The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-19

all their rights and privileges, including eligibility
to Office Though the elections were but -four
months off, this did not satisfy the ambitious Ross
He insisted that the western Cher6kees sh6ud al
once dissolve the government under which they had
lived since 1884, and Join with his clans in cstab.
fishing new one. Thinking they had done enough
IN admitting the new Corners to citizenship, and thus
putting It in their power being d majority, within
few months to mould all the institutions ofth c6u-
try according to their will, the western Cherokees
refused compliance with this arrogant demand
What could not be accomplished by peaceful means,
II was then resolved to obtain by force.
The Ridges and their friends had settled down
quietly under the existing government, and in these
proceedings were understood to concur with the
old settlers though they took active part Their
intelligence and bravery made them dangerous ad-
versaries In the game for dominion which was now
to be played by Ross and his followers.
The council of the old settlers or western Chero-
KEGS, adjourned OH the l4th June, 1899, after refus.
Ing to dissolve their government, that John Ross
might indulge in the west that love Of power which
had distinguished him in the east, few months
sooner than he could through regular election.
Ross and his friends remained in secret council un-
Ill the Goth. They issued call upon all the Chero-
KEGS to meet in convention on the LIST day of July,
to effect union between the eastern and western
Cherokees, and form constitution for the nation,
thus to be constituted. What other measures were
then concocted to make the contemplated revolution
On the morning of the 22d June, about day
break, party of armed Cherokees horseback
surrounded the house of John Ridge, who was
sleeping amidst his wife and children, unconscious
of danger. Three of them, dsmountng from their
horses, broke down the doors, dragged their victim
from his bed into the yard, and there, with their
knives, inflicted Upon him twehty-thtee wounds,
leaving him dead II is said the spot watered by
his blood is still easily distinguished by the altered
color of the earth.
On the same morning, about o'clock, three
Cherokees called on Elias Boidinot, who was, with
some hands, at work near his house, and asked him
for medicines, which he was in the habit of giving
TO the poor Indians. As he walked with them TO-.
wards the house, one of them plunged bowie,
knife into his back, and another split open his head
with tomahawk, laying him dead at their feet.
His workmen observing the attack rushed forward
to defend him, when thirty or forty armed men
showed themselves from the neghhboting bushes.
On the 2lst June Major Ridge left home for
Evansville, in Arkansas. His path was ambushed
by another band of assassns; and about ten o'clock
on the 22d he was fred upon from prccpice at the
foot of HILL and fell dead in the road pierced with
FIVE balls Probably dozen or twenty rifles were
fired.
day, though more than seventy miles asunder, fell
the three most distinguished leaders Of the treaty
party, by three bands of asssssns, acting in
Two widows and more than dozen orphans most
Of them little children, were the spared monuments
of that bloody day. Others were doomed to death
at the same time but saved by timely notice OF
their danger.
Nine days afterwards met the convention, COM
posed in part of these murderers Having induced
few OF the old settlers to join them, and by a
mock proceeding depossd their own western chiefs,
they proceeded to pardon The murderers Of The Ridges
and Boudino TO otaiaio the survivors Of The treaty.
party and TO form constitution!
tb,,a mad III
eminent Of the Cherokee nation! 1t was founded in
murder and rebellion, foul ever stained the
history of barbarous people. The Ross party
considered the murder of The Ridges and Boudinot
as ordered by their council. Ross himself, though
he denied all knowledge of the murderers, justified
their crinm' They were then, and are no,o, well
known in the Cherokee country. They are the de-
voted friends of Ross and he has since distinguish
ed some Of them by peculiar favor
What was the crime which Ross and his ASSOC
ciates charged as a justification for the murder OF
the Ridges and Boudinoa II ,cas making the treaty
for acts which the United States induced them to do
and in doing which they were promised protection.
Their murder was good cause Of war against Ross
and his adherents. Had they been powerful ma
ton, and thus treated the friends whom we were
bound by every sacred obligation to protect, we
should deserve to be denounced as ,perfidous das-
tards if did not avenge them in the blood Of the
murderers and their protectors. As it was, the
leading chiefs ought, in my opinion, to have been
seized and held personally responsible for the pun
ishment of the murderers. But this Cherokee gov.
ernment founded in the blood Of the Ridges and Bou.
dinot, and the violent overthrow of the rghtfu
thortes, has been recognised legitimate; the MUIR
der ofthe friends whom the U. States were bound to
protect has been forgotten and the murderers taken by
the hand; the widows and orphans, made SO on the
22d June, 1889, robbed of husbands and fathers,
well as property, stand before the world unapenged
aud unredrtssed-a reproach to the age in which we
live, and the country in which we glory.
And what do we see now' A repetition of the
atrocities of 1889, with additional horrors Then,
the victims were three; now, they at least FIVE,
besides the wounded. Them they were men only;
now, children are Shutdown. The government,
which sprang up from the blood which was then
shed looks with complacency on that which is now
flowing; while their editor, the nephew Of Ross,
elected by the council, justifes the MURDERS and
calls for the organization Of additional bands Of
sassins to hunt down the prescribed. In vain does
it declare that these murders have no connexion
with party, when EVERY VICTIM is OF THE
TREATY PARTY, and but one Of the Jfpe has here.
fofore been charged with crime, and denounced as an
oufla,c In vain will the Cherokee Council assert
their own innocence of these crimes, until they
cause the we'll known perpetrators to be punished
with death, and treat their chosen editor as an
accomplish.
In my next, purpose to examine the structure
and practical operation of this government Of blood
BOUDINOT.