The Van Buren press., 1870-01-11

requirements OF the Act OF Congress OF July Wn A. D.
1855 impoS.ng taxes on distilled spirits and tobaeco
and for other purposes and that the parties aforesaid
did in violation OF See. O of the Act OF Songress e
July 30th. ls3 produce manufacture tobacco with
In The ,Xtciur boundaries of the United States with
ogt paying the tax therefore as required By said sec
"O" anu 49, W. A. BRITToN.
sworn to and subscribed before me- this eth day o
JAS. o. CIICRCHILL. US. Commissioner.
Now, if am amenablc to the tax law OF
the United States, every Cherokee who buys
unstamped tobacco, or who twists tobacco
raised in his own garden and sells It to bis
neighbors without paying the tax thereon to
the government, Is guilty likewise and may
be sent to the penitentiary for not les. than
two years. This Is simply absurd.
A couple Of young men, however, have
recently made their advent into these parts
one OF whom, by name MCDONALD, is Super
visor OF Internal Revenue for Arkansas,
willie The other accompanies him as legal ad-
wiser. Mac. tells the unsophisticated people
of North West Arkansas, that General Grant
has como to new opinion concerning the
relations Of the Indians to the government
that he told Col Adair and myself that he
knew no such people as the Cherokee Nation
but that he had heard OF a few hundred In
dians who called themselves Cherokecs; that
he conld recognize no treaty relations be-
tween the United States and the Cherokee
Indians. but that he, General Grant. intended
to treat the Indians hereafter, as wards, and
that the United States was their guardian
This MCDONALD also claims to have special
instructions from President GRANT to collect
taxes from STRING FRoG, IoUNG Pro, WnIRI
WIND and all other citizens of the Cherokee
Nation, be they ever SO distinguished,
The Indians have always been considered
the wards OF the government and the new
discovery this fellow MCDONALD thinks he
has made, only shows his ignorance and stu
pidity as to the laws and customs Of his coun-
try.
After my property was seized by order oi
this man McDoNALD, showed him the letter
OF Mr.. DELANo, published above; the conver-
sation that followed was as follows;
BoUDINoT-Mr MCDoNALn | learn that
my Factory in the Cherokee Nation, has been
seized by your order as Supervisor of Internal
Revenue; by what authority have you done
this?
McDoSAID--I did so by special instrgc-
tons from Mr.. DELASo, and also from Prcsi-
dent GRANT.
DEMONSTRATING DELANo's letter pub
lished aboye.) How do you reconcile this
seizure and special Instructions with this?
Ar IN ~ I Ioft
Washington. That was simply written by
DELANo as a blind for PIKs & JOHNSON, to
quiet those gentlemen. Mr.. DELANo showed
It to me, but at the same time urged Inc to
hurry Off and seize your Factory.
BorDINor--That is very strange story.
MCDoNALp-Thc government has taken a
new view Of Indian relations; President
Grant considers the Indians as wards, and the
government as their guardian.
BouDNor-lndced l had heard Of such
relations before
a few days ago this same man, MCDONALD,
was witness before the United States Com
at Van Burcn, and the following is
a part of his testimony.
Question by Mr.. TnoAAsoN-Ocn. McDoN-
AID, did you have instructions from your su.
perior officer to seize the Factories in the In
dian country?
Answcr--I decline to answer that question,
for 10 would miliuate against the best interests
of the government.
Qucstion-Did you ever see this letter OF
Mr.. DELANos bsforc' Showing the letter
before mentioned.)
Ans'-I believe did see something Of the
kind
Qucs. and when?
Ans.-At Fayetteville few days ago; Col.
BoupINor showed it to me.
Qucs.--Is that the first time you saw it,
Ans.--Ncs.
Qucs-llave you any other Instructions
that arc III contrayention to this letter.
Ans.-I decline to answer.
Qucs.-Why?
Ans.-Because it would initiate against the
the best interests ofthe government.
Ques.-nave you any Instructions at all
relative to these Factories In the Nations.
Ans.-I decline to answer.
Ques.-Why!
Ans.-Becase 1t would initiate against the
best interests of the government.
Ques. Didn't you tell Maj. Boudinot that
you had seen that letter of DELANo's before
you LEFT Washington, and that it was simply
written AS n blind to deceive PIKE & JonN-
soN'
Ans.-I think did, but have to tell good
many things that 'aint so, in order to prevent
frauds, and protect the best interests of the
government.
This ignoramus, JoHN McDoNALD, who
claims to be the custodian Of the honor and
best interests of the government, stands be-
fore the public self-conyicted liar as well as
4 stupid ass. lie has no Instructions author
izing him to set at naught the sacred treaties
with the CherosccS or any other Indian Ma
ton; hs i. in the pay Of the Missouri manu-
facturers, who are eAasperatsd because have
been instrumental in saving the Cherokees
the tax which those manufacturers would as
sess them in selling their tobacco among
them.
The whole matter Is now before the courts
and departments at Washington. shall re-
cover damages for the temporary obstruction
Of my business, and viii be able to resume
in the Spring.
trust that the farmer. in the Cherokee
Country and elsewhere, who have been en-
couraged by Inc TO cultivate the leaf tobacco,
will not be discouraged the coming year; for
! shall give them a market for all they will