Washington telegraph., 1864-10-05
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

RhlN+kphIA NAHUM July i-Df- J
10 The Hon. Members of M Na:ioHai Comm tee,
and CoHAca ~ GeHarH Council coHreHed !:
Under favor of Divine Providence. to
whom is due our humble and grateful
submission, you, the Representatives Of
the Cherokee people, are enabled TO meet
in General Council, to promote, as far as
may lay in your power, their best inter
ests. In undertaking the work before
rs, il i proper that We implorc that wis
dom and guidance without which human
efforts are powerless. and human calcula
tions vain.
Since the organization Of the present
Government, our people have been sub
jected to changes Of condition consequent
upon the war in which the Nation has
been engaged. Soon after the General
Mass Convention, which was held by that
intelligent port on Of the Cherokee Peo-
pile who could not be infected with the
deliberate treachery of their Principal
Rulers, Confederate forces OF this Dis
trict made an advance northward; the
enemy was expelled from our borders, and
the prospect was fair for a continued pos
session Of our country. The campaign
upon the whole, however. proved disas-
trous to the common cause. All that
portion of our country lying north of
Arkansas river was wrested from US by
overwhelming numbers, and our women
and children forced to flee from the mer-
ciless traitors who had sworn, with our
selves, 10 protect them from our common
enemy. The next spring saw the enemy
strongly enirenched at Ft Gibson, and,
at the close of the following summer, Ft.
Smith, the key of Western Arkansas and
the Indian Territory, passed out Of South
ern possession. No efforts that could
then be made by brav. and z-alous sol
diers, under truly able commanders. could
prevent, or did prevent. the whole navi-
gable portion OF Arkansas river. with its
contingent territory. from falling into
Federal hands. 1t Was, we can suppose,
the policy of Durable Commandrr-in-C Chief
at Shreveport not to exhaust or expose
the resources Of the country by prema-
ture attempts TO regain what had barn
lost; at all events, the inhabitants Of
most Of Arkansas on the Federal line of
march were compelled TO seek the rear of
our retreating armies, and our own peo-
pie, en- masse with the Creeks AMI the
population Of the Northern Chaciaw
counties, We're driven to take temporary
rcruge on Red river and IN Texas, where
they at present abide.
The destitute condition Of the people
had been represented to the authorities of
the Confederate Government, and | am
gratified TO be able TO state that measures
had been taken TO supply them with IrI-
visions, independent Of the Ordinance OF
Convention to supply the destitute, passed
May 30th, 1868. The principal Com
missioner, Captain j. l.. Martin, who was
appointed under that Ordinance, was also
appointed Issuing Agent under an order
from Gen. Steele, making provision for
supplying the destitute with ratiops at
the expense Of tile General Government.
| have received no official report from the
Commissioner, and am only able to say
in this connection that raiions have been
furnished him for distribution among
needy Cherokee families, which have, at
short intervals of tins, been received and
issued under his direction.
During the last winter the Cherokee
Delegate to the Confederate Congress.
Mr.. T. U. Boudinot, succe-Le i'll obtain
ing an appropriation Or loan Of 500, 900
from the Confederat.. Government to sup
Ply the most pressing necessities of in
digent Cherokees. Foriy-five thousand
do lars of this amount has been received
BY the Commissioner on part OF the Ma
ton, who i now eng ,Srd in making pur-
chase Of such articles as ia, ir immediate.
wants require. 1t il expected that they
will soon be at hand and ready for dis
tribution. 1t lies within your province
TO take such action in this matter as your
wisdom may judge best, for the uniform
and best allotment of these articles am ong
the actually and literally dsst,tut,. to
which state many have been reduced.
The Act Of the General Convention.
entitled an Ordinance to increase The
Military Force in the Indian Territory,
placed. with certain exceptions, ali Ch.ro-
kee male citizens between the ages of
eighteen and forty in the service of the
Confederate States for the term Of two