The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-14
oMMUNICATIoNs,
CHEROKEE pIFFIcuLTIEs-No. x.

the public, and pleads mol giIliy TO the imaginary
charge Of having actire egsney IN the murder Of
James Starr, Ellis Rider, Tom Waite, Swimmer,
and the Mil-boy. Who made such CHARGE Not
/, nor any body else within my knowledge. The
most that be inferred from any thing said by me
is that by justfyng the murder Of the chiefs of the
treaty party heretofore, pardoning and appointing
to Office some OF the murderers-by overthrowing
the government Of the western Cherokees, oppress-
ing and prosecuting their chiefs and leading men
by his ayarice, obstlnaey, and tyranny-in short
by series Of bad government, exercising power so
TO foster ill-will, hatred, and revenge ns.ead Of
promoting harmony and good feeling-he is respon-
slble for the blood which these passions stimulate
his countrymen to shed,
JOHN Ross is NO CHEROKEE lie Aa, no lust
claim 10 citizenship ia The Cherokee nation TO a common
interest in Cherokee lands anss or 70 ersrei au-
lhOriiy Cherokee chief His skin shows him to
be more OF white MAJ than an Indian; and II by
birth he was entitled TO the rights Of Cherokee
he long since sold his othrght and put the money in
his pocket!
Look at the resty Of 1919, and among the sigma.
lures you wils find that Of John Ross. That treaty
was made " close up the arrangements entered upon
I by The tr,aty of 1917. Both treaties proposed to
give reservations TO such Cherokees as were willing
To thow of their Indian character and become eil-
IeRs Of The United States. As evidence Of their sin.
serty, they were required 10 slate In writing their
1 purpose 10 reside permanently on their reservations
John Rcss ir0s On< ~ those eho ioo< rsssrpotions
and ~ promised IN Trrng 70 live permanently upon a.
n He provided IN treaty Stgntd BY himssf that the
II ChHrokees mglt take reservations in Zee simple "A
their share Of the common property, cease 10 be
CheroksCs and become citizens OF the United States
Tie aco,isd himself y The prorlSiOn he had made took
his reservation, promised 10 reside il permanently
and perfected his title.
Il And this Indian pdlriOl Who justi6es the murder
Of full-blooded Cherokses for selling their country
sold his portion Of that country, set of to him.
for IS, 500; improved another piece Of the Common
InTa RI ~ will he and ~.
N dsnouneing all land.selers as traitors to their
race!
Now, what business had this man among the Cher.
okees after having his part Of the common property set
Oh TO him on condition OF becoming citizen OF the
United StsteS What right had he after selling his
share Of the land, TO 90 back and claim another
share az joint-tenant with his countrymen' Il was
fraud, both on tho Cherokees, and the United
States. He ought never to have been again recog.
missed as Cherokee; at this moment in all honesty
and good faith, he is not Cherokee. Had he years
ago been removed from their country, it would have
saved that unhappy people from much crime and
suffering, and the United States from much trouble
and expenditure.
: But this chief, with Just Indian blood enough to
be called Cherokee, and Just education enough TO
whet his native sagacity was permitted to consum-
mate his fraud, and, by operating upon the preu-
. dees OF an ignorant people, acquire an influence
over them which, as far their own will was con-
eerned, placed in his hands their property and their
distributed among the several Indian towns went
into his hands, and those Of bis associates in the
newborn Cherokee government, and were heard of
no more; yet the common Indians were content.
When the Cherokee government and laws were an.
initiated within most.of their territory insomuch
that no chief legislator, Judge, could without in
curing the penalty Of confinement in the peniten-
usry, exercise any power under their authority
when the Cherokees were stripped OF their lands
ana turned cut OF their houses-when, from the in
lux oil white population, drunkenness, debauch-
cry, and the lowest vices were driving the mass Of
the Cherokee people to swift destruction-when the
educated fu-bloods raised their voices in destair
and exclaimed 'any other condition is better Than
this, and sought to get price for lands of which
they had been already deprived and lead their peo-
pie TO a country where they would live in peace,
and improve the minds and morals of their people
John Ross set himself against their patriotic and beep-
oen design, denounced them traitors and atiey,ond,
justified their murder!
Those devoted men frequently charged that the
motives Of Ross were altogether SELFISH that, as he
had long since sold his portion Of their common
country, he would sell the balance whenever he
could appropriate the money to his own And
behold after resisting emigration under the treaty
of 1895, until he saw his unhappy people driven as
were into pens at the point Of the bayonet pre-
paratory to their removal under military escort, he
seized the suspicious moment to convert to his own
uses large portion ofthat fund which was intended
for distribution among the common Indians as the
The treaty Of 1895 fixed the price of the Cherokee
country east at s. 600 900, of which $500 600 was
to be paid in lands and 81, 5000 in money. What
should be left Of this fund after meeting certain spe-
cited claims upon it, was to be divided equally
among the Indians Of all classes. At the time the
treaty was made, it was estimated that they would
receive out Of this fund about 500 per head.
Inc cost OF emigration, estimated at $50 per head,
was chargeable to the purchase money Of the coun.
try, and the treaty offered that sum as a commute
ftnn IN 1Lnan A.
families without the aid Of the government. MANY
ofthe treaty party accepted the communication which
they found more than sufficient to pay all necessary
expenses.
i John Ross refused to emigrate until he saw his
people reduced to the last extremity He then came
forward with few of his patriotic associates and
offered to take charge of the emigration for the benefit
fine Cherokee nation. Being called on for an est
mate Of the cost per head, they reported SOS "a,
being moro than three times the commuation allow
the United States officer in charge of that service
agreed to pay it, because ,oas TO be charged 10 The
fund already belonging to the Indians
| The emigration was completed; and when John
Ross rendered his accounts he charged Sl03 IS per
head being orer fire times the Communication allowed
most ertrauagant estimate He was allowed the
amount of his estimate, and the overcharge was re-
jecied in the most formal manner, both by the Sec
rotary of War and the President Under new adj
| minisHauon, however, THIS account was re0pened,
the whole amount charged allowed 10 Mr.. Ross,
and the sum of 1881 ,346 90 paid over to him out Of
the purchase money Of the Cherokee country east!
His whole charge for emigration
was Al 357 TAX az
At $40 per head, it would have
cost 1884, $3.50 DOL
Leaving profit Of 1,o94,765 Sc
But suppose the emigration cost S40 or double
the amount fixed in the treaty, it would still leave
profit Of 1881 ,7s5 S6. That it was not less,
verify believe.
In all this matter, Ross claimed to act not from
any individual or selfish considerations, but az the
head and agent, and for the benefit, Of the whole
Cherokee nation. As their chief and agent, he UNI
dertook the service; and in that character his ac-
counts rendered. Yet, when his council call
ed upon him to account to the nation for the money
received in closing up the business he denied his &C.
coaniabiiiy to them, and claimed The funds as his o,on!
And not one dollar of this money has he ever &C
counted for to his nation