Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 14.djvu/816

 786 TREATY WITH THE CREEK INDIANS. JUNE 14, 1866. of the Creek Nation, the day and year above mentioned, mutually slipulate and agree, on behalf of the respective parties, as follows, to wit :-· Peace and ARTICLE I. There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between m°¤‘l’hlP· the parties to this treaty, and the Creeks bind themselves to remain firm allies and friends of the United States, and never to take up arms against the United States, but always faithfully to aid in putting down its enemies. They also agree to remain at peace with all other Indian tribes; and, in return, the United States guarantees them quiet possession of their country, and protection against hostilities on the part of other tribes. In the event of hostilities, the United States agree that the tribe commencing and prosecuting the same, shall, as far as may be practicable, Military ww- make just reparation therefor. To insure this protection, the Creeks f£,:§;'n“§“l P"' avree to a military occupation of their country, at any time, by the United y the ¤ . . . . . United States. States, and the United States agree to station and continue in said country from time to time, at its own expense, such force as may be neces- Ar¤¤¤¤ty· sary for that purpose. A general amnesty of all past offences against the laws of the United States, committed by any member of the Creek Nation, is hereby declared. And the Creeks, anxious for the restoration of kind and friendly feelings among themselves, do hereby declare an amnesty for all past offences against their government, and no Indian or Indians shall be proscribed, or any act of forfeiture or connscation passed against those who have remained friendly to, or taken up arms against, the United States, but they shall enjoy equal privileges with other members of said tribe, and all laws heretofore passed inconsistent herewith are hereb declared ino erative. $l¤V¤F.Y ¤¤*'><> Aairxcmz II. Thd) Creeks hereby covenant and agree that henceforth g.::k:l°°°°8 the neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the parties shall have been duly convicted in accordance with laws applicable to all members of said tribe, shall ever ofligllu ¤f$h<>¤¤ exist in said nation; and inasmuch as there are among the Creeks many ,w,,T`°°m e` persons of African descent, who have no interest in the soil, it is stipulated that hereafter these persons lawfully residing in said Creek country' under their laws and usages, or who have been thus residing in said country, and may return within ohe year from the ratification of this treaty, and their descendants and such others of the same race as may be permitted hy the laws of the said nation to settle within the limits of the jurisdiction of the Creek Nation as citizens [thereof,] shall have and enjoy all the rights and privileges of native citizens, including an equal interest in the soil and national funds, and the laws of the said nation shall be equally binding upon and give equal protection to all such persons, and all others, of whatsoever race or color, who may be adopted as citizens or members of said tribe.· ,m%‘;°',;°’Qh‘;f ARTICLE III. In compliance with the desire of the United States to United States. locate other Indians and freedmen thereon, the Creeks hereby cede and convey to the United States, to be sold to and used as homes for such other civilized Indians as the United States may choose to settle thereon, the west half of their entire domain, to be divided by a line running north and south; the eastern half' of said Creek lands, being retainedby them shall, except as herein otherwise stipulated, be forever set apart as a th;:5tI;°::;1 home for said Creek Nation; and in consideration of • said cession of the mod, °{P,,_y. west half of their lands, estimated to contam three mtlhons two hundred ment. and fifty thousand five hundred and sixty acres, the United States agree to pay the sum of thirty (30) cents per acre, amounting to nine hundred and seventy-five thousand one hundred and sixty-eight dollars, in the A¤'·¤¤d¤¤;<>¤*· manner hereinafter provided, to wit: two hundred thousand dollars shall P°°i•P' '°1' be paid per capita in money, unless otherwise directed by the President ot' the United States, upon the ratification of this treaty, to enable the Creeks to occupy, restore, and improve their farms, anal to make their