The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-04-16
THE CHEROKEE NATION.

We surrender considerable space for the
insertion of lengthy extracts from the mes
sage of William P. Ross to the National
Council of the Cherokee Nation. AS every
thing connected with the progress of the red
man is of great interest, we the more cheer
fully present below important information.
It will be seen that Mr.. Ross is well in
formed and knows what he is writing about
He is fully posted as to the. objects and mo-
tives of those who so persistently urge some
new scheme for the injury of the Cherokees.
After giving short account of the dam
gers through which they have passed since
their last annual council, and the attempts to
blacken their character by certain evil
minded persons, and the sorrow which their
deeds produced, he uses the following lam
guage: arsnt l-
Now, as then, however, the greatest
danger apprehended is found in the relation
which the Nation sustains to the measure
for the establishment, by Congress, of a
government for the Indian Territory. This
question, pressed by our opponents only,
has lost none of its Importance. The bill
for this object, which was pending before
Congress, at the last session of the National
Council, after full and able discussion in
the House of Representatives, was defeated
by a decisive majority. A bill of similar
character, was reported shortly after, to the
Senate by its Committee on Indian Affairs
and is still pending. Other bills for the same
object will be presented to Congress during
its approaching session. The persistent eff
forts put forth by the various interests and
influences At work to accomplish the ends
for which these measures are proposed
should be neither forgotten nor overlooked.
While full confidence is due to the purpose
of the President of the United States, to
fully respect the rights of the Indians as
stipulated. by existing treaties and to ad-
here, firmly, to his humane policy of pre-
serving this territory as the home Of the
Indians now permanently settled, and of
those who may be yet settled, within its
limits, we should not conceal from ourselves
a knowledge of his desire for their closer
consolidation under a government whose
leading provisions will be uniform andcOm-
mon to them ali, nor of the recommendation
already made by him in this regard in his
last annual message to Congress-. Similar
sentiments were expressed by him in a per
sOnal interview accorded the members Of
your late delegation, although accompanied
with the assurance that no measure would
receive his appreciation which, upon the
closest scrutiny, was found not fully 20 pro-
tect all the rights guaranteed 70 the Chero-
kee people By treaty. The results antici-
pated from the change in their relations are
the gradual blending Of the Indians under
the same form Of government and whose
executive and Judicial officers shall be ap-
pointed by the President-the allotment Of
their lands in severalty-the gradual ex-
tinction Of all civil distinctions between
them and citizens Of the United States, and
their ultimate absorption as q portion of
their population This end is regarled as
the final solution Of the so-called Indian
question-and is cherished by many persons
who are unquestionably the friends Of the
Indians-who regret the indignity and in
justice too often heaped upon 4hem, who
deplore their rapid decline and sincerely de-
sire their protection and preservation. They
are inclined to look favoably upon these
changes in the condition OF the In
dians in this country from motives Of hu-
manity and that large spirit Of justice which
regards the rights Of all meu Of every color
and in every condition Of life.
But It Is believed that the great majority
Of those who clam0r - uoisily for terri
to-ial governments are inspired By motives
Of different character. Railroad corpo-
fations unWisely. II not dishonesty, in
vested with immense grants Of land, con
tingent ID their cbaractcr, and which cannot
lnure, in this country, until thotille of itH
lawful owners be broken Or vitiated ambi-
tious men. aspiEng 10 new places Of honor,
profit and trust, and the large number 0l
ever ready to potnce upon In
dian lands, conspire 70 raise their voices II