OCR Text |
Show XLVI REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. belonging to said nations respectively; and also to give to such persons who were residents as aforesaid, and their descendants, 40 acres ssch of the lands of said na-tions on the aame terms as Choctaws and Chiokassws, to he seleoted an the survey of said lands; until ahich ssid freedmen shall he entitled to as muoh land as they may cultivate for the support of themselves and families; and Whereas the Chootaw Nation adopted legislation in the farm of a memorial to the United States Government in regard to adopting freedmento be oitizeoa of the Choo-taw Nation, which was approved by t.he principal chief November 2, 1880, setring fort,h the stat118 of said freedmen and the inability of the Chootaw Nation to prevail npon the Chickasswsto adopt any joint plan for adopting midfreedmen, and notifying the United States Government of their williugness to aooept said freedmen ils citizens of the Choctaw Nation in accordenee with the third sod fourth artiales of the treaty of 1866 as s, basis; and- Whereas a relioiution was passed and approved November 5, 1880, authorizing the principal ohisf to submit the aforesaid proposition of the Chootaw Nation to adapt their freedmen to the Uuited States ~ o v i r n i e n t :a nd- Whereas a resolution was passed and approved November 6, 1880, to provide for the registration of freedmen in the Choctaw Nat~ona, uthorizing the principsl chief 60 appoint three competent persons in eaoh district, citizens of thenatlon, whom duty it shall be to register all freedmen referred to in said third artiole of the treaty of 1866 who desire to beoome citizens of the nation in aooordanoe with said treaty, and npon proper notifination that the Government of the United States had aeted favor* bly upon the proposition to adopt the freedmen as citizens, to issue his praeltlmation notifying all such freedmen as desire to become citizens of the Chactew Nation to ap-pear before said commissioner for identifioation end registration; and,- Whereas in the Indian appropriation act of Congress May 17, 1882, it is provided that either of said tribes may adapt and provide for the freedmen in said tribe in ao-cordance with eaid third article: Now, therefore, Bsit enacted by thegeneral council of the Chootaw Nailon, Thet all persons of African &scent resident in the Choctaw Nation st the date of the treaty of Fort Smith, Sep-tember U, 1865, and.their descendants, formerly held in slavery by the Choctews of Chiokeasws, are hereby deolsred to bo entitled to end invested with all the right., privilen-e s, and immunities. ineludiu-n the rinht of suffren..e .. of citizens of the Chaotsw Karion, uxcept in thu snwlilieu, moneys ant1 rhe public ,lomain of tho uariun. Slrc. 2. Re if fvrlher enoelrd, That nll *aid poraon, uf African dcacont, aaaforr+aid, and their descendants, shall be allowed the same rights of process, civil and criminal, in the several courts of thisnstion aa ere allowed to Choctaws, end free protection of persons and property is hereby grnnted to all such persons. SEC. 3. Be it fuvther enacted, That all said persons me hereby declared to be mti-tled to forty acres eaoh of the lands of the nation, to be seleoted and held by them under the same title and upon the same terms as the Chootaws. SEC. 4. Beit fwtha snactd, That all said persons sforesaid are hereby declared to he entitledto oqual eduoationnl privilogas and faailities with the Choctaws so far as neighbprhood eohaols are conwrned. SEC. 5. Be it further snauted, That all asaid persons as shall elect to remove and do aotually and permanently remove from the nation are hereby declered to he entitled to one hundred dollars per capita, as provided in ssid third article of the treaty of lam. SEC. 6. Be it fu8,ther enacted, That all said persons who shall deoline to become citi-eens of the Choctaw Nation, and who do not eleot to remove oermanentls from the nation, are hereby declared to he intruders, on the same footing as other oitizens of the United States resident herein, and subject to removal for similar oeuses. SEC. 7. Be it further enacted. Thet intermerripne with such freedmen of African de-scent who were formerlr held as slaves of the Choctaws, and have beoomg eitiseoa, shall not confer any rights of oitieens in this nation, an4 all freedmen who have married or who may hereafter marry freedwomen who have become citizens of the |