1892 Delegations

President in 1892:   

    Benjamin Harrison (March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893)

 

Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1892: 

    Thomas Jefferson Morgan (1889 – 1893)

 

Jan. 9, 1892:  Evening Star:  [Umatilla]

            An Indian Life For Him.

            A Umatilla Red Man Talks Plainly to Commissioner Morgan.

            “You look more like an Indian than any one I have seen for some time,” remarked Indian Commissioner Morgan to a member of a Umatilla Indian delegation of Oregon that called to-day to have a conference with him.

            The long black hair of the Indian fell down his shoulders and over a whitish blanket, and about his neck were strings of gaily colored pearls.  He had yielded to the conventionalities of civilized life so as to substitute arctic overshoes for moccasins.  In other respects he had all the appearance of an Indian from way back.  His views as conveyed to the commissioner by an interpreter were quite as antique as his dress.  He said that he did not want to take lands in severalty, as the other members of his tribe are doing, as he was afraid that he would not be allowed to wear blankets and that he would be obliged to become a citizen.  He thought an Indian had a great deal more fun than a white man and he wanted to continue to live an Indian life.  He added that he would leave the reservation if compelled to take land in severalty.

            “Where would you go?” asked the commissioner.

            “I would go off somewhere,” was the rather vague response.

            The commissioner told the Indians that the government wanted them to become citizens, so that they could have the same rights as the white men and would be protected by the laws.  He urged them to send their children to school.

            The other two members of the delegation wore civilized clothes.  They came on at their own expense from their distant home to ask if some portion of their reservation cannot be reserved as grazing and timber land.  To comply with this request would require a special act of Congress.

 

Jan. 10, 1892:  Philadelphia Inquirer:  [Umatilla]

            Indians Call on Morgan.

            The Umatilla Tribe of Oregon Wants More Land.

            Washington, Jan. 9.—A delegation of three Umatilla Indians from Oregon had a conference to-day with Commissioner Morgan.  The lands of this tribe are now being allotted in severalty, and the special object of their visit is to urge the commissioner to set aside timber and pasture lands in their old reservation sufficient for their common needs.

            This request could not be entertained by the Commissioner, inasmuch as he has no jurisdiction of the matter, Congress alone having the power to grant the request.  One of the three Indians, who, unlike his companions, was dressed in Indian costume, objected to taking lands in severalty for the reason that he preferred to be an Indian rather than a citizen.

            He wished to continue to wear his Indian dress and dance the Indian dances.  Life without these would not possess any attractions for him.

 

           

Feb. 24, 1892:  Cherokee Advocate:  [Cherokee]

            The Work of the Cherokee Delegation.

            The value of the labor of our Delegates at Washington to the Government and people who sent them there to do it is [sic] best shown by the effect produced upon official and popular feelings and sentiment in the United States.  If a great Representative Newspaper like the New York Sun comes out deliberately and strongly against some measure proposed in Congress that has for its object to violate Treaty stipulations and do us some great wrong, under pretence of course of doing us good, and if the utterances of the great Newspaper show themselves to be in approval and harmony with the position our Delegates have taken in the matter, we may be sure the Nation has done itself credit, honor and benefit in choosing and sending the right men to do the Nations fighting.  [Rest not transcribed; nothing more about the delegation itself]

 

March 30, 1892:  Dallas Morning News:  [Comanche]

            Wichita Falls, Tex., March 28.—Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and his brother chiefs have just returned from their trip to Washington to see the great father, and are stopping at the St. James hotel.

            Col. Tom Wagnor and Capt. Burke Burnett, the gentlemen who have thousands of cattle roaming over the “poor Indians’ ” grass in the territory, are here in counsel with Quanah, and it is rumored that the Washington trip did not pan out quite as well as Burnett and Wagnor hoped for.  It seems that Col. Flood and Quanah failed to convince Secretary Noble that it would be to the best interest of the people and the Indians to turn the Fort Sill country loose just at this time.

            These gentlemen and Quanah still have hopes that the “great father” may yet be induced to allow the “man with the hoe” to take possession of the great Fort Sill country, and are reported as saying that “while the movement has been somewhat delayed it has not been defeated.  That time, patience and money will yet accomplish the good work they have started.” [rest of story notes what else was discussed, but no delegation etails]

 

April 2, 1892:  Grand Forks Daily Herald [Grand Forks, N.D.];  [unid.; Chippewa?]

            The Indian Delegation.

            Washington, April 1.—The Indian delegation still remains and is preparing a bill to correct any weaknesses of previous laws so that each member of the tribe will get 160 acres of land.  Senator Davis will have charge of the mater.  The Indian office is making some trouble about paying expenses, as Major Shuler telegraphed that no authority existed for such payment.