Volume 14 , Issue 7

Resolutions Adopted By Chiefs At Eufaula Convention - 1903

The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Indian Territory, Sunday Morning, dated 24 May, 1903, had the following front page headline concerning "Resolutions Adopted" by the chiefs of the five civilized tribes at a convention at Eufaula, I.T., where plans were formulated for separate statehood for the Indian Territory, Independent of Oklahoma.

The article stated the resolutions adopted by the Indian chiefs and representatives of the five civilized tribes, sitting in convention at Eufaula, I.T., for the purpose of formulating plans for statehood for Indian Territory alone:

"Whereas, the United States government in the several treaties with the five civilized tribes under which the present trivial governments were organized guaranteed that the limits of no state or territory should ever now occupied by the five civilized tribes, without their consent , and in the act of congress of June 28, 1898, 30 Statute, 495, agreed that the lands now occupied by the five civilized tribes should, when prepared be admitted as a state of the Union, and

Whereas, we believe that the Indians of the five civilized tribes are opposed to any territorial form of government for Indian Territory, either now or hereafter, and to any legislation by congress, whose object is the absorption by Oklahoma of the Indian Territory, in whole or in part, and

Whereas, we feel that some method should be adopted whereby the Indians of the five civilized tribes may, by popular vote, determine whether or not they are in favor of statehood for Indian Territory, separate from Oklahoma, after the expiration of their tribal governments;

Therefore, we, the chief executives and representatives of the five civilized tribes, assembled at Eufaula, creek Nation, on may 21, 1903, do hereby make the following recommendation, the Cherokee and Choctaw executives concurring:

1. the chief executive of each nation, shall in his next message tot he general council of his nation, recommend legislation authorizing the chief executive to call an election to decide whether or not the members of his nation are in favor of an international convention. This convention shall be composed of twenty delegates from each of the five civilized tribes, and shall be held for the purpose of framing a constitution for a state government to succeed the several tribal governments which expire by treaty provisions on March 4, 1906. The chief executive shall also recommend that the general council prescribe a plan for selecting delegates to the constitutional convention. The general council of each nation shall instruct its delegates to incorporate in the constitution a provision prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors within the boundaries of the state to be formed out of Indian Territory.
2. We recommend that the citizens of each nation vote for the constitutional convention.
3. We recommend that each nation hold said election not later than December 20, 1903, and that said election be held in the same manner as other elections are held in the several nations, the votes cast in each nation shall be certified by the precinct officers and forward to the chief executives, the chief executives of the five nations shall constitute a board of commissioners, who shall canvass and count the votes cast in each nation and issue proclamation of the result not later than January 4, 1904.
4. If a majority of the qualified voters of the five nations are in favor of a constitutional convention, the convention shall be held. We recommend that the international convention be held not later than February 1, 1904.
5. We recommend that the general council of each nation at its next session memorialize congress for statehood separate from Oklahoma, to become effective March 4, 1906, and that such memorial be transmitted to congress, the president and the secretary of the interior.
6. We further recommend that the general council of each nation address a memorial of the various religious and temperance organizations of the Untied States, requesting them to assist the Indians of the five civilized tribes in their efforts to prevent the annexation of Indian Territory to Oklahoma and to secure a state government for Indian Territory under a constitution which will protect the Indian front he baleful influences of intoxicating liquors.
7. Knowing that the non-citizens of Indian Territory, not members of either of the five civilized tribes, prefer separate statehood for Indian Territory and realizing that the efforts of the non-citizens and the Indians will cause congress to favorably consider our demands, we recommend that the non-citizens hold a convention and ratify the constitution framed by the convention of the five civilized tribes or propose whatever amendments they deem proper. Should amendments be proposed by the non-citizens, their convention shall appoint a committee of two persons from each nation, this committee appointed by the convention of the five civilized tribes and these two committees shall constitutes a conference committee of twenty persons, who shall adjust all differences in the constitution.
8. The president of the constitutional convention of the five civilized tribes shall appoint two delegates from each of the five nations. These ten delegates shall invite the co-optation of a like number of delegates appointed by the convention of the non-citizens and the two delegations shall take the constitution adopted by the conference committee and proceed to Washington and urge congress to pass an enabling act authorizing the people of Indian Territory to vote upon the ratification of this constitution for the members of the house of representatives of the United States and for all elective officers provided for by said constitution.

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