How we cite our quotes: (Section.Sentence)
Quote #1
An Act to provide for the allotment of lands in severalty to Indians on the various reservations, and to extend the protection of the laws of the United States and the Territories over the Indians, and for other purposes (1.2). (Emphasis ours)
There is power in ambiguity. By including "and for other purposes," the legislators could've written just about anything into the Dawes Act and made it law.
Quote #2
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where any tribe or band of Indians has been, or shall hereafter be, located upon any reservation created for their use, either by treaty stipulation or by virtue of an act of Congress of executive order setting apart the same for their use, the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, authorized, […] (1.3)
See, it's not even important that we include what the President is authorized to do. The whole gist of this statement is about how the Senate, House, and President hold all the cards.
Quote #3
That the allotments provided for in this act shall be made by special agents appointed by the President for such purpose, and the agents in charge of the respective reservations on which the allotments are directed to be made, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may from time to time prescribe, and shall be certified by such agents to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs […]. (3.1)
No question who's in charge here.
Quote #4
[…] each and every member of the respective bands or tribes of Indians to whom allotments have been made shall have the benefit of and be subject to the laws, both civil and criminal, of the State or Territory in which they may reside (6.1).
This statement pretty much speaks for itself. It's just telling the Native Americans that they need to play by our rules, now. Oh, and they will "benefit" from them, too. How'd that work out?
Quote #5
That nothing in this act contained shall be so construed to affect the right and power of Congress to grant the right of way through any lands granted to an Indian, or a tribe of Indians, for railroads or other highways, or telegraph lines, for the public use, or condemn such lands to public uses, upon making just compensation (10.1).
This last clause in the Dawes Act is a huge clue as to how they expect everything to go down. It's basically saying that while they just painstakingly drafted this bill for the benefit of the Native Americans, all of it doesn't matter if the government decides that their land is deemed essential for public use. It's like the city today saying, "Sure, you can build your house there. Just be warned, though, if we decide that the highway needs to go through your back yard, we can do that. Just FYI."