Viewing page 36 of 41

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The Chiefs at once expressed a desire to find a more congenial and desirable location, and accompanied by an Indian Inspector, made a careful examination of various locations and selected a tract on the west bank of the Arkansas River, which covers both forks of the Salt Fork at its junction with the Arkansas.

The land is admirable in quality, well watered and wooded and far more advantageous and valuable for Indian occupation than their old reservation."

It will be seen from the above statement that by the act of August 15th 1876, 19 Statutes 192 – $25,000 was to be expended for the removal of the Ponca Indians to the Indian Territory when they should consent to go. By the act of March 3rd 1877 – 19 Statutes 287, an additional appropriation was made for the same purpose but nothing said about consent.

On page 76 – laws 45th Congress we find these Indians located on the Quapaw reservation in the Indian Territory receiving government annuities.

It is however contended that these Indian tribes are foreign and independent states and that they cannot be removed from their reservation except by treaty. In our view the Indian tribes have only a right of occupancy to the soil

[[margin]] 358 [[/margin]]