The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-08
Interesting from the Cherokee Nation
Message of chief Ross.


The Cherokee 4arocate Of the ith ~. coa.air.
the message Of John Ross, the Priacipal Chief asT
the Cherokee nation, from which We iuaks t.
following abstract; y
"The census Of the Cherolce people who eus'r
grated since th date OF toe treaty Of 1885, was take
ruder the provision OF the act of Council Of Novsr-
Der ooh, 1850 and revised under instructions fror
TIE Commissioner OF Indian Affairs. An asstsa,.
of the revised census, which exhibits thirteen tho=!.
sand eight hundred and six persons entitled 70 pa-
ticTate ia the berefis Of the per capita paymaa.,
has been for Harded TO Washilston through GsOrg,
Butler, Esq, United states Agent. Besides these,
have transmitted through the sane Eotiun tas
names Of two hundred and ninety Two persons vio
have been rejected by the committee Of he 'Oit
Settlers
"Tbsse persons enigrateito this country prior 10
the date Of the treaty Of 1885, AID /. Is evidea;ly
en- act Of decided injuftice TO cut them of from ths
benefit Of the Old Settlers per capita, TO which
they are clearly entitled by the provisions Of tas
treaty Of 1910. l would also be an ACT of inrs,ic.
to tho late emigrants to place them on their rel.
la view OF these facts, | have deemed it ny duSy
10 protest against this act Of the Old settlers Com
mttee, and TO appeal from their decision to tas
proper del artnent at Washington. In addition to
this, II will be necessary to send delegate 10
Washington ms the bearer Of the census itsef, VITA
Instructions topresent Il 20 the proper authorities o.
The government Of the United States"
The seminsres and high schools are repre3entoi
to be in avery fourshng condition. all having their
full complement of pupils, and the examinations
have evinced much proficiency in the different
branches studied In reference to the police system
o. the settlement, the message says:--
The manner in which the criminal lawB have
been administered In some paris Of the country Ia
subject 20 which the attention Of the Council ought
10 be directed Cafes have occurred Ia which there
can be no doubt that justice has been perverted.
and the true intention Of tie laws eyaded. Much
may doubtless be done towards the correction OF
come CT the abuses which have been practisei, by
the exercise Of such sound discretion in the sslec
ton Of judges and o.her officers, as shall secure
men to FIJI those important stations who are pos
stssed Of thorough Integrity, and such other qualii
cations as will ht en- fer tho eff sent discharge OF
the duties devolvipg on them. think, also, that
on q careful review Of the laws themselves, they
will be found to be defective in many particulars,
and to need such revision ss will better a. them
to secure the purposes for which they enacted
The law which provides for the punishment Of
murder, needs to be modified rs to distinguish
msnslsughter in different degrees from wilful muir
der, ard so that penalty may be more accurately
adjusted TO the measure Of guilt OF which the erimi-
nal may be convicted. IL the penalties annexed 10
horse stealing and other tbefts we're changed from
whipping to tine and imprisonment and hard labor,
| cannot doub, but the influence would be more ss-
utsry. and would more enectualy deter others from
he commission Of crime, and that il would have
greater tendency to promote the reformation Of Of
lenders and ofrestoring them to the paths OF recti
tude. Something ought also 20 be done in order to
nsurc better enforce nient Of the laws which pro-
hb the introduction Of intoxicating liquor into the
country.
In order, however, to carry into complete effect
these, and the other improvements IN our systems
of criminal law, which, on careful review OF
them, will be found to be desirable, a substantial
jail will be an indispensable requisite; and | res
pectfully and earnestly recommend to your consde-
ration the propriety Of making provision, By lay.
TO f, used for the confinement, under proper rsgu-
lations, Of offenders from all parts Of the nation
Mention is made Of the repeated encroachmsnts,
by evil disposed persons, upon the Choctaws, By
predatory incursons MO their grounds, and the
sheriff and people are recommended to apprehent
all such offenders and bring them to justice.