The Russellville Democrat., 1880-01-01
CHEROKEE CoMPLAISTs.
The Indians protesting against .
 Change of Government.

The Indians protesting against . Change of Government. The Status of the Negro.---Rail- Road Schemes. From tho Washington Postl Col. ". F. Adair, the assistant principal chief of the Cherokee Ns- tion, accompanied by Capt John L, 1 Adair, ex-member of the board of education, Richard NJ. Wolf, mem Der of the Cherokee senate, and R. Bunch, a prominent citizen, and del egates from the National Council, arrived here last night and quarter ed at the Washington house. Upon the arrival THE PosT called on Col Adair and said:
 s-Col., it is reported that your pco- pie arc very much opposed to the proposed organization of territori- al form of government for the thirty eight civilized nations of Indiana. Will you tell THE PosT the facts in the case, and also the condition of your people?'' ITO speak for my own people, the Cherokees, we have now 100 common schools and two high schools, free to all, an asylum for orphans, with school attached, one for the deaf and dumb, indig- ent and other incapables. Our government is running smoothly, and we are doing all that could be expected of us. The treaties leave it to us to say when we want our form of government changed. After a while We will come into the Union, but our people will have to prepare for it."
 "To what extent will resistance be carried if Congress should pass the blll?"
 My own impression is that If the government shonld attempt to force it on us they will get up war, and that would be unfortunate for bor- der people. We want to keep peace if there is any possible show"
 What would be the effect of the change?"
 "The effect would be to deprive us of our homes, for just as soon as the thing was done squatters would come in and drive our people out. The government would then not be in position to protect us, and that would force us to resist, however re- luctantly."
 "How many are there of the friend ly nationsT
 .There are S0,OO0 Indiana in the thirty eight tribes"
 "What Is the Cherokee form of governmentY
 Republican, with . written con stitution and laws, . Congress or National Committee of two houses, Senate and House, and all the exec utive and judiciary officers cores bonding to those in the United States"
 "What are the ostensible, what are the real purposes of the propos- ed new form of governmentr' eThe ostensible purpose is to as sist us, and to improve our condit- ion, but the real reason is to benefit certain conditional grants of the In dian lands made by Congress in 1866 to railroads, and to open the country to settlement and to benefit the two existing railroads. It twould extinguish our titles, which we can hold only as a nation. The wild tribes would be rendered uncontrol- able. do not say this as . threat, but it is Gods truth"
 What is the history of your pres ent settlement and governmentF
 "We moved to that country from Georgia and Alabama, in 1859, and lost about one third of our people in the removal. The United States then promised us as condition oi our removal that we should never be harrassed by State or Territorial governments. We had then I2,00O people, but at the beginning of the war had increased to 25,0O0. Al the close of the war we had lost one half of our people by division, some going North and others South, leav- ing only 13,000. No trouble has ever taken place with our people since that tims."
 "How is the present population as to numbers and conditionT
 "The number now is 10000, near ly all of mixed blood, more or less. I All the adults can read either in English or Cherokee, the former alone being taught in the schools We have . newspaper published in the two languages with circulation of 5000 weekly. All christian de. nominations are represented, and we encourage them to come by giving I6O acres of land to each sect as . site for 8 mission-house. There are about 5000 church members among us."
 "How are the negroes treated by your IndiansT
 "Our Chief issued his proclamation to emancipate the 5000 slaves we had bought from the whites, about . month before President Lincoln issued his, and the negroes now have tho same rights, in all respects, as rst;va horn CherokeaeD