The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-07-16
AN OBSTRuCTIONIST,
cookson's Speech In the Cherokee
Senate Two Years Ago.

the memorial under discussion
providing for allotment, n d
which was afterwards rejected by
congress. We print II for the
same reason, only that II may be
read by every Cherokee In the ma
tion as the uttrances OF Cherokee
patriot. In the light Of svents
Cookson showed more wisdom
than many of his countrymen.
This speech should make Cookson
at least one thousand votes;
"Mr President, and gentleman
of the senate; We have a bill be.
fore us today that provides that
we relinquish our title to every
thing We have as a people. We
love this title that we have TO the
lands Of the Cherokee nation just
as We love everything else that we
own. The proposition, before the
senate this evening Ia whether We
will give up or relinquish our
tight 10 the country or ask the
government of the United States
to be easy with us until we do
these things. The proposition
before US will deprive every Cher.
okee citizen OF his privileges. We
offer substitute for this Allot.
ment Bill which provides that as
soon as the government Of the
United States is ready for the dis
solution Of the Cherokee Tribal
Government, then We are ready
for II and not before; and 1t seems
TO me, as a representative from
Illinois district OF the Cherokee
nation, that IL is very unsafe idea
to vote for proposition to turn
over every foot OF the Cherokee
nation TO the government Of the
United States until the govern.
ment OF the United States is ready
for the allotment and distribution.
From our own experience with
that government | shall not con-
sent to proposition Of that sort.
| believe in every Indian in this
country being entitled TO what he
has, and believe In taking care Of
this patent or bill OF sale. say
there is q motive for this bill being
presented here. This matter is
being aRilated by the sp, oulators
inside aud outside OF this country.
This question We have before us Is
= business matter. The matter re.
solves itself into the shape Of an
estate. We will say The Cherokee
nation dies and IL has an estate
that is valued at fifteen million
dollars. Then The question arises.
what shall be done with the es.
tate that belongs to these Chero-
kee Indlans7 The people tha, as.
sumo control Of the Cherokee peo.
pie will appoint appraisers in be-
half of the Cherokee people, who
are The beneheiaries OF this large
estate. The appraisers will make
= general summary OF the value Of
the property Of this estate, listing
the land and the vuius OF the same,
and then there will be- an admins.
traitor appointed and presume
In this instance that adnapistrator
will be the secretary OF the Int.
rior, who will collect all ebts that
are due the estate and also pay
the debts that are against the
Cherokee people. The balance OF
this estate, alter The matter has
been settled through the courts,
will be coming 10 the Cherokee
people who ara the heirs TO this
estate. This is the reason that
offer 9 substitute 10 tbe bill pro.
viding for the allotment Of the
lands and settlement OF the ss.
tate Of The Cherokees.
I'VE have before ~ this even-
ing a bill that deprives the CherO.
kee people Of their right aud their
title TO every veslige they have.
We also have resolution or =
proposition TO take the place OF
this bill that does not do that but
aavn wafl unfiI The anvafnmanf af