Oakie's Heart to Heart -

Vol. 1, No. 34, 26, November 1999, Saturday
by LK Wagner

What If... (Oklahoma & Sequoyah)

The Frost was covering nature this mid-week in the early morning hours as many were greeted with the silvery, frozen crystals on their windshields. By mid-day the temperature rose to the mid-50 degrees with the sun warming the air and reminding us that Winter is just around the corner.

Meanwhile, I sit contemplating -- What If... The symbolic "marriage" of Miss Indian Territory and Mr. Oklahoma Territory on the steps of the old Carnegie Library had not taken place November 16, 1907. In 1907 the marriage of the two territories was of considerable emotional significance when one state was created from what had been considered a candidate for two states.

Would there have been two states (Oklahoma & Sequoyah) and two capitals (Guthrie & Muskogee)?

One of those things we should be thankful for are the sacrifices the Five Civilized Tribes (the real pioneers & stewards of the land) endured when our ancestors invaded the lands from East to West Coast.

When the Five Civilized Tribes thought they had found a place they could call home in Oklahoma & Indian Territory, the U.S. Congress reneged over and over again using such things as the Manifest Destiny, Enabling Act (June 16, 1906), Curtis Act of 1889, Oklahoma Organic Act, etc...

The Manifest Destiny was an economic and political ploy for a growing population. Albert K Wienberg, historian, and author of "Manifest Destiny: A Study in National Expansion in American History" believes the American frontiersman equated freedom with growth.

"Manifest Destiny is the term used to describe the belief in the 1840's of a geographical predestination, the inevitable territorial expansion of the United States all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It was believed that because of economic and political superiority, and growing population, the U. S. should rule all of North America. The phrase 'Manifest Destiny' was first used in 1845 by John L. O'Sullivan, editor of the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, in an article on the annexation of Texas." -- http://www.sgaus.org/manifest.htm

The Curtis Act of 1889 -- written by a mixed-blood Indian congressman, was one of three important pieces of legislation that melded the twin territories of the Sooner state and dealt one of the most devastating blows to the Five Civilized Tribes.

The passage of the Curtis Act in 1889, the Oklahoma Organic Act and the Oklahoma Enabling Act provided for the dissolution of Indian lands, their governments and tribal courts. The Curtis Act provided for the survey and incorporation of towns, gave townsmen the right to vote, authorized the establishment of free public schools and abolished tribal courts.

Organic Act of May 2, 1890 - After the Land Run of 1889, provisional town governments were formed based on common consent because there was no statutory law. Congress passed the Organic Act on May 2, 1890, providing a government for the new territory would include a governor, three judges and a secretary - all appointed by the president. Legislative powers were vested in a two-house legislature to be elected by the people. President Harrison appointed George W. Steele of Indiana as the first governor of Oklahoma Territory.

The Dawes Commission -- In March 1893, Congress authorized the President to appoint a commission to negotiate with the Five Civilized Tribes to end tribal title to their lands. Congress also said the commission was to get the Indians to agree to changes needed for possible admission of Indian Territory to the union as a state.

The intertribal council of the Five Civilized Tribes voted not to negotiate with the panel, known as the Dawes Commission.

By 1902, the Five Civilized Tribes were becoming seriously concerned that their territory might be swallowed up in Oklahoma Territory's statehood plans. Indians said they had received a solemn pledge from the U.S. government never to include them within the limits of any state or territory without their consent. By now I guess the Indians were experiencing and feeling the fork-tongues of the U.S. Government (or whiteman).

In 1905, Muskogee lawyer (Charles N. Haskell) convinced leaders of the Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw tribes that they must move immediately to seek statehood for Indian Territory.

Haskell would guarantee the money needed for a constitutional convention if the Indian leaders would drop their fight against joint statehood with Oklahoma Territory in the event their own statehood effort failed.

The chiefs agreed to Haskell's terms and elected delegates of the tribes met in Muskogee on August 21, 1905. Under the leadership of William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray of Tishomingo they drafted a constitution for a new Indian state of Sequoyah. Congress shelved the Sequoyah constitution in 1906 and, as promised, Indian leaders dropped their opposition to a single statehood.

On June 16, 1906, the president signed the Enabling Act providing for joint statehood and a constitutional convention.

I am merely a mixture of Scotch, Irish, English, Welsh, Dutch, German, French, Bohemian, etc... with perhaps a possibility of a hint of Indian blood flowing through my veins.... OR Maybe NOT! Reading the history of my ancestors has made me question and wonder if there wasn't a better way for America to expand and grow without forcing our white culture onto the Native Americans and eliminating theirs.

Until next week, I leave you with the question of "What if...!"

OAKIE'S LINKS & MAILBAG

This is from a cousin in Minnesota of memories of POW Camps during WWII... "Awhile back you had some references about German POW's in Oklahoma. We also had German POW's stationed in our town, Faribault,MN where I grew up. We had a canning factory for corn, peas, etc... and the prisoners also went out on the farms to help the farmers with the crops. My dad asked for some help and was sent 4 or 5 prisoners to help us. I think that there were 2 guards with them. My mother cooked a big dinner for them. At first they ate outside under a tree and the next time they came Dad had them come in the house and sit down. My dad was German so he could understand a little of the German language. One of the prisoner's watched my little sister Pauline was 5 yrs old and asked dad if he could talk to her. and dad said yes. So Pauline went over to him and he put his arms around her and started to cry. He told dad that he had left a little daughter her age back in Germany when he joined the army and had never heard or seen his family since. It is so sad what wars do."

"It was George Santayana, a graduate of the Boston Latin School (founded 1635 and now a public school), who said, 'Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.'"

"Hi! I am new to this and I need some help. I would like to fine family that is or has lived in Weatherford, Texas. I am not able to get anywhere farther than my grandfather, his name is James E. Hull. My father was Harry E. Hull. He was born in 1915 and was form Alice, Texas. If you could give me anything to help I would appreciate it. My e-mail address is Francine English"

LEE -- "I am hoping that some of your readers can help me find some information on the U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman and the town called Chandler, Oklahoma. My Great-Grandpa was a deputy sheriff with Tilghman in Dodge City, Kansas. Thanks for any help you can give me."

"The 'Manifest Destiny' rationalization for our actions against the natives in claiming this country for the white man might have seemed acceptable at the time, but they're a little hard to stomach now."

Looking for information on Oklahoma lawman Bill Tilghman? Try this Great Site of Oklahoma Hombres. Oklahombres: Preservation of Oklahoma Lawman and Outlaw The Oklahombres website has a wealth of historical material concerning Oklahoma lawmen and outlaws. The feature of our website is an archives of the Oklahombres Newsletter which contains a wealth of articles dealing with lawmen and outlaws of Oklahoma...all factual information.

Archives of the West

The Dawes Act of Feb. 8, 1887

Important Dates in Cherokee History

A Brief History of Oklahoma

Dawes Commission -- Commonly called the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, the Dawes Commission was appointed by President Grover Cleveland in 1893. In return for abolishing their tribal governments and recognizing state and federal laws, tribe members of the Five Civilized Tribes - the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole - were given a share of common property. This database indexes the original applications for tribal enrollments under the act of June 28, 1898. It also indexes documents such as birth and death affidavits, marriage licenses, and decisions and orders of the Commission. To search this database, go to: www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search.asp -- www.ancestry.com/ancestry/recent.asp

QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- There can be no such thing as a necessary evil. For if a thing is really necessary, it cannot be an evil. And if it is an evil, it is not necessary. -- Tiorio

The Okie Legacy

What If... (Oklahoma & Sequoyah)

See Y'all later! Linda (Oakie)