Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-08-19
FROM THE OLD HOME.

QrALLA TowS, JACKSON, y. C., July, lss6.
EDITOR CHIEFTAIN:-1 am Just
in receipt of copy of the CHEF
TAIN, which reaches me by the
way of Washington through my
friends who left there some three
weeks ago, and at the time it was
my intention to make speedy
trip through the Old Cherokee Ma
tion, or western North Carolina,
and gaze once more upon the
pleasant faces of friends who |
separated from when / voluntarily
went TO my western home in the
year 1881.
This is my third visit TO North
Carolina since | went west, and |
wish to give you few items from
this section of the country which
our forefathers fought and died
for, and what remained at last were
forced to vacate and hunt a new
abiding place.
The Cherokees who still remain
back here l wish to say something
about. We are all vel aware Of
their present statts, from the
decision of their suit against the
Cherokee nation west which has
been recently decided at Washing
ton, ID. G..
On my arrival here l found the
Indians very much confused over
their own actions or rather of their
representatives appointed, in
whom they had intrusted all Of
their business and finding they
were deceived after it was too late.
They have been very extravagant
in the last four years with their
school monies and consequently
have used them ali and were noti-
fed by the interior department q
few days ago that there were no
more monies for schools and their
boom of civilization as they claimed
is now at a sudden stop and the
principal query among them now
is, "Will me, or not, go west" |
think they are equally divided up
on that question.
Their chief, n. J. Smith, is get
ting all who yet have faith in him
to sign a roll to emigrate with him
TO the Cherokee nation, in March,
1887. ] am informed his number
is seventy-fve and slowly in.
crcasing.
Some of their legislative transac-
tions are like this, such as leasing
the privilege OF cutting all walnut
and other valuable timbers from
their boundary for the small sum
of not exceeding 81 200, for which
five times the amount could have
been easily obtained, and again, at
their last council they leased 10
Gilbert IL Co., of Boston, the privi-
lege of mining for the small sum
Of 500, and now the company has
under construction a boat which
will cost when completed, 81 900,
for the purpose of dredging out the
bed Of the sparkling Oco-na- lufty
river and will be completed and in
operation within three weeks.
The lease money is never divided
here as it is among us, but is put
in the hands of their chief 10 be
used, but | have met no Indian
yet who can tell me to what pur-
pose it was applied. | have visited
a great many since / have been
here and | find but few who can
set table composed Of more than
two dishes, (bread and some kind
Of vegetables) and in short they are
in a destitute condition caused by
their own actions. When | !
look upon the old man and
see him lettering along with a
peck Of corn on his back going 10
mill, | shed tears Of pity, but my
means are so limited |
that they do not avail anything |
here.
The state Of North Carolina has
Iaken advantage Of the decision
Of their suit at Washington and
his year have imposed upon them
! poll tax OF S2.57 and allow them
no exemption either from real
estate or personal property, from
Iaxes, although the laws Of North
Carolina exempt e25. For an ex-
ample, an old Indian was giving in
his taxes and when sworn TO what
he was worth, GALL told 800 and
his taxes were 40 cents. Such Is
lhe condition Of our friends who
TO grieve over the burial
place Of our ancestors.
Western North Carolina, / doubt
would be recoRizable 10 great