Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-04-26
DECISION IN WA IT'S CASE.
The Commission 90 Into Details
and Gum the Case up at Length.
OgyIcr ConNissfos oH CirIzEwuiF
TtnLKQUAH, J. a, April, 11ih, isss

b
IAnLKQUAn, ]. a, April, z1ih, i11
Cherokee Nation "a. w. j. Watts
It. al.
We deem IL best TO give a synop-
sis OF the history ofthis case from
its inception down TO the present
time.
Under the provisions OF "An
act,approyed February 7lh, 1888,
amending sn act, entitled an act
providing for the appointment Of a
commission TO try and determine
applications for Cherokee citizen
ship, approved December 3, 1880, +"
w. J. Watts and others were ac-
cordingly notified TO appear before
this commission on the 18th day
Of April, 1888, then and .here TO
establish their right 10 citizenship
in the Cherokee nation, and hay-
ing been called on three several
days, at the court house door in
the town Of Tahloquah, and no an
swer being made either in person
or by attorney, now comes Il. +.
Wyly, nations attorney, and
moves the commission TO declare
these parties as intruders upon
the "Chorokce public domain. ="
Motion WAS sustained by the
commission for these reasons {:
First, that W. j Watts did, some
time during the year 1872, appear
before Chief Justice John
S. Yam, Of the supreme court
Of this nation, and submitted
the evidence OF his claim to citi-
zenship for approval or rejection,
the same to be reported TO the
national council for is final action
under the law. Now the law, un-
der which Mr.. Vann was then act
ing was based upon a joint resolu-
ton Of the national council, ap-
proved December 10Th, 1869, G.,
titled a "Joint Resolution Of the
national council in regard 10 the
North Carolina Cherokees." This
resolution was based upon a poti-
ton fiom the Cherokees then be-
ing in the state Of North Carolina,
asking 10 be admitted into the
Cherokee nation, as members
thereof
The act referred 10, entitled "An
act relating to the North Carolina
Cberokecs," under which the chief
justice Of the supreme court Of the
Cherokee nation made bis report Of
this ease, was as follows.
"Be il enacted by The ~ tional
Council That all such Cherokees
(North Carolina Chcrokees) rs
may hereafter remove into the
Cherokee nation and permanently
locate therein. as citizens thereof,
shall be deemed as Cherokee
citizens, Provided, said Chero.
KEGS shall enroll themselves
before the chief justice Of
the supreme court within two
months after their removal in the
Cherokee nation, and make satis-
factory showing TO him Of their be-
ing Chcrokees, and the said chief
justice is required TO report the
number, names, ages and sex Of
all persons admitted by him TO be
entitled 10 Cherokee citizenship
and also the number, names, ages
md sex Of the persons denied the
rights Of Cherokee citizenship. TO
the annual session Of the national
council in each year.
Approved, November 2Oth 1870.
Mr.. Nann heard the evidence In
this case, under the foregoing quot.
ed law, at Fort Gibson, Cherokee
nation and made n report ia which
ho says: "This certiles that dur.
ing my sitting as chief iustice Of
The supreme court, Cherokee ma
lioD, 10 take evidence in case Of
applications for Cherokee citizen.
ship. al Fort Gibson, Cherokee
nation, some time in April, 1872,
as 4 court ol commission nnlholix.
"a ky lht national council tor tho