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Show lxii FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF Intimations of the above condition of aeairs, which threatened to lead to a serioos breach of the peace, and possibly to bloodshed, having reached this office through reports in the public press, Agent Owen, nuder date of September 11,1888, was telegraphed to as follows: Pnhlic press reports anticipate troublebetweenGoyandByrd factions over Chick-asaw eleation. Has the report any foundation l Report faots in full. In response thereto Agent Owen, by letter of September 14,1888, re-ported the facts in the case andsaid that, fearing trouble at Tishomiugo,. the Ohickasam ca,pital, he had proceeded thither, and by his timely ar- ' rival cn the morning of September 5,1888, had prevented any demon-strations of violence. He also transmitted a petition in behalf of Guy, signed by certain members of both branches of the Chickasaw legisla-ture. In a subsequent letter, dated September 17, 1358, Agent Owen stated that he had been requested to recogniza Byrd as governor by certifying that the person appointed by him (Byrd) should be recog-nized as the treasurer of the nation and permitted to control and clraw out the national funds in the subtreasury at Saint Louis, and a~kecflo r instructions. He furtherreported, by telegram of September 20, 18Y8, that he had been advised that the Guy faction mas organized and had declared its de@rmit~ation to put; him (Guy)in as governor by force, and that Guy was in danger of being assassinated. This telegram was supplemented by a letter of same date, inclosing two afidavits in sup-port of the statements therein contained relative to GUS'S danger from assassins and the organimtion of Guy's friends in his behalf. The correspondence was transmitted to the Department, September 21 and 24,1888, with request for such directions as might bc deemed proper. Replying thereto, the Department, under date of September 25, 1888? directed this office as follows: Instruot,Agent Owen to "imrnedia,tely advise you h~ wire of the present cooditiou of affairs in the Chickasaw Eation, and if any change has taken plsoe since the date of his (Owen's) letter, the 20th instant. Also instruct him immediately to ioformes- Governor Goy indhia partisans that Lib remedy for wrongful exclusion from the office of governor, if he be so exoluded, is,uoder the Chickasaw aonetitntion, to he fonnd in judicial proceedings in the oomrts oftbe Chickasaw Nation, becaose the determiua-tioo of the legi~laturea nd deolarstiou by the speaker in favor of Byrd is a t least a prima facie title. Also inform thorn that he, the agent, must preserve peace and pre-vent nor outbreak scainst existine authorities in the rneantirne.and thst he will he aided I,$ the troop% of the United States if nrresrnry. lnstrncr the agent ftlrrlarr ro keep yonroffica ftllly atlviaed by relagraph ofnog importaut xrtion." - ~ . - On September2G,lSS8, AgentOwen was instructedin accordance with said direc(ions. A statement having been made to the Departmeut that Guy bad (le-posed B.vrd by armed fome and was in posaession of the capitol, a telegram, dated October 2, ISSY, was scrlt to Ageut..Owen, as follows : TheDepnri,ment will not assume to decide here between Guy and Byrd. That be-lonxs to Chieknsaw courts ta do; but peace must be preserved. If Byrd atill claims office of governor, he Innst go to the courts for relief now. Watch proceedings closely and keep Department constantlg iuformed of all action. |