consideration for this territory was the samo number of aeres elscwhere located. The inducement to the bargain set forth in the treaty was 'the anxious desire of the Government of the United States to secure to the Cherokcc nation of Indians a permancnt home, and which shall, under the most solemn gnar- antee of the United States, be and remain theirs forever-a home that shall never in all future time be embarrassed by hav ing extended around it the lines or placed tion of a Territory or State, or be pressed upon by the exten sion in any way of the limits of any existing State.' To assure them of their title, a patent for the Territory was issued."

This was the view of the Department of the Interior in 1870. In 1876 the Department says that affairs in the Indiau Terri tory are "complicated and embarrassing, and the question is directly raised wlhether an extensive section of country is to be allowed to remain for an indefinite period practically tivated waste, or whother the Government shall determinc to reduce the size of the reservation,

The phrase "whether the Government shall determine to over it the jurisdic ancul- reduce the size of the reservation" sounds mnch better than whether the Govermment shall rob the Indians of a few nill- ions of aeres of land;" but the latter phrase is truth, and the other is the spirit of lying.

The commissioner says that the question is a diflicult one, and should be "considered with calmncss, and a full purpose injastice to the Tndians." IHe gives his own personal on it "with hesitancy," but gives it novertheless, that require the disposal of a large portion of these lands to the Government for the occupancy cither of other tribes of lndians or of white people. There is a very general and growing opinion that observance of the strict letter of treaties with Indians is in many cases at variance with their own best interests and with sound public policy." Ile adds, however, that it innst no be understood from this recommea to do no opinion public policy will soon