DS as president, signed “T. Roosevelt,” one page, 8.5 x 13, February 21, 1903. Roosevelt approves an act of the Cherokee Nation. In part: “I T. M. Buffington, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, do hereby certify that the foregoing is an act of the National Council of said Nation passed at its regular session 1902, and I do hereby submit the same for approval of the President of the United States under the provisions…‘An Act Making Appropriations for the Current and Contingent Expenses of the Indian Department and for Fulfilling Treaty Stipulations with Various Indian Tribes for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1902, and for Other Purposes.” Signed at the conclusion in black ink by Roosevelt, and also signed twice by the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, T. M. Buffington. Document is housed in its original legal folio with nine pages of additional documentation pertaining to Senate Bill No. 20, an Act Authorizing the Issuance of a Duplicate Warrant, as well as documentation from various officials and tribal leaders. In very good condition, with chipping and paper loss along edges, expected folds, archival tape repairs on reverse to several tears and separations, and light overall toning. Roosevelt’s signature is distinctly bold. At the time, most of the residents of the Oklahoma Territory were demanding statehood, so it became of great necessity that the Cherokees become part of the United States, as well. The Cherokee people, however, were not certain they were prepared for the changes that statehood would bring, with mineral and oil rights of the Native Americans being a key argument. After years of talks between the federal government and the Cherokee Nation, particularly Chief Thomas M. Buffington, the federal government reached this rare Senate bill offered here. Ironically, when it came for US passage, a new obstacle arose—a bloc in Congress that tried to get the vote to die. Taking the lead, Buffington and a few other political leaders requested a meeting with President Roosevelt, who agreed to place administrative pressure on Congress to consider the bill and move it along, finally passing on June 30. The act resulted in the allotment of Native American land and the dissolution of tribal government in the United States. Although the agreement was opposed by some full-blooded members of the Cherokee Nation, their chief was committed to accepting the plan outlined by the federal government. Details for the allotment of Cherokee land were crystalized into the Act of Congress of July 1, 1902. Under the leadership of Chief Buffington, this act was approved by the Cherokee electorate in August of that year. Interestingly, although TR favored an equitable policy toward Native Americans, he also believed that the Indian nations had no claim to the land they inhabited—instead seeing them as a nomadic people with no desire to hold property! An important historic document linking Oklahoma statehood, the Cherokee Nation, and the responsibilities of American citizenship. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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