The Van Buren press., 1873-06-10
THE CHEROKEES.
an Exile Visiting hiss old Tenasssce
Homestead-7he Changes sf Few
lears-Old GrapeS and Land
marks Obliterdted-A Look
to the Future.
lSt. Louis Republican, June Al

Mr.. Daniel Il. Hicks, a member Of the
Cherokee council at Talequah, returned
here yesterday from brief visit to
Charleston, Tennessee, his birthplace
from which he and his people were ex-
PEELED in 1888, The place was then
known as the old Cherokee agency. which
was located on the Hiawassa river His
father, Elijah Hicks, was strongly oppos-
ell to removal He was a member of the
council and editor of the Cherokee Phn-
ak, having succeeded Mr.. Boudinot, IA
ther of Col. Z G. B0udinot, the old pro-
prietor.
Gen. Winfield Scott was sent by Presi-
dent Van Buren, to force the Cherokees
to leave their old homes and migrate be
yond the Mississippi, a task which he
performed with good deal of delicacy
and flrmness Of purpose SCOTS SYM
pathies were enlisted in favor Of what he
termed this interesting people" Copies
Of the correspondence between General
Scott and Elijah Hicks, and also Of the
original proclamation issued by the gen
eral, are still in the possession of Mr..
Hicks. Some Of the Cherokces were
rich, with large farms, and owned stock /;
but the larger portion were poor, half
civilized and lived in the mountains.
Mr. Hicks contemplated with feeling
Of sadness the changes which time had
wrought in the place Of his nativity. The
mountains and the streams were unchaDg
ed, but the old Indian towns, and even
the graves Of the original occupants have
been wiped out and totally annihilated
by the onward march of civilization.
Mr. Hicks was accompanied to Hunts
vile, Ala, by Mrs. CathariEe G. Ross,
sister in law OF VIM T. Ross, present
chief Of Of the Chcrokees. She was the
daughter of Edward Gunter, who owned
a reservation near Guntersville, thirty
miles from Huntsville Mrs. Ross is
one Of the heirs to the estate, and the
claims Of the heirs have been in litigation
good many years, and are now in the
court of chancerv. The case was ex-
peetea to come up this week, but was
postponed until fall, leaving the claim
ants to still further enjoy the benefits Of
the laws delay Mr. Hicks and Mrs.
Ross returned last evening to Tahlequah,
which place they left on Thursday last
Mr. Hicks belongs to the party who are
opposed to alotting the Indians lands
in severalty. He says there is respect
able number Of leading Cherokees in fa-
vor of allotment, but the masses of the
CheroKees are hostile to the measure.
Many think the day is not far distant
when it has got to be done, and Mr..
Hicks says he is satisfied that will be the
result Speaking Of Col. Boudinot, he
said he desired to see him and SHAKE him
by the hand, Notwithstanding his course
on the territorial question. He would
not advise him to pass through the coun-
try rs there are desperate characters who
might take his life, but any such act
would be dscountenanced by Chief Ross
and the influential leaders.
The Cherokccs seem to be highly IA
vorcd people in one respect at least; they
have no taxes to pay, But your people,
said Mr. Hicks, are taxed from the era.
die to the grave. The expenses of the
Cherokee Nation, betrayed from the in
tercst Of the annuity fund, are for nation
al purposes, school purposes, and the
support Of orphans. They have no pau
per laws or road laws to drain the peck
cts Of the people, But the sum of $780,
600 has been set apart, sccruing from
the sale of lands to the Osages, beyond
the Goth meridian, in what is called the
" Cherokee outlet to establish a litera-
ry institute for the education Of the in
digent