OCR Text |
Show Canadian River, on the south. While it is not attempted to deprive the Creeks of these lands, yet the Seminoles certainly should not be sub-ject, ed to the jurisdiction of the Creeks, nor should they be compelled to lose their improrements or abandon their lands. Believing that the rights and equities of both Creeks and Seminoles can be best preserved by means of purchase, and the Creeks now show-ing a willingness to dispose of these lands at a reasonable price after being deprived of their use for fifteen years, it is respectfully recom-mended And ~ g e da,s the only means of relief,'tbat Congress adopt the necessary legislation and provide the necessary means to purchase said land, and thereby relieve. as the opportunity now offers, not only these nations of a frui~fuls ource of irritation, but this office of a sub-ject of much embarrassment and anxiety. I. IUCKAPOO ALLOTTEES UNDER TREATY OF 1862. Attention is called to the condition of affairs relative to the estates of deceased and minor allottees, under the provisions of the Kickapoo treat57 of June 28, 1862 (13 Stat., 623), and to certain tracts of land re-se, rved thereby for certain purposes. By the terms of said treaty it is provided that the lauds of said tribe shall be allotted in severalty or held in common as the members t,hereof shall elect ; that the President of the United Stat.es may cause patents in fee-simple to issue. to the adult allottees LL being males and heads of famil'ies," when satisfied of their ability to control their own affairs, and provided they had ob-tained certificates of naturalization from the United States district court for Kansas. No provision, however, is made by which female allottees can become citizens and obtain patents for their lands. Many of the allottees deceased before having, by a compliance with the above provisions, obtained patents for their allotments, and frequent applica,tions are made to this office by the heim of such deceased allot-tees for the settlement of their estates, and by female allottees, that some action may be taken to enable them to acquire citizenship, and to obtain patents for their lands. Some legislation should be had by which female allottees under said treaty can obtain citizenship and pat.ents for their land, and also for the settlement of the estates of deceased allot-tees who had not become citizens asprovided by the treaty. The same difficulty having arisen as to the settlement of the estates of deceased Pottawatomie Indians, allottees under their treaty of 1862, the treaty of 1867 (Senate amendment) provided that where allottees had deceased, or should thereafter decease, such allottees should be regarded, for the purpose of a carefnl and just settlement of their estates, as citizens of the United States and of the State of Kansas. By'the terms of said Kickapoo treaty certain tracts of land were re-served as a site for a saw and grist mill, and for missionary purposes, respect.ively, which are to be disposed of when the objects for which they are resewed shall have been accomplished, in such a manner and |