Show INDIAN LANDS at present attention is largely directed to the civilized and uncivilized tribes or nations of indians located in indian territory since the time when the I 1 land a d purchased from the creeks and seminoles Semi noles Doles by the last congress now known sit at oklahoma was opened to settlement and thousands from all parts of the united states flocked into the new cou country interest has been constanel const constantly antl y increasing both among those who make themselves concerned from without and the indians indiana and white citizens from within the former thinking the indian lands so much better than their own that they should be possessed if possible while the latter are seeking to render the situation as profitable as possible to themselves and to be protected in their rights in august last the Com commission OIL visited tahlequah tallequah Tahle quah and communicated their object and propositions to C chief h lef joel B may mayes as in regard to the selling of the lau land d known as tile the cherokee outlet used for grazing purposes by a large cattle col company abany from which the nation revenue annually this when it accumulates to a certain amount is to be paid out to the theo people eople per capita as the expenses of the government the support of the public schools and ana orphan asylum are paid from the interest on over which the united states government holds in trust for the cherokee nation the chief cheeps Is reply was that when the council or legislature of the nation iod convened the propositions would be considered prom from that time on the commission has been in different parts of the territory orv visiting other 3 indians and learn learning ing as to what they would do in the anat matter supposedly that if the cherokees refuse to sell their lands at the governments ern ments offer of an acre the united states if deemed necessary may do as pr provided elded ded in the treaty they can settle friendly indian tribes the thereon and pay the cherokees 47 cents to 49 cents per acre and thus purchase jhb other indians land the national council assembled on the ath IDA but as contested cases resulting from a close election are not yet disposed of they have not began work all interest is centered in what they will do as important questions regarding the people and their welfare will come before them the questions concerning the land are shall they sell it to the government at per acre while they have been offered joffere ger from 8 3 to 5 by a private corporation to whom however they could not give a good title unless the united Sta states teals Is a party to the transaction and which the chief maintains they cannot sell at all without changing their cona constitution titu shall they retain the lands and accept the offer of the cattle cattie syndicate which has requested a release for fifteen years and will pay a year for the first five years each year for the second five years and each for the remaining five years or have them allotted inse in severalty aud and sell 4 the remaining land each apropo sa siaion has its supporters and also its benefits and difficulties but the third proposition has not the prominence of the he other thoas it would soon put an end to the nations nation government ern ment and lead to the coming in of another state the surrounding nations are advocating a similar method and among three of the five civilized tribes the chickasaws choctaws and seminoles Semi noles a strong effort is being made in the direction of allotment already the consideration of these questions has taken shape as the commission acting in behalf of the united states are in tahlequah tallequah Tahle quah awaiting the action of the chief and council in addition to their duty in making treaties concerning the land given them by the act of con ress they this time presented a 1 document sent to the commission by the secretary Secret Bry of the 1 interior noble informing them of the position the department will maintain in dealing with the cherokees and their lands tb secretary informs them that the cherokee contracts with the cattle syndicate are unlawful and may at any time be declared invalid by the president that the cattlemen are seeking to outbid the government and rendering themselves liable to be restrained in their actions by law in the attempt to thwart the good purpose of the government in giving homes homeland and lands to the citizens in what is now a wilderness mccu occupied aed by roaming herds and in placing placing in the hands of the indians arel a reliable lable fund the interest on which will support them in making all necessary improvements and and advancement while the extravagant offers of the corporation cannot be depended upon and may at any time fail also that it is deemed necessary to have those individuals owning the cattle to move their property by june 1890 it concludes with the assurance that the cherokees will receive generous treatment and can retain their lands if they wish under the burdens which now rest lest upon it unless the united states should see fit to assert its superior title to the opinion of the chief concerning the cherokee Che rekee constitution prohibiting a sale the assistant attorney general proffered his advice and the reply of chief mayes to both these high officials will give his position for the letter of secretary noble places the indians ina in a peculiar cullar predicament considering go the official standing of each the document is of interest the chief says in his letter to the chairman of the commission mr fairchild yours tours of the ath received submitting a letter of hon john W noble secretary of the interior of oct 1889 pretending to take the responsibility of removing certain cattle that are now grazing on the lands of the cherokees west of the arkansas river biver and have been grazing there for the past ten or twelve years by permission of the cherokee nation from which source the cherokees have been deriving considerable revenue and which privilege the predecessors of secretary noble never pretended to interfere with I 1 will wih simply say to you that the cherokees do not recognize the right in secretary noble to interfere with this kanj which has belonged to the cherokees since the purchase and ownership of said land but will continue to collect said revenue for this grazing privilege until secretary noble sees fit to deprive the cherokees of the revenue by force and even then the cherokees will endeavor to protect their rights in the prem premises iseA in a ae legitimate iti 11 mate way ta to the assistant attorney general he writes 1 t I have to say that aas chief executive officer of this nation have taken an oath to preserve protect and defend the constitution of the cherokee nation and that my conscience and sense of duty will govern me in this matter and not the assistant attorney general nor the act of congress creating your commission which has no connection in this matter what the outcome in regard to the sale of lands and the stand which both parties concerned has assumed will soon be developed in touching upon the matter in his annual message the chief advises the council to maintain that which they believe will do ju justice atice to those whom they represent for they have no reason to apprehend any un unjust d or overt dealing on the part of the united states and the present administration the cherokees appear to be having interesting times now in connection with ditl the land question if the coming congress pays attention to the suggestions which the indian agent has made and the accusations of dishonest dealing with other indians as well as the statement in his annual report that there were thousands of criminals and fugitives sheltered within the borders of this territory enactments as to remedies and investigation will be considered they were also startled lately by a bold attempt to rob their national treasury the treasurer resides on his farm about a mile from the city of tahlequah tallequah Tahle quah while on the road home on foot one da day for dinner he was conf confronted roun by three masked men who leveled their guns and ordered him to throw up his hands replied 1 I guess not and turned and rau ran in the direction from which he had been coming though a powerfully built man he proved himself too fleet for his pursuers he soon reached a farm house and in a short time a large posse were on the trail of the would be ro up to the present however they have not succeeded in capturing them judging from the property the masked men left in their hurried flight it was evident that they intended to capture the treasurer and hold him until night then force him to enter the capitol building and unlock the vault containing the nations money for they were well prepared to carry off all the beote they could obtain but through the presence of mind and activity or of the treasurer they failed in their undertaking M MANARD indian territory nov |