Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1902-02-27
BREACH OF FAITH
Is Also Charged Against the Gov
eminent, 10 Theii Defense
for Failure to Have Eo-
rolled With Dawes
Commission.

Auo ioiioWAub Pthhvh tioghhb
for delay in the execution Of an
order Of the federal court, com
the fullbloods to enroll
with the Dawes commission, was
by members Of the Kee
too wah society who were brought
before the commission at Niue
kogee:
10 the Honorable the Commits
sion to the Five Civilized Tribes:
The undersigned.
Daniel Redbird, head captain;
David Muskrst, second head cap
tain; John Grass, (or MoIntosh), |
Rhilii Bennett, Jesse Pigeon and
Alex. Deer in.,he water, officers
and members Of the Kee too wah |
SO cie;y of Fullblood Cherokees,
are here in obedience to a notifioa-
ton to "appear before the commits
sion to the FIVE civilized tribes TO
be enrolled as citizens oi the Cher.
okee tribe Of Indians in the Indian
territory"
The undersigned being but six
of the fifteen prominent members
OF the Kee too-wah society, would
gr estly prefer pos'poning the en-.
rollment demanded OF us until we
shall have an opportunity OF call.
ing together those whom we rep.
resent for the purpose Of laying
before them the act Of your honor.
able commission.
The officers of the Kee.too. wah
society have made earnest efforts
heretofors to get convention Of
thei society to consider the CORES
pom dence between your honorable
commission and the Kee too wah
society OF last fall. But our peo.
Pile, as you know, are extremely
destitute on account of the disas-
trous drouth of last fall. Their
condition in many cases is pitiful
in the extreme, as many OF our
citizens are in immediate want Of
the nect sssries Of life and even Of
the commonest and simplest food,
and are compelled to divide with
one another in order TO avoid act
ual starvation.
Relief committees have been
made necessary by the pitiful con.
diiion Of many of our people, and
appeals have been made to the
generosity Of the people in more
prosperous districts to save our
people from disastrous suffering
This has been a potent reason for
not being able to assemble our
people, as they would be obliged
TO pay their expenses at time
when expense is a serious matter
to them.
Another reason which, we trust,
you will FORGIVE us Tor mention
ing, the painful fact that the
United States has failed to com
ply with the most important
pledges made to our people. BY
the last agreement we we're in
duced TO make with her in the sale
of the Cherokee outlet, we were
promised the payment of the
money due our Eastern Cherokees,
an amount OF over $4,000, ,00D,
which your own officers, without
suggestion from US, found due and
payable, and which your secretary
of the interior sent TO congress for
payment, and yet the government
has allowed year after year to pass
by failing and refusing to pay
the money, urging that justice be
done our people. You can readi
ly understand that men who are
suffering for food. while a large
sum Of money ia due them from the
United States, must feel natural
reluctance to making new engage.
ments until justice is dnne them
under the last agreement.
By the agreement Of 1891 the 10
tTuders were 10 be removed and
the Cherokees to be allowed to
name who their own citizens were.
II this had been done the division
Of our property among aliens from
Africa and other sections OF the
world would not now be- cOniem
plated. Our people are strongly
opposed, as we have heretofore
represented to you, to any step
recognizing your right to divide
their heritage among those we
know are not entitled TO IL. Our
people are willing to have the
courts say whether these alien
people are entitled to a share in
our property. but are not willing
to subscribe to that proposition
except upon the judgment Of a
competent court. This we have