The Van Buren press., 1871-10-03
The fohcy Of the Cherokee Nation.


made! Possessing land most beautiful and
healtiifni and amply endowed by nature with
great advantages In the way OF fertility Of
soil, excellent timber, fine grasse. and a great
number of limpid streams Of water yet We
find, comparativeiy. but little Improvement
and progress made by these Indians in the
development of these natural resources, for
the last thirty years. With few exceptions,
may It not bc said, the Chcrokces are indi-
gent Ignorant and entirely devoid The power
of properly appreciatiug their country, and
seem to be content merely to lire and contin-
ne the course Of conduct pursued by their
forefathers, failing to recognize the fact that
they are surrounded by thriving, stirringlhnd
euterpfising States and People. who expect
them to advance to the level of their neigh
Dor. Ifthe Cherokees would move with the
spirit and understanding in their affairs, the
world would not only admire their beautiful
Land, but honor and applaud her people as
worthy thereof the equals in virtue, brain
and energy of any community Of citizens Of
tho United States.
II is evident. In my opinion, that the Chero
KEGS will never be advanced to any height Of
civilization and usefulness, so long as their
leaders encourage the full blo0ds" to main
tain the visionary idea of preserving their
separate nationality; for, notwithstanding
they are richer than any people on the earth,
such desire and foolish pride ofc0untry will
circumscribe their power for good and ad-
bn kaf E. 9 a. y,tftJl hn
demanded or can be found than the--I sup
pose-admitted fact, that. though a grand
railroad is advancing through the heart of
their country, with the Bay City of the great
State of Texas as its objective point, still we
fail to see the Nation spring towards prosper
ity and greatness cousentancous with the ac
tiyity engendered by the coursing speed Of
the Iron Horse elsewhere? Were this Ma
ton now Territory under the government
of the United States, its lands open for the In
llux Of the cntorprising white men, we would
witness the eXtinguishment of such dslaSire
notions of separate nationality" which as a
matter Of course would vanish like the base
less fabric Of a vision = the individual welfare
Of these Indians would be secured thereby ;
and general and dflusive education, with all
the blessings which flow thercfrom, would
find this Nation nothing loath nor unable to
keep pace with the advance, which other
countries are making in the march of art,
sciencc,wcaltll, prosperity and national glory.
With the present status of the Cherokee
Nation as a model who can be so hopeful as
to anticipate any advancement Of her people
for all time to come and who so blind as not
to see that this Nation, by continuing its
present policy, must and will, eventually
lose their cherished nationality, and that at
tho sacrifice OF individual prosperity?
Possessing land sufficient to give to each
individual of their people nearly three hun
drtd acres, with like appgoNimated amount
ofdolars, the Cherokees worry over the prob
lem how to preserve their present status as a
Nation and developo this, to them in their
number. vast territory OF land, which must as
things be remain wild and fuitless. serving
only to spread upon her surface rich carpet
of beautiful wild flowers, poor substitute for
fields of waving grain,-to brighten the eye
and gladden. the heart of the poor Indian wo-
man, who fingers beneath the hanging boughs
Of the magnificent trees, awaiting tho return
of her Liege Lord, who, with heart intent and
eye ahame, is wading up the creek spearing
FISH with and without claws, for want of no.
bier pastime, better and harder work.
individual merit makes the power and glo-
ry of a nations life and history; and until the
Cherokees, who have the elements of virtue
and greatness in their heart and brain, will
consent by contact with the whites to inter-
mingle their rich red blood TO emulate their
works Of usefulness, acquire their habits of la
hor and trade, assimulate their thrift, frugal.
ity and pluck, and strive to break away that
romantic barrier which separates the Red-man
and the PaieJdce, so long will their Nation
remain but as a beautiful country. upon
which, the thousands of passengers BY rail
who. erelong, will 20 through, but not stop
therein, can only gaze and regret that the in
digenl and ignorant Indian should not. Ad-
am-like, be drirea from this Paradise of
America, that the enterprising white man
might come and cause the luXuriant grain to
spring from the gaping wounds Of the plow-
share, the nice white cottages and substantial
farm houses TO deck the Land, thus inaugu-
rating the inception Of a reign Of prosperity
The question very naturally arises here
why does not the Cherokee Nation take meas
ures to become Territory OF the United
States and in future prosperous State of the
UnionE | think the following may be the
proper answer. Their leaders and prominent
men fof the sake ot a temporary enjoyment
Of doubtful power, do not desire to educate
the masses up to the point of Intelligence and
acquiescence; or they have not the courage
TO advocate a measure, which they fear would
provoke an outburst OF popular resentment
and again furnish preteXt for the diabolical
work OF assassins the murderous thrusts of
" hose daggers years agone opened the foun-
tain from which flowed the life blood of the
truest n lends and noblest spirits the Chero-
kee Nation.
In this day o. progress and enlightenment
the times will noS suG2r any country or set
OF people, entitled tG any degree Of respect
ability. 70 occupy and possess fair land. fruit
ful and great without some eXcrtion worthy
OF common manhood and evincing an appre-
citation Of their valuable possessions
There is no doubt but multitude &C people
desire to buy and occupy lands and homes III
the Cherokee Nation, and if the inhabitants
thereof had and would use but spark OF COM
mon sense, they would procure an organiza-
tion as Territorial Government under the
laws OF the United States, secure to each in
dividual a sufficient number of acres of land
and open the balance OF their public domain
for sale To actual settlers of whatever race,
divide their money per capita, or secure the
same for the benefit OF her Indian population,
organize public free schools intermarry with
the whites. as they. Individually, would. and
In 4 few wears no snot of American soil woull