Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-01

head in his arrogant attempt to
srpplant the national council with
his Cor tho mans at his elbow
will in determining who are and
WHO shall be citizens Of the Chero-
kee nation, and to make some
excuse for his masters. childish
spitefulness in vetoing the bill last
winter, admitting John Bumgarner
to citizenship.
The reasoning, if it may be
so called, Of the article in the
Advocate and the chiefs message
in that regard and also the veto
message, are so much alike that
one is constrained to believe them
all from the same pen. Now the
facts in the case are, Mr.. Bushy-
head either on his own motion or
prompted by some one, has as
principal chief done a great many
very foolish things, to put to light.
Your paper might be filed up
with the recital of them and then
not all be told. Among others, he
got from some source the idea
that he was the sole interpreter of
the constitution and laws and
under That advice he construed the
2nd section article l of the consti-
tuition to mean that every Chero-
kee out Of the nation had "become
a citizen" of another government
whether he had or not, and conse-
quently had no rights here. Fol-
lowing the idea--which must. have
been a revelation-he incorporated
it in his annual message to the
national council and went so far as
TO dictate the words and forms of a
bill admitting Cherokees that he
would allow to pass muster in his
Office and because the senate did
not see fit to follow the dictum of
this self constituted tycoon, he
in a moment Of childish spite
vetoed the bill admitting John
Bumgamer, who in every respect
is as good a man and as much a
Cherokee and as fully entitled as
Mr.. Bushyhead himself, albeit he
is the chief. Where was Mr..
Bushyhead's conscience and his
great care for his country when he
after nearly twenty years Of yolun-
tary absence returns to this coun-
try and surreptitiously took up his
residence, and claimed and was
received as citizen? Did he
the national council2
Did he answer the questions so
Tittily put by the Advocate? Was
hen a law passed re-adnlitting
lim? Now if Mr.. Bushyhead be-
ieves sincerely in his published
,onvictions as shown in messages |
o the national council and re-
.choed by his Aunkeys in the
advocate and if he Is the up
light, honest and conscientious
nan his fulsome eulogists would
ave the world and particularly the
'herokee people believe him to be,
e should step down and out OF
be Office in which he is an intrud-
r, instead of clinging to an office
D which according to his own con-
truction Of the constitution, he
as no right and using the national
.aper for partisan purposes in
.efalning and denouncing men,
,ers Of the national council who |
re unable to see things as he and |
lis man Friday" pretend to see
hem.
a word or two about the consti- |
ution and have done. The second |
section uses these words as viii be
seen by reference to it given entire
lbove. "Whenever any citizen
shall remove With his effects out of
he limits Of this nation and be-
,ome a citizen Of any other govern
nent all his rights and privileges
rs a citizen Of this nation shall
ease" No one has ever ques-
Toned the correctness Of this pro-
vision of the constitution. On the
| will venture the opinion
hat it has the hearty support of
.very genuine citizen Of the Chero-
Iee nation unless it be Mr.. Bushy-
lead himself. Before forfeiture can
obtain the citizen must "become a
,itizen Of another government"
md without SO "becoming" the
.itizon remains in his rights. The
mere absence from the country on
business, pleasure or duress al
hough you have your "eifects,"
works no forfeiture Of rights. You
must change your allegiance.
There must be some form Of judi
,ial procedure or special legislative
lction before a man can give in his