Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-01-26
THE RED MEMS CONGRESS.
a synopsis OF tho Cherokee Political
MIDDLE.

| tiOn FOR chicl was held ali through the Cicero
kec nation, the candidates being Babbit
Bunch, full blood Indian, for the National
| party, aud Joel b. Mayes, part Indian, for
| the Downings
When the votes were counted at the polls
there was great citation among the Downings,
for their candidate was vlctorius and all we're
confident that Mayes would be the next prln-
cpal chief
| Ever since the election there have been ru-
mors that his seat would be contested, al
/ though nothing serious was apprehended. Ac
cordingly In November he went to Tahlequah
| prepared TO take the oath OF office as principal
chief But the National party have been in
| power for so long that they were determined
not to yield as long as there was the least
shadow OF chance Of their beating the
Down.ngs, by fair means If possible, by foul il
other measures failed. Council should have
convened in November, but the Downngs,
knowing that the Nationals were in the ma
| j0rity in the council, failed to appear, thus
leaving the body without quorum and as
nothing could be done without quorum
there, this begun the now notable "Cheroliee
Deadlock"
The Nationals we're determined that Mayes
should not be seated, and the Downings were
as determined that he should. So matters
stood until the 9TH of December, 1887, when
with the Downings forbearance ceased to be
| virtue and they concluded To take mat tiers in
their own hands; so at 4 p. III. they met in the
| Bates house, one OF the hotels, and, In the
| presence OF about fifty witnesses, Mayes rs
| principal chief and Sam Smith as second chief,
were sworn in by Claude Shelton, clerk Of
Delaware district, and thus assumed the re-
sp)n,.Dilities OF the Cherokee government.
From here they then went to the capitol and
dc landed admittance, which was refused by
| Denis Bushyhcad, ex chief, who had possession
OF the building AS Mayes was accompanied
by "A force OF 100 armed men, it was small
matter for them to burst into the door, enter,
take possession, and turn Mr.. Bushyhead vr-
tually out, much to his disgust, for he had
written to Mr.. Clayton, lawyer of Fort
Smith, for advice and his reply was, If they
! (the Nat,onais) could succeed in keeping
Mayes out until the thirty DAYS had expired,
he (Bushy head could retain the Office for the
ensuing four years, and the United States
government would sustain him. BY accident
| the DOwnngs heard Of this plan; hence their
| conduct, for at midnight o. that day their OPP
portunity would have ended, as that was the
close OF the prescribed time.
After this proceeding everything was very
quiet for time.
Mayes remained in the capitol over night,
having his meals sent to him. AT least 200
armed men were on guard in and around the
building during the night
gather the clans Of both sides at the capitol,
and troops we're telephoned for from Fort
Gibson.
Many apprchended that on the following
day the Nationals would endeavor by force OF
arms TO gain possession or the caplto, with
all government books, papers, accounts, etc.
To distinguish tue Mayes men, they all wore a
badge of blue ribbon.
Maves' first official act was TO appoint VIII
liam McCracken high sheriff, in place of John
| IIat ,Xh ahspNn1p1
taking with him all books, accounts, etc, be-
longing to the national penitentiary, thereby
leaving things there In something Of n mud
die. This is an excellent change, for Nc
Cracker is an honest, brave as well as a popu-
lar man.
The government was In very peculiar
situation. Mayes was in possession, and
Bushyhead refused to deliver the keys OF
public offices, safes, etc. The Downings de-
Clared that il he persisted in his refusal they
would simply remove all books and sub
sttute others. Bushyhcad tclephoned to
Indian Agent Owen for protection, as his life
was in danger, but none was sent, as HAYES
sent a message stating that all was quiet, aud
Bushyhcad was on the street all day aS usual,
and was in no danger whatever.
| On the Sth inst. Lacy Hawkins, the prcsi-
dent of the senate, took to the bushes"
scouting saying that his life was In danger.
This was false alarm, Tor no one had any
desire 10 injure him. Tahquah was never
more quiet than at this time.
On the night OF the Sth, however, the Nath-
iOnals became frightened, and great many
| OF them left town. scattering In all directions
Bushyhcad, accompanied by II. Wolf, l.
Ross and Dave Springston, all prominent
National men, went to Fort Gibson for protec-
lion, leaving the Downngs so far victorious
but not finally so. for the Nationals were be-
! coming desperate. They realized that their
end was at hand, but they did not want TO
give up, and were determined to fight to the
last moment
On Saturday, the 10Th, Agent Owen went
to Tahequah TO see what could be done. On
his way lie met the Bushyhead party at Fort
Gibson. where he remained the night OF the
lOtI aud heard their story, taking down their
side of the tale for future reference After
which he advised them all to return to
Tahiequah, assuring, them they were in no
! personal danger, and would be perfectly safe
at the capital.
They agreed to return, and n conference
= was appointed for them to meet with the
/, Downings at the National hotel, on the eve
of the 10th, when they could settle all things
peaceably among themselves. TO this pro-
position both Bushyhead and Bunch agreed.
At the appointed time, Mayes, Smith and
the Interpreter, Agent Owen and his steno-
grapher, gathered and waited for the others.
In vain, for they came not, but In their stead
, a committee Of three appeared, viz: Chief
Justice jim Keys, of Delaware district; W..
, =. Ross, of Fort Gibson, and Dave Muskrat, q
contested senator from Flint district, who
} terms Of arbitration, one OF which was for
, "Maycs to step down and out, and allow Lacy
! Hawkins aforementioned president of the
senate, to take his place, and assume the
? name and prerogatves Of principal chief.
. Then count the votes, aud whoever was found
to have the majority, that one should be de-
, clared and recognized principal chief, etc"
To which harangue Mayes replied: "The
: time for concession and compromise Is over,
I and the only terms TO which he would agree
, were unconditional surrender That lie was
! chief by voice OF the people, and he intended
to hold that position"
or course, this terminated the conference,
. and they separated, having accomplished
} nothing.
On the afternoon of the 18th inst, the same
committee OF three submitted their terms to
Mayes in writing, to the effect that he,
(Mayes) should ''disarm and disband," v'iat
they were pleased 20 call an "irrespoi g
body OF armed men," then that the status OF
the government be returned to what 1t was
previous to Mayes assuming the duties OF
chief, and all other offices likewise, that had
heen temporarily filled, by appointment
Then to convene the national council and ap-
point board OF arbitrator, this board to be
composed OF disinterestcd citizens of the ma
ton, who should adjust the differences that
exist between the two parties, in regard 10
\