The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-03
SUMMONS TO THE SIX NATIONS
TO PROTEST AGAINST VREE-
LAND CITIZENSHIP BILL.
General Council Called At the Onondaga
Reservation "a House. Where the
Council Fire Never Dies -Objcctions
TO the Proposed Act Of congress


In pursuance Of the authority lodged In
me by the Executive Committee OF the chiefs
OF the onondaga tribe of New York Indians
In their communication to me dated Jan. Is.
1902. signed by Chief Jacob Scanadoah. j.
the undersigned. do issue this call to the
chiefs OF Six Nations OF New York Indians
TO meet in a general council at the Council
House at Onondaga Reservation. State OF
New York. on the nth day Of February. 1907.
at 10 O'Clock In the morning. for the purpose
OF considering a measure now pending In
TIE Congress Of the United States. being
II. X. iOO79. entitled a Bill to Provide for
the Allotment OF Lands in Severalty 10 In
dams In tho State OF New York. and Extend
the Protection OF the Laws Of the United States
and OF the State OF New York Over Such
Indians and for other Purposes III pro-
vides allotment OF lands in severalty and
citizenship. however. only after the payment
Of 5000. 900 by the Indians TO the Ogden Lane
Company and 10 consider any other matters
that may properly come before the council.
ANDREW Joas.
Dated at Washiacton, d. c.. this ??d day of
January. 1902.
SYRACUSE, Feb. 2.-In all tho history
of the New York State Indians there has
never been so disturbed a condition as now
and the remnant nations of the ancient
confedcracy of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-
the League Of the Iroquois-have united
In a protest against the passage OF the bill,
introduced into Congress by Representa-
tive Vreeland OF Salamanca. n. ", which
advises citizenship and land severalty
among them.
The Indians argue that they are neither
ready for dissolution of their confederacy,
nor willing TO have It dissolved; that the
United States treaties with thom provide
against any compulsory act which may
disunite them without their consent; that
1t is too soon for the young people to as
sumo the responsibilities OF citizenship
and too late for the older generation, who
are ignorant OF such authority; that while
this bill provides protection for them for
twenty-five years. the one clause of indi-
vidual privilege to obtain a patent from
the Government at the end of one year
after the allotment shall have become a
law bestows upon any Indian the right
to sell his land, perhaps to the detriment
and confusion Of his neighbor. A further
plea is for a little time longer OF national
title protection that the younger genera
ton may be fully educated TO develop
for themselves their lands-so rich in oil
and natural gas.
This bill also advises the purchase Of
the preemptive claim Of the Ogden Land
C~ompany-the so-called wet blanket" Of
the Iroquois po~ssessions-by a payment
of 500 600 10 be deducted from the Kansas
land claim OF nearly 81 600 900 due TO and
soon % be divided among the New York
State Indians. The Indians maintain that
in place OF retarding progress among them
the Ogden land claim is a protection 10
them, inasmuch as IL prevents other than
leasehold disposal of their lands, thereby
leaving them to increase IN value until
IL may be advisable TO dispose Of them in
fee. The Indians also deny any so-called
Improvement by LAND division, as they
have already the severalty right among
themselves. Any Indian can ask for land
Of the ndian council and will get a title
10 all he can improve. This Ian can be
bequeathed by him 70 his heirs or, should
be die intestste, divided equally among
his blood or clan relatives.
According % the original law 81 the oon-
federacy. the council fire, which must
never die burns at 0nondsga. therefore.
the O~nondagas ave issued the summons
which will congregate all the Six Nations
20 oppose this measure. which they declare
deprives them OF their liberties and their
laws. by the circulation Of petitions
and az various meetings the ma iorty Of
the Six Nations have signed against the
bill. A few Of the Onondagas who ars in
the minority have asked FOR citizenship
but their national. or chiefs party, insist
on objections.
The saint Regis. TonAwands. Cattarau-
gus, Salamanca, C~oTnplanter seneca and
ugas and OneidaS. will be- represented
at this Grand Council which will bs held
az the Onondaga reservation on Tuesday,
bel. II.