New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-02-12
BY THIS MORNINGS MAIL.
MATTERS IN WASHINGTON.

sazsiaa,ed
The Cherokee Nation consists Ct about sisteen
!" P oss party" who emigrted from Georgia after
the Schen15aaLhofn Treaty" The remaining third
~, known as the "oid seiile,s'' and : Treaty PAT
~ - who made treaty with the United States Tor
voluntary removal ii 1919, 1928 and 1888. The
{" Ross Party" the g old settlers" and the Treaty
account Of their several claims 10 money and lands
from treaties with the United States.
These parties appeared, during the las. session, al
this city by delegation, 10 p!esen; their various
claims and 10 sue .or redress John K oss informed
the Secretary Of War (AIr Wi!kins) that the treaty
reality, and that, with the exception Of some hal!
dozen impracticables, there 70 division IN the
Cherokee nation
ICON thisa communication was appointed, con
Sting of Gea Il. Jones, p N. Butler and John I.
Mason. toi!re,iig1ie the matter. This commission
treaty grouad OF Faantisky, on the 9th OF Deem
Der 1874 From private letter on this convention,
take The folio wing extract. il Is dated al an
Bvren, Arkansas, Jan. I4h, 1915.
g Acting under the instructions Of the Presldhi,
the Commissioners came into the Cherokee Nation
about the Ii OF December, lSH. They immediate
ty called Councll OF the Cherokees IN orcer 10
ascertain the truth of complaints made by the
ssWesrern Cherokees'' AMI 'freaty Party, through
their delegations at Washington last winter, MI
Ross and his delegation, You Will remSer, had as;
er;ed i,yor,d the course Of Rogers, Bell, starr and
others-but tha; in iaci they represented 70 one but
,hamselyers The result OF the commission mas
n, yn how unjust vas his censure. Every cfert
had been made TO promote The aSsemoast.l-
IRE primary meetings oil the complaining parties
Iad been dispersed by the threats OF an afiiieu %
ice the project was denounced as reasonable;
The Authorities Of the Nation protested against
The proceeding and the right oil The United States
10 laqur. into their local affairs. But when the
Commissioners assembled al the Council ground OF
The cold Settlers al the mouth oil the illinois
River, (wherc, ever since the settlement OF 'le
country this quiet aud psaceabie people had smoked
the pipe o. Peace wi'h their red and white brethren
until they were so violently over,hrown IN 1889
and unflred the Stars and Stripes OF HE United
Saes-oyer one thousand male adults came
forward and registered their names as mem
oers OF that party which neheVes una, tiey
nave been robbed OF the dearest rights known
TO freemen-lhry were quiet, peaceabie, and
steady in their purpose. They appsil'ed Com
ni,tee Of twenty iaur of the Old Emlgrants. and
twenty-fOur Of the Treaty or Ross party, who sci
forth, in strong but plain language, history oil
heir grievances. from 1885 10 the present day
The substance OF these complaints YOU will ind IN
he two Memorials Published during the last session
IF Congress: lat they went much more into detail,
md produced many witnesses relative to the con-
,pracy by which the Ridges and Boudlnof Were
murdered IN 1929 and the Government OF the
w
manner oil forcing and purchasing the pretended
acts of Union-(acts which, by The way, have no.
thing to do with the controversy The Commis-
.ioners patiently head these complaints and 1t is
20 be ho7ed, faithfully recorded them The Ross;
larty fir, protested against the Commission, and
hen sent Committee OF twelve TO look on; but
Tor what precise purpose, no one knows.
The whole spectacle was an interesting one
Here is small nation OF some 900 souls, among
whom are probab $500 men capable oil exercising
| i, slfN n
Hopeweil they have been in some sort entitled 10
| he privileges Of scit-govemment subject TO SUI
| pernicnding coatrol Of the United States--their
! Great Guardian. The steady policy OF the unitcd
| States 10 remove them 10 Their new homes West OF
the Mississippi caused them 10 overlook those pre-
caulionary measures, which might have prevented
so much internal discord and strife amongst an IN
happy race That dscori has a, length grown 10 a
hight winch has caused he weaker party 10 appeal
tolbeir Great Guardian for a redress OF grievances
GO Ii was natural hatthe stronger party which mas
grown rich By splendid contracts, nt The expense OF
,ile weaker shouli protest against the proceeding
Yr the Submission which all paid 10 the flag OF The
United States gave strong evidence OF iiitierns
approximation 10 a respectable degree OF cyilza-
THE complaining partieshave determined not to
letthe matted rest they have appointed deesa-
lion 10 proceed To Washington and urge farther ac-
ton up0n the part OF tic United States"
The discomfort OF thu oil settlers has been aug
men'ed by the murder Of Lewis Rogers, who was
| attending the Commissioners al Fort Gibson, on
the 9th Of January, 1885 He was induced by re-
poris of sickness IN his family to return home, but
| before proceeding far h, was attacked b.: number
| OF men, who fell ppon hun with Bowie knives and
killed hm. He lived long enough, however, 10
| tell the names al those who attacked HIM, and 10
| charge his death upon The Hos party. He was the
hrr apparent TO the chleiSp OF the old settlers ard
was one OF those who visited Washington last Win
ter Il is supposed that the reports OF sickness IN
MS fnm Is were got up TO deccy HIM INTO the hands
| IT his assisSlnS
The Commissioners Cor a part) have returned To
Washington, and have submitted their Report. II
! is filed at the Department. but is yet unopened. 1t
is supposed 10 be adverse 10 the KoSS Parry. This,
! however, is only supposuon, but should II prove
true that they have reported IN tavor OF the cd sell
! tlsrs, the United States Government will probably
feel compelled 20 interfere and prevent The threat
| ened atrocities.
The old settlers say that Ross Is military des-
pot, ruling by might rather than by right, and who
maintains his fowcr, not by the will OF the people,
but by armed military force; that he controls the
Courts OF Justice, usurs the night 10 property, and
expends the money received from the United States
| in supporting his Courts ami maintaining his mill.
| tarv authority.
They also declare that he (Rossl influences the
| election OF the Legislature, making l, merely tool
10 carry ont hSvlcwS rather than 10 express The Will
| OF the peop,elhat the people unjustiy condemn
ed 10 chains and deaih--'hai though they have The
uame OF freedom they are not protected in lie, hb
eriv, or property.
The old settlers claim that the RICH, Of soil be-
| Ing 10 them, wh.e h 10 party are intrrler>-
That he (Ros>) has apr, lated 10 his own private
Use oue-hRt million Of dollars, obtained from the
United States fer the Cherokee people, under
treaty, which he refuses TO acknowledge, claiming
i as pay tor removing his people west OF the
Mississippi, while the treaty provides that the mo-
ney should be sid 10 the people per capita. Tie
aid settlers :ecsyed none OF The money, nor did
those who Were removed get any of II, rs il is
charged rs compensation Tor removing them.
Tfis Il million, together with the annsities 10
he tribe f.om the United States, gives him pow
which wcuid seem 10 b. Just cause Of complaint
on the PAN If the old settlers. Ross juS,es him.
-elg by claiming more Than he has already receiv-
ID remuneration lot Cherokee lands and I'M
provements East Of the Mississippi River-ihai the
rnslconteuts are bu, friction and tina; the niied
States have right TO INT, rfere in the matter a
the Cherokees are an independent Nation
These facts are derived from papers which have
,eIus d. srnt 10 this city by The con;endins par
mes, consisting OF proceedings and resolutions OF
conventions OF the Cherokee People, as well as
from papers published near the Scence Of action