Volume 18 , Issue 35

Walking With Sweet Silly Sadie

What did Chief Bushyhead want back in October 1885? According to the Evening Star, Washington, District of Columbia, dated 13 October 1885, Tuesday, page 1, we find: "What Chief Bushyhead Wants." He wants intruders in the Indian territory he desires to have removed - cattlemen that he does not want to part with.

Found on Newspapers.com

Chief Bushyhead, of the Cherokee Indians, I. T., in company with ex-representative Phillips, called on Secretary Lamar that morning in October 1885, and brought to his attention a very important question in connection with he Cherokee lands. It seems that there was a large number of persons who were then occupying lands in the Indian Territory whom the cherokees regard as intruders, and whom they want the government to eject. Some of these persons were there under permits from the Indians themselves, and others had no permits at all but claimed to be citizens, and in consequence had the right to occupy the lands. The Indians determined the right to citizenship by the test of Indian blood. As under the treaty they had the right of self-government in local affairs, their definition of what constitute citizenship was authoritative. But the general government was required to protect the Indian lands from intrusion, and the Cherokees having decided that these persons were not citizens called them intruders, and through Gov. Bushyhead asked the government to expel them from the territory.

The question had frequently been brought before the department, but only as individual cases came out. Now Chief Bushyhead demanded action int he cases of between two and three thousand persons whom he claims were intruders in the territory. The other civilized tribes had the same complaint and it was probable that now the department would try to define the term "intruders" in order to take action in the premises.

Chief Bushyhead wanted to have another interview with he secretary for the purpose of making a plea against probable action the department relative to all the leased lands to cattlemen in the territory, similar to that which was taken in regard to the leasers in the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservations. The Cherokees had mad a very favorable lease of six million acres of their unoccupied lands for $100,000 yearly for a period of five years, and they wanted these cattlemen to stay. The secretary would determine otherwise.

Good Night! Good Luck! Remember, "Love conquers Hate!"
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