Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-06-11
THE poWNINa PARTY.

Cooweescoowee Drietrict Con-
vention Held Last Friday-The
Platform.
In response TO a call the Down
ing party Of this district met in
convention at Cooweescoowee
court house last Friday.
The nominations made were
John Chambers and s. II. Mayes
for senate; George Bibles, Austin
Lowery, Henry Eiffert, Van
Chambers, Bear Timpson, John
Secondyne and Arthur Armstrong
for council; Watt Starr, district
judge; John Coody, sheriff; w. II.
Mayes, clerk, VIM. McCracken,
solicitor; Henry Fallen, Dunck
vann and Lewis Wolf for grand
council.
The platform adopted is as fol-
lows:
1t should be the great object OF
a free and popular government
like that of the Cherokee nation
which is of the people and for
the people--to protect its citizens
in all their rights so that they may
be prosperous and happy.
First-We are in favor of perpet-
ual peace among all classes Of the
Cherokee citizens, believing that
our prosperity as a nation centers
in peace.
Second-We are in favor of a
faithful observance of the treaty
relations existing between the
Cherokee nation and the govern
ment of the United States; and
of strictly executing the. constitu-
ton and laws of the Cherokee ma
ton.
Third-We are in favor of ac-
cording to all legitimate citizens
Of the Cherokee nation all the
rights that belong to them under
our treaties with the United States
and our constitution and laws.
Fourth--We are emphatically
opposed TO the establishment OF
any kind of United States terri
torial government over the Chero-
kee nation and people, or of any
change in the Cherokee govern
ment; and we hold that it is the
duty of every citizen of the Chero-
kee nation TO use his efforts to
preserve the national autonomy;
we maintain that it is the duty of
all citizens TO assist the nation in
prosecuting and defending its
rights and the rights of the people
before the government of the
United States.
Fifth-We are opposed to selling
one foot of Cherokee soil for
white settlement, because the
proposed purchase in less than two
years would be filled with white
settlers who would be vehemently
calling on congress for the forma-
tion of a territorial or state govern
ment which would embrace not
only the entire Cherokee nation
but the present Indian territory.
Sixth-We declare we will sup
port no man for member of national
council who will not pledge him
self to work and vote against the
acceptance Of the proposition to
sell our land. And we demand
that our members Of council at
next session investigate and sift to
the bottom the z IL per cent. mat
ter, and ascertain how our lands
stand and every dollar for them
was received and paid out.
= Seventh-We are in favor that,
if after a thorough investigation
it be shown that we are indebted
to the United States government
1884 600 or other sum, instead of
paying it with land at AZ 40 cents
per acre our council will pay such
Indebtedness in money, with in
terest, provided the United States
government will accept it.
Eighth-While we deny hostility
to the whites, and in proof of
which assertion we point TO our
frequent intermarrisge with them
and the employment of them in
our business affairs, yet we say TO
agree TO this sale is forerunner of
the downfall of the Cherokee ma
ton in the immediate future.
X. II. FIELDS,
Wat STAR,
WM McCRAcKEN,
JOSIAH HENRY,
Committee.