the consent Of the
owners, the courts must stop il il
they are courts Of justice and
equity. II they don't stop il, they
must no longer be called courts of
justice aud equity, but should then
be called courts Of injustice and
without equity.
Let me quote a little bosh com.
ing from this eminent ex judge. |
am surprised that a man who has
accepted and held the office Of
judge OF the United States court,
should give countenance to such
expressions and sentiment nnder
the cover of law. Under the SUBJ
heading Of "Injustice to Past
Purchasers" he Gays:
1T will be observed that the titles
10 town lots, under the Curtis act,
will depend upon future action Of the
nation, which must authorize deeds
10 be made 10 such lots, before the
title "a a.ses TO the lot holders. II the
nation does not give tue authority TO
make the deeds the purchasers will
be IN possession Of the lots, their
money will be 10 the subtreasury and
the nation will get 10 interest on IT,,
aud no taxes can be levied on the lots.
In other words, the nation must eth
er authorize deeds 10 be executed 10
The lots, or leave them indefinitely 10
the possession Of the purchaser, who
will remain ia possession, but have no
title
"ln the Cherokee nation there are
10 nearly all the towns, many lot
which have no improvements
upon them, and many Others
which have only been fenced aud cul-
tivated OF improved with temporary
hnlldlnna lnhn nrasnnI nmnnra III