Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-14
MORNING LEADER.
5II1E61Y NoaNNG. MARCH IA.
AbolIiIOn Of slavery In The Cherokee Na'
rinu.

e4ALtsAAI DoANlNeis MAkCh IL
asoliiion Of slavsTE fEI.5. In the cherokee Ma
FCorresp spondenee Of the Missouri Democratl
CAMP Blunt, Arkansas, Feb. 70
The Cherokee National Council has just
adjourned. 1t convened in Delaware DIS
t-;ct- Cberolee Nation, q few miles from
Camp John Ross. where Colonel PnllilPs
eanped the third brigade, to guaralts pro
eeedings.
is tbs most significant and instruetiYe,I,
The members Of the body were elected
nearly two years ago. They are the oid
Legislature-the Legislature that was CO.
creed into an ordinance Of secession BY the
rebel army.
repeal the ordinance OF secession, Whlch
was done unanimously. The next act was
10 6eprize Of Office in the nation and dis
oualifF all who should continue to be re-
belIious or disloyal to the United States
Government. The courts and other legal
business Of the nation will 60 on as here
tofore the moment the country is peace
able enough to warrant it. Some acts
were passed relative to the expenditure OF
Cherokee funds
A law was enacted appointing delega-
ton to visit Washington about the mill
tary and civil affairs Of the nation, and
this delegation was authorized to abolish
Slavery In the nation, should Congress ex-
tend the same privilege to the nation as
the border States. This was to be remun-
Grated emancipation, hanging to theelause
Of bargain.
But this could neither meet the wishes
OF the notions Of the Cherokee Legislators.
Captain Bird Geitz, somewhat noted for
fighting the rebels in the mountains before
he Joined the Federal service, full-blood-
ed Iadian and a good lawyer, framed bill
for unconditional emancipation.
BE introduced the bill with a fine speech,
and was eloquently supported by Captain
James Vann, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis
DemiDg, and others
The argument was this: "That Slavery
had precipitated this peaceful, happy, and
Rl. Fious nation in war. Slavery was re-
sponsible for all the ills that had befallen
the Cherokee people and the country.
That President Lincoln had struck al the
head Of the monster in his emancipation
proclamation, and that it behooves every
patriot and statesman to sustain the Pres
ident and meet the issue. That without
this there was no peace for our distracted
country"
A few elung to the hope of Emancipa-
ton with compensation, and urged the loss
es Of the people already, but the majority
urged that the bill ought not to be so clog
ged. If the Government chose 10 pay the
loyal, very well, but they would leave
such 3 necessary act as the abolition Of
slavery 10 no contingencies, and no one
should do it for them. It was their work.
Ts the question that "free negroes would
crowd in, &C., Sc" Lieut.. Col. Deming
made an eloquent reply, in which he said
that awakened by the grandeur OF this
struggle, the Cherokee nation could solely
afford to do right, and look for Gods bless
ing on our cause if million Of refugees
should flock to it.
Nothing could be more instructive to US
ss q nation, than this simple and great
sction Of the Cherokee people. We boast
Of ourselves, Of our intelligence and
ShreWdness, yet debate and cavil at this
Late day, over selfish interests that have
betrayed us, and base prejudices that have
led Us to ruin. Surely God, in his infinite
wisdom, has raised up these people to re-
buke those who still fight against the provi-
denoes Of God.
When the history Of this great rebellion,
and Of this nation is written, the Chero-
KEGS shall make no mean figure. Under
the leadership Of Col. Phillips, they fought
desperately at Newtonia and Cane Hill,
and have distinguished themselves in every
battle Of the Southwest this last season.
They have fought fesrlessly and braYely,
second to no other troops, even while their
families have suffered untold misery and
disaster, and now they come cheerfully
up to offer the slavery of their nation to
the cause Of Liberty and Union.