The Van Buren press., 1874-07-07
THE CdEROKEE DELEGATION.
Their Return from Washington.
A Talk with Rev. John B. Jones, Agent
of the Five Nations.
lSt. Louis Republican, June 10th. !


where he remained during the session oil
congress as one of the Cherokee delega
ton. Mr.. Jones is also the Indian agent
for the Cherokees He is q white man
, born in the Nation, and is. perhaps, as
well acquainted with Cherokee matters
as any native, as he has been by special
act constituted Cherokee citizen. His
father, the Rev Evan Jones, was among
the first missionaries sent by the Baptists
: of Philadelphia to the Cherokees who
were then, in 1921, living in North Caro-
lima. He removed with them across tho
Mississippi, and remained with them un
til his death at an advanced age in 1872
During his long missionary career, he
translated several books of the New
Testament, hymns, etc, into the CherO-
kee language. He prepared a spelling
book in the Cherokee language, adopting
the Roman characters, but about the year
1874, the alphabet invented by the cee-
brated George Guess. coming out, was
generally adopted. George Guess went
to Mexico in 1S47 to hunt tribe of In
dians, supposed by him to be a branch
of the original Cherokee stock, where he
died before finding the object of his
search.
Rev j. B. Jones was educated at Mad
ison college, Oneida county, New York,
and among his classmates were Rev. Mr..
Schotield and DR.. Birmingham of this
city.
The other delegates to Washington as
sociated with Mr.. Jones were William p.
Ross, head chief of the Cherokees, who
went home last week, d. W. Bushy yhead,
treasurer of the Nation, who left here for
Gibson last night. Col. W. p Adair and
Rufuss o Ross, who remain behind, are
expected here during the week.
The principal object of the visit to
Washington of the delegations, together
with similar delegations from the Creeks,
Choctaws, Chickasaws and Seminoles,
was according to their instructions to de.
feat the various territorial bills that have
been before congress for some time
Our reporter inquired of Mr.. Jones
what success they had in staving o fl these
bills.
He said the five civilized nations were
much surprised at their success. They
were very much grati'ied in finding SO
many friends who from the discussions
and speeches before the committee on
territories, seemed to have just found out
that there was proper distinction to be
between the civilized and uncivilized In
dians. Not one OF the various bills be
fore the committee was reported upon in
either house, nor did they get out of the
hands of the committee, The representa-.
tives Of the five nations fought them all.
Elaborate speeches were made against
these measures by Chief Ross, Colonel
Adair, and Gov Peter Pitchyn of the
Choctaw nation.
Reporter: How about Col Boudinot
AT the last meeting Of the committee,
Col Boudinot spoke in favor of the Ter
rtorial bill. He spoke alone and it was
deemed best not to answer him.
BY the way, said Mr.. Jones in speak
ing further of Col. Boudinot, he said the
latter had got bill through congress for
his relief, so that he will not be further
prosecuted for violation Of the United
States revenue in his celebrated tobacco
ca ,es. Mr.. Jones said in his opinion
this was right, as great injustice had
been done Col. Boudinot. According to
the treaty between the government and
the civilized tribes in 1866, there was no
authority for contiscating Col. Boudinots
tobacco, which was manufactured across
the Missouri line in the Cherokee coun
try He (Mr. Jones assisted in making
that treaty, and he knew what the spiri:
and language were of the treaty provis.
ions.
gress just closed. Mr.. Jones said that in
the general appropriation bill passed by
that body, it is provided that all the
agencies of the five tribes shall hereafter
be consolidated into one.
Our reporter inquired who would be
appointed agent under the new act.
Mr.. Jones said the information could
he obtained from the other members Of
the delegation.
Before leaving Washington Mr.. Jones
received orders from the Indian depart
ment to go down and take charge of the
agencies of the five tribes. He will
establish his headquarters al Okmulgee,
on the railroad, and has directed all the
agents to meet him there on the 30th Ito
morrow and turn over their papers.
What improvements are proposed by
the Chcrokees
There have been moneys paid to the
Cherokees for lands recently sold by the
Cherokees to other Indian nations,
amounting to $4,000 for a school for
INDECENT children; &20,0 900 for the erec-
ton of buildings for an orphan asylum;
1926, 900 for the erection of buildings for
the insane, blind, deaf and dumb. This
money has been transferred to Treasurer
Bushyhead. There are in the Nation
about sixty five common schools in ope
ration. They have an orphan asylum
with about ninety inmates now in the
male seminary near Tahlequah There
is in operation female high school with
thirty young ladies. The calculation is
to add to the female seminary another
building and attach primary depart.
ment, and also to add another building
to the male seminary and set it in opera
,;o, ,,;th tho urinary denartmpnt