The sun., 1902-03-11
THE OGDEN LAND COMPANY.
History Of the Organization That Claims
Rights In the Land Of the sixNations.

tndt NifIe Wouiu De nearing on tHt NItt-
land bill Tomorrow morning. In addition
to providing for the allotment in severalty
Of the Indian lands in this State II further
moro gives to the Ogden Land Company
100000 in consideration of certain pre-
empton rights claimed by II.
THE SUN has received letter from Mr.
William Harrison Of this city In relation TO
the Vreeland bill and its provisions regard
ing tho claims of the Ogden Land Company
and the preemption rights OF the Scr e'a
Indians in this State. Mr.. Harrison says
that he is related to number OF persons
who constitute the Ogden company.
Reciting the fact that Mr.. Vreeland rep
resents q district which embraces the Al
legauy reservation and is a resident OF
Salamanca in that reservation, Mr.. Harrison
says
IL Is fair TO assume that his reasons for
Introducing the bill are TO be found IN the
facts that the land embraced in the r"scrva-
tions IL not now taxable for either state or
county purposes. and that there Is very
vations whose titles are simply leaseholds
granted by the Indians under the authority
OF Congress. and are admittedly not such
as any savings bank or trustee can Iehd
Whether Mr. vreelands bill correctly
djHs', .hs respective eGu',,1sd a1d tbe Holdars d
OF the leasehold titles II is none OF the writer's
business TO discuss.
The Ogden Land Company Is not unduly
pressing for a sale OF its title; and have
personal knowledge that a number OF those
Interested consider $500 900 very inadeqnatss
determination not 10 stand IN the way oi
a settlement at that price II II be carried
through at this session OF Congress-
Mr.. Harrison says: Il am glad to testify
that THE Suns facts are habitually so.
hut beg In this case to differ from your
doctrine Of probabilities.
He refers to an editorial article OF THE
Suns, and SAYS. Not 10 refuse to sell
property which has belonged to you and
your predecessors for more than century
is not probably land-grabbing scheme. y
Mr.. Harison's letter is of such length that
space cannot be given to publish it in full.
Moreover, THE SUN considers that all
OF Mr.. Harison's points are answered IN
the following letter from Mr.. Charles i.
Andrews:
My letter published in THR Sun Of Feb.
10 has brought me many inquiries about the
propositions Of the Vreeland bill the Ogden
claim, dc.. together with expressions of sym
pathy with the views | expressed In regard to
the rights of the Indian. The tenor OF these
letters. however. indicates lack of definite
interest In 1t.
am satisfied. too. that in Congress. even.
there has not been the close vestigation OF
tho facts that their importance demands
and that the plausible statements OF the lihd
oompany's agents have mislead many Of the
sincere friends OF the Indians. Possibly
your readers may be interested In brief
history of the case
The questions presented are two: First, has
the ogden Land Company a claim in law or
equity which would act as a cloud on the
title" Of the individual Indians land were he
to receive a patent from the United states
in fee simple on the allotment OF the lands in
scVeralty?
Second n such a cloud Is imminent does
It arise from any transaction which makes
il morally or legally incumbent upon the
Indians TO remove Il?
First, as to the ogden claim When
stronger nation, by discovery. purchase or
conquest comes into possession Of weaker,
the title to all the lands vests in the stronger
Government. excepting only such rights as
It may recognize in the aboriginal inhabitants.
The citizens OF the new power can acquire title
only through the Government
There are probably two reasons for this
practice: One. that the Government may have
the revenues OF the sales of land, and the
other that IL may he better able TO maintain
a secure title for its citizens
In the Cu-e OF the nlttd states, the us
covering nations granted, usually for con-
sideration, this right OF eminent domain
10 certain individuals or companies, by what
were termed charters, covering certain terri
In the case OF what is now New York State.
the Massachusetts, companies received from
tho English Government charter 10 lands
wide enough TO embrace al OF New York
north of the pennSylvania lnc and extending
from the Atlantic 20 the Pacific, The Dutch
however, also had a right OF discovery
pithin these boundaries extending up tho |
Hudson and the Delaware TO the headwaters
OF ,he latter and Of the MohaTk S ,.,0,r ~
tween Britain and Holland, and, later. the
Dutch province was cedcd to England and
frqhtTfe itfe w2s VII tT before The Revoutonary War
the charter OF New York was amended 80
as TO extend the boundaries from rs eastern
line OF Pennsylvnnia and the present north
limo OF New York at Franklin county, west
ward 70 Lakes Huron and st. olaS tsklns YSrI "a
but TIVE Province Of ontario.in Canada, and
placing Lake ontario entirely within New
charter OF Massschuscits
Now, as 10 the rights conceded hy the
stronger English Governmen. 20 tnn weSEsts i,t
those in western New York Here was the
comporstiyely powerful sc, Indian aI,o, confed-
Holland first. and England afteryward,
found this confcderacy a convenient bnnet
against The Smbtions 9 France m the Hsw
sovereignty, acknowledging its rights 70 soil
and occupancy, and making the most solemn
pledges always 70 respect these rights
The United States need not have con-
tInued these rights and this recognition,
for most OF the Six Nations remained loyal
TO En- gland through the Revolutionary War;
and by the expeditions OF sullivan in the
West and Col Herkimer in the East. the
United States had got possession by con-
Humanity and wiser statesmanship. how
ever combined TO induce different policy,
and as early as l7Si. a treaty was made nj
Fort StanwiN certain boundaries were
established defining the territory Of the Six
Nations and guaranteeing them PEE ceful
possessions of the same, in return for ccs-
sion of other lands by the Six Nations TO the
United States--a Qu'd pro quo between indo-
pendent, contracting parties.
This Fort StanNIN treaty IL regarded by
iursts as the basis OF the constitutional
rights of the Scnecas, being a recognition
Its principles have been reaftirmed again and
again by the courts So far there is no
Ogden Land Company claim. But the in
fant United States had several perpleNin
problems on hand. one. not the least. was
TO provide for the t.s 10 the vast lands |
which II was known. or assumed. the Indians |
would be willing 90 purt with.
he conflicting charters OF the Colonies,
now changed TO states, and the selfish de- |
sire Of each 10 enrich itself, for time seemed |
10 endangcr the stability OF the young re- |
public
New York had lost more than half its do |
main to Grent Britain by the treaty Of peace,
and Massachusetts insisted on all Of the re- |