Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-05-18
low, Jim Waldo, an

ChckaSaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole tribes in In
dian Territory now Eastern Oklahoma applied on
account of the advance made by these tribes toward
civilized life and customs. The appears in the re
ports of the Indian office early 1876, when the
agent reported that each tribe had a constitutional
government with Legislative judicial and executive de
parments, conducted upon the plan state
governments the entire expenses of which are paid out
Of their Ownfunds.
There was, however at that date court with uriS
dctIon to try cases where Indian party and
citizen Of the United States a corporation the
other but tins lack has since been supplied Some of the
tribes, notably the Cherokee, have had their laws and
the acts of their councils printed.
These five tribes differed from most others in the fact
that their lands held not the basis
yations but by patents deeds in fee simple with
tain restrictions to alienation and reyersion-those
conveyed to the Cherokee nation, December 81 1888
forever upon condition that they "shall revert to the
United States if the said Cherokee nation becomes extinct
or abandonS the same; those to the Choctaw nation,
March %, 1872, IN fee simple to them and their de
sccndants. to insure to them while they shall exist
nation and continue to occupy the country hereby
yeyed to them. Although the lands were held in fee
simple the right to ALLEVIATE them except to the United
States with its does not appear have passed
to the grantees. The title is defined base quail
fled or detcminable fee with only possibility of
version to the United States CT. S VS. Reese ; Dill
4O3). The right OF these tribes to cut sell and dispose
of their timber and to permit mining and grazing within
the limits Of their respective tracts for time
limited to their citizens, but this right has been
somewhat extended though the exercise of it is still
subject to approval by the proper United States auhor
ties. The title Of the Chickasaw nation to their lands
in Indian Territory obtained from the Choctaw in
accordance with treaties with the United States. while
that of the Seminole obtained from the Creeks these
two tribes beng granted their lands the basis
and with the privileges the United States
granted the lands to the Choctaw and the Creeks The
territory thus assigned to these five' tribes within the
limits of Indian Territory (now Eastern oklahoma
amounted to l94756l4 acres about 3043l square
miles, an area equal to that of South Carolina and
equivalent to 230 for each man. and child
of the entire population (S4,507) of the five tribes
The treaties of 1866 with the several tribes all pro-
uded for the holding of general council TO be composed
of delegates from each tribe in Indian Territory, and
the Choctaw and ChckaSaw treaty also provides that this
general council shall elect delegate congress when
ever congress shall authorize the admission into its body
of an official who shall represent Indian Territory
Although some of the tribes have made effort to
bring about the results contemplated in these treaty
stpuatons nothing efectua in this direction has been
accomplished BY act of congress February g. 1887
every Indian born in the United States who receives
land in allotment and taken up "hs residence separate
and apart from any tribes of Indians therein and has
adopted the habits of civilized life is declared citizen
of the United States but the Five Civilized Tribes