Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-11-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHERO-
KEE NATION.
From The Cherokee .ldrocofe


/ The removal of the great mass of the
Cherokee people from their "beloved
land now partiiioned between Georgia
North Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee
was forclbly effected By the United State.
III 1888, under circumstances of almost
unparalleled hardsIips, disease and suffer.
ing. In the succeeding year. they arrived
"a t;te present Cherokee country-entered
into an Act of Union with those Of their
brothers who had preceded them hilher
{ some by many years, and mutually adopt
ed, under the " style and title of the Cher
okce Nation their mutual government.
OF this government, we present below a
synopsis intending to follow it shortly
with the Constitution and Laws in full.
The Government of the Cherokee Ma
sion is Republican-and is composed of
the Executive, Legislative, and the Judi
cial Departments.
The Executive Department consists of
a principal Chief, an assistant principal
Chief, and an Executive Council of five
members
The Principal and Assistant Chiefs, are
N'~C'NN 'ii'N III I'CI Ioui Yeas, Nv Il lllu-
3orIty Of The qualified voters of the Nation
every sane male Cherokee citizen, who
has attained the age of Is years, being
entitled to vote.
1t is the duty Of the Principal Chief to
see that the laws are regularly enforced
and to discharge those functions usually
vested in an Executive Head. He is en-
powered with the reto and the power of
pardoning persons convicted and senten,
ced to punishment for capital crimes, un-
der certain restrictions.
The Legislative Department consists of
the National Committee and the Council
leach of the eight districts into which
the nation is divided, being represented
by two members in the former branch and
three in the latter. These members are
elected in the same manner as the Chiefs,
once il every two years.
They meet annually, at Tahlequah, on
the first Monday in October, in General
Council, to legslale upon the general af-
fairs Of the Nation. No bill can become
law until it has received the concurrence
of both branches of the National Coun-
cTi and the approval of the principal Chief.
In case the principal Chief dlsapproves of
any bill which has passed the National
Council, he returns it with his objections
in writing to the body in which il origina,
ted. A vote of two thirds of the men,
bers of the National Council is necessary
to make any bill law, the passage of
which has been objected TO by the princ-
pal Chief,
The powers of the National Committee
and the Council are the same, except in
cases Of impeachment, and appropriations
OF money. All appropriations originate in
the Council, but are subject to approval,
modification, or rejection by the National
Committee.
impeachment for violation or neglect of
duty may be rendered by the Council a.
gainsl Ony public officer of the nauon.-
The National Committee then becomes n
specially constituted court for the trial OF
such case.
Members of the National Council re-
ceiye for their services per diem of three
dollars, while they are in session.
The Judiciary is divided into the Su-
preme, the Circuit, and the District Courts,