Legal Document

330 U.S. 169 67 Supreme Court Reporter 650 91 L.Ed. 823 CONFEDERATED BANDS OF UTE INDIANSv.UNITED STATES. Number 141. Argued Jan. 14, 15, 1947. Decided Feb. 17, As Amended March 31, [Syllabus from pages 169-171 intentionally omitted] Mr. Ernest L. Wilkinson, of Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Marvin Judge Sonosky, Washington respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 Petitioners brought this action in Claims under Act June 28, 1938, 52 Statutes-at-Large 1209, as amended, 55 593, to recover compensation lands made available them by an 1875 Executive Order President and sub-sequently taken United States. Their claim was that 1880, 21 199, Congress had undertaken sell these benefit petitioners, but they never been compensated them. The Claims, one judge concurring specially, findings fact concluded a matter law petitioners no compensable interest because 'never did acquire title * agree account of' Ct.Cl., 64 F.Supp. 569, 571. We granted certiorari, 329 694, 50. 2 official letters, Orders statutes incorporated were follows: A treaty 2, 1868, 15 619, between States petitioners' ancestors, Ute Indian tribes, established reservation Colorado. northern boundary million acres there ceded described line fifteen miles north of, parallel 40th latitude. In 15-mile wide strip lay White River Valley which settled Utes most suitable place grazing cultivation. One two Government agencies provided strip. 3 result misunderstandings 1869 1874 white settlers true location boundary, survey Miller. Miller's instructions, however, required him stake out he admitted local agent themselves be eighteen south treaty. If correct, it would have excluded 1868 fertile Valley, also agency buildings erected there. 4 marking erroneous Miller greatly upset Indians feared driven Valley. This embarrassed who previously assured within their reservation. He promptly reported results reaction Commissioner Affairs urged necessity new at earliest practicable date. stated if Valley—'the only farming land stock range part reservation'—and forced settle on river forty south. Commissioner, acting report statement attorney wrote Secretary Interior 'develops surrounding valleys well Agency improvements lie consequently are not limits Reservation.' therefore recommended requested issue make additional territory boundary. President, t e recommendation Interior, issued order.1 And thereafter order included 'all tract country lying defined surveyed fully protects your peaceable possession buildings, will enable you assure exact enlarged.' 1879, several years after issued, hostilities broke some representatives River, all agency's male employees, military detachment killed so-called 'Meeker massacre.' Ex. Doc. 1, pt. 5, 47th Cong., 2d Sess. (1879) 16—19, 82—97. There charges counter-charges responsible inciting hostilities. Whoever responsible, is clear Congress, aroused massacre, took steps punish participated it, dispossess reservation, remove Congressional accomplish ratified embodied agreement reached earlier year leaders promised 'to use best endeavors with people procure consent cede present Reservation *.' authorized specific allotments individual so ceded. But § allotted, is, said Indians, acceptance States, released conveyed *' restored public domain sale lands. proceeds were, upon satisfaction indemnity conditions imposed distributed Indians. Thereafter, 1882, declared withdrawn 'set apart hereby domain.' Kappler, supra, Pages 834, 834. 5 Pursuant 1909, 35 781, recovered judgment certain sold Government, value appropriated its own use, versus 45 Ct.Cl. 440; 46 225. Thus, except here, litigation concerning now pending Colorado paid those outside avail ble 1875. pursuit lands, pursuant supra. That confers jurisdiction hear, determine, render final legal equitable claims award where found 'that any formerly belonging' 'have without 6 contend here predecessors understood owned when, agreed reservation; incorporating 1880 Act, thereby along Indians' understanding it. further whether or intended obligate knew 'the having established,' entitles recover. Finally argue unlike Sioux Tribe 316 317, 62 1095, 86 1501, counters power give boundaries; transitory, possessory, compensable, interest; his intent was, fact, secure more, mistaken assumption cut off survey; neither terms, legislative history, nor administrative interpretation, suggests ratify expand compensate lands; contrary understanding; face such language intent, even established, could justify holding obtained interest. 7 It conceded either been, currently pressing seek be, contained boundaries claim, insofar rests 1875, cannot sustained. For authority convey supra.2 Nor indication more than possessory Order. tenants same page 331, 1101, 1501. Moreover, Claims' emphasized special opinion, indicate promulgated belief issuance necessary might otherwise survey. These do Secretary, designed resolve misunderstanding created about lands.3 fullest possible purpose has actually carried out. enjoyment protected during stay already for, subject whereby payment things mind we must consider petitioner's contention right Act. 8 word showing congressional other On contrary, transaction transferors Government. conveyed, other, deductions made. 9 deduce transform into conveyance something mere temporary cancellable Neither circumstances about, transfer original aftermath With massacre mind, decided punishment meted tragedy.4 very first section prohibited payments until involved surrendered, apprehended, proof dead Compensation families victims deducted payable find background gift sought. which' then 'released States.' They release belonged them, given maintained. Under circumstances, chiefs headmen cession Reservation,' sufficient attribute treat legally sole making 10 said, Valley; 'present reservation' include them; undertook benefit; aware understanding. majority 'in probability' true. writer thought differently. believed necessarily Certainly absence presidential supplied authority. may reasons our decision case, rested depended way can alleged imputed plain rather full history indicating While long rule construed carry Government's obligations accordance fair cannot, guise create Presidential none, rewrite acts mean obviously mean. Choctaw Nation 318 423, 431, 432, 63 672, 677, 678, 87 492. acceptable hold merely so. Solicitous promises good faith, satisfied record performed promised. 11 pointed out, seems obvious us ancestors treaty, jeopardized survey.5 Utes. Fairly order's aim. believe, enlarge limited To Order, pay ever equity justice, far transactions concerned. No construction justifies result. 12 Affirmed. 13 MURPHY, dissenting. 14 my morally obligated case. terms set aside up 'first standard north' 'as addition reservation.' alone, course, events subsequent case inapplicable principle entered latter Rese vation Colorado.' thereupon passed recited preamble 'submitted State unallotted should deemed me term when referred land. Adding informal acknowledgment expanded occupation understaning becomes evident. immaterial formal documents conveying fee simple Indians; likewise irrelevant title. Spalding Chandler, 160 394, 16 360, 40 469; Alcea Band Tillamooks, 40, 167. enough possess occupy fairly An however informal, adds obligation moral duty involved. Such situation here. indicates, does what says. clearly north.' suggested promulgation really intend north,' despite explicit used. rather, affect lands—lands nine interpretation framers coterminous 17 nothing interpretation. disregard words subtracting nine-mile worded description requires definite effect supported record. function, supply ourselves. infer Claims. court alone material issues. 53 752, 28 Code KF62 288, Annotated KF65 U5 288; Causby, 328 256, 267, 268, 66 1062, 1068, 1069. less order, remanded respect. 18 FRANKFURTER DOUGLAS join dissent. November 22, Affairs, Laws Treaties, Page 834 (1904) 'It ordered Territory following-described boundaries, viz: Commencing northeast corner Reservation, (Stats. Large, vol. 619); thence running 107th degree longitude north; west Utah; northwest Reservation; east beginning, tribes Territory.' Cf. August 1876, interpreted (certain land) article Congress. ultimate fact. correspondence plainly shows findings. reference 'absence finding require reversal circumstantial facts follows inference.' Wells, 283 102, 120, 51 446, 452, 75 867. See S. 772 S.Res. 51, Cong.Rec. 30, 77; H.Res. 142, 44; H.R. 2420, 17; 154, 113; 50 (1880) 1538. 654,

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