and to cover the expenses of
surveys and adjustments, a diminishment of 20 cents per acre has been
acceded to. There is no difference in the character of the lands.

Thus, computing the unassigned and entirely unappropriated land, being
the Oklahoma country, containing 1,392,704.70 acres, at 95 cents per
acre, and the remainder which has been appropriated to the extent above
stated, being 1,277,050.19 acres, at 75 cents per acre, the total price
stipulated in the agreement has been reached--$2,280,857.10.

But as it was desirable that the Indian title should be beyond all
question extinguished to all parts of the land ceded by the Creeks in
1866, with their full consent and understanding, the agreement of
cession has been made to embrace a complete surrender of all claim to
the western half of their domain, including the assigned as well as the
unassigned lands, for the price named. So the agreement takes the form
in the first article of such a cession, and in the second article is
stipulated the price in gross of all the lands and interests ceded, with
no detailed reference to the manner of its ascertainment.

The overtures which led to this agreement were made by representatives
of the Creek Nation, who came here for that purpose. They were
intelligent and evidently loyal to the interests of their people. The
terms of the agreement were fully discussed and concessions were made by
both parties. It was promptly confirmed by the National Council of the
Creek Indians, and its complete consummation only waits the approval of
the Congress of the United States.

I am convinced that such ratification will be of decided benefit to the
Government, and that the agreement is entirely free from any suspicion
of unfairness or injustice toward the Indians.

I desire to call especial attention to the fact that to become effective
the agreement must be ratified by the Congress prior to the its day of
July, 1889.

The draft of an act of ratification is herewith submitted.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 8, 1889_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:

I transmit herewith a further report of the Secretary of State, with
accompanying correspondence, relating to Samoa, and the joint protocols
of the conferences held in this city in the summer of 1887, to the
publication of which the Governments of Germany and Great Britain have
consented.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 8