Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-16

Rev. Jesse Kirk a we'll known In
dian Of the klamath tribe belonging
to the Klamath Agency publishes Q
letter in yesterdays issue Of the Ore
gonian in which he ably defends the
rights Of this people against the claim
Of Oregon to 100000 acres of swamp
lands. part of which has already been
allotted to the Indians. Mr. Kirk
says in part.
The Klamaths, Modocs. and Yahoo
kin band Of Snake Indians of the
klamath Indian Reservation in the
State of Oregon, and the aboriginal in.
habitants Of the country ceded to the
United States by tn IN. Their rights
and titles to all the country claimed
by them must be a thousand years
old, or more, as the oldest Indians re-
member what was expounded to them
by their ancestors. handed down
generation after generation.
They have never heard of their be-
ing driven from any other country
by war or desperation. All they have
ever heard from the preceding gener-
ations Is, that they were living here
in klamath county quietly. unmo-
Tested. and pursuing the necessities
Of their lives. There are many pre-
historical evidences in the country Of
the traditions handed down to us by
our ancestors Also the peculiar land
marks throughout the entire country
prove the fact that we Indians are
.possessors and had possessed the
land long before any Anglo-Saxon
knew there was any such country as
oregon or Klamath, therefore the
Government of the United States ac-
knowledged our ownership and enter
ed into negotiations. j. W. Perritt
Huntington, ,and William Logan, were
appointed Commissioners on the
part OF the United States. A treaty
was negotiated in 1864, by the United
States with the Indians aforesaid
which was concluded October a.
1864, was amended by the Senate,
and finally ratified, and proclaimed
February II, 1870. BY the first ar
ticle OF this treaty the said Indians
surrendered their right, title and
claim in and to about 10000 900 acres
of land in Oregon, and Northern Cali
fornia, a reservation for their future
use and occupancy being reserved by
the treaty within the ceded Territory.
The Indians fully complied with the
provisions Of the treaty by settling
and removing within the limits Of the
reservation thus created for them.
Not only did they remove and settle
within the limits of the reservation,
but more than that, they have re-
mained loyal and true to the solemn
treaty stipulations and with ready
hands TO assist the United States, in
case any OF the surrounding tribes or
nations are hostile to the United
States. They have shown this in
both the Snake war In Eastern Oregon
and the Modoc war In Northern Cali
fornia.
Henry Blow, the last and only lead
ing scout and chief living, is old and
feeble. living on Williamson River.
After chiefmanship was abolished by
the Indians, he was appointed a police
man on this reservation, which duty
he faithfully executed for over 20
years.
When the Modocs began hostilities
TO the United States, the Klamaths
proved themselves just as loyal 10 the
Government as any patriot can boast
Of having been during the Civil War.
by assisting the Government to put
down the rebellion. and by lighting
their own brothers. thus holding their