Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-16
cATAWBAs IN COLUMBIA.

All of the Indians in the United
States are wards Of Uncle Sam and
all have received assistance from the
old man except the Catawbas. For
some reason the Catawbas have had
no dealings with the general govern
ment. Their negotiations have been
only with the state of South Carolina
and they are not exactly satisfied
with the treatment they have receiv-
ed. In fact they are Of opinion
that they have been unjustly done out
Of certain lands that are rightly
theirs, and they want relief at the
hands Of somebody. II not from the
general government then from the
hands of the state. The Columbia
Record of yesterday has the follow
ing as to the present movements:
They have a delegation in Colum-
bia to treat with the general assem-
bly,. The members Of the delegation
are: Sam Blue, chairman, Ben +.
Harris secretary; Chief D. A. Harris
and Second Chief John Brown.
With them is VIM. F. Partlow, an
attorney of Washington, D. c., who
makes a speciality Of Indian cases. He
and the delegation have an appoint
ment to meet the house judiciary
committee at five p. m. today.
Briefly stated, they want settlement
for $50 square miles of land they sold
to the state. This sale was made for
treaty concluded In 1S40. At that
time their lands were bringing in an
annual rental Of $4,000. The state
agreed to buy new tract for them
for $1,000 and to pay $21,000. The
new tract was never bought, as far
as their attorney knows, and In ten
years after the treaty the Indians got
$21, 900, which was less than what
their rentals would have amounted
to In that time. Since then the gen.
eral assembly has annually made
small appropriation for the Catawbas.
The total Of these donations are some
where around $4,000.
Their attorney now holds that the
sale was illegal and that the lands
never passed out Of the hands Of the
Catawbas. If that condition can be
sustained, they own 1S0 square miles
Of the most valuable land in upper
South Carolina.
Mr.. Partlow says the treaty was IL
legal because 1t contravenes an act or
congress passed in 1898, which pro-
hibits Indians selling or otherwise dis
posing any of their lands without the
approval of a commission appointed
by the secretary Of the interior act
ing with a commission representing
the state. He affirms that the treaty
Of 1910 was made directly with the
Indians and not through a commits
sion appointed by the national govern
ment to represent them. The record OF
the state government as to its dealings
with the Catawbas are said not to be
full and clear and 1t Is alleged that II
will be difficult to prove anything on
either side as to the treaty made sixty
six years ago by which the Catawbas
parted with their lands.
The delegatin will ask the legisla-
ture to appoint a commission to look
into the matter.
Commissioner Leupp's interest has
been enlisted and. 1t Is said. that he
will aid the Catawbas II they cannot
reach a satisfactory settlement with
the state government.
It may be that the bringing OF this
matter to Commissioner Leupp's at
tention may result in getting the Ca
tawbas under government charge.
At the same time, some hold that
the act Of 1898 does not apply to In
dians in the original thirteen sover-
eign states, but only to the aborigt-
res in the territory owned by the ma
tional government, most Of which has
since been made into states. ...