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Show LVI REPORT OF THE COMMISEIORER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. reservation, known as the Canadian District, was set ayart for the 'sattlement and occupancy of- All the Cherokees and freed persons who were formerly slsvas af any Cherokee, and all fkee negroes not hariug been such slaves, n.ho resided in theCherokee Nation prior to June first, eigMeen hnndred and sixty-one, who may within two gears eleot not to reside northeast of the Arkansas Rirerand southeast of Grand River. By the fifth article provision was made that those inhabitants elect. ing to reside in said district might elect local officers, judges, $c., control all their local affairs, establish rules and regulations for the administration of justice in said district not inconsistent with the Cherokee constitution or the laws of the United States. By the ninth article the Cherokee Nation further agreed that all freedmen who had been liberated by the voluntary act of their former ovners or by law, as well a8 all free colored persons who were in the countq at the com-mencement of the rebellion and were residents therein at the time of the treaty, or who returned within six months, and their descendants, ahould have all the rights of native Cherokees, provided no pay or com-pensation should he paid for the slaves so emancipated. The tenth ,article declared that every Cherokee and freed person resident in the Cherokee Nation should hare the right to sell the products of their farms, including live stock, merchaudise, or mauufactnred products, and to ship and drive the same to market without restraint. A bill to enforce the ninth article of the treaty of 1866, 8.c. (S. 648) was introduced in the Senate of the United States by Senator Ingalls June 3,1879, and reported Jnne 4, 1880, by Senator Williams, amend-ing said bill so a.s to authorize the President of the United States to enter illto negotiations with the Cherokee Nation for the purpose of finally settling the status and rights of the colored people in said nation, provided that such negotiations must be approved by Congress; but no subsequent action was taken thereon. By an act of the Chero-kee Council, approvecl December 6, 1.879, the Cherokee delegates were authorized and i~~s t rur tetdo m&ke arrangeulcnts for negotiation or otherwise with the government whereby existing difficulties and em-barrass~~ lenbtest ween the nation and the government might be. Bnally settled, respecting the status and rights of the colored people as stip-nlated in the treat3; of 1866. On the 28th of June, 1880, the Cherokee delegates called the atten-tion of this borean to said act, staring that the nation was anxious to settle the question, while the department acknowledged the necessity for action to relieve this oBce of embarrassment in the administration of law in the premises, and requested that a cotnnlissioner or represents tire of the department attend theCherokee Council at its next meeting Accorditigly Agent Tufts was directed, October 16,1880, to attend said council and endeavor to secure &uch legislation as wonld secure the ' colored people the rigllts guaranteed them in the treaty of 1866. Agent; Tnfts attended said council, and? after a fnll interchange of views, the |
