Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-24

80 states Col Boudinot Mr..
Bushyhead Quoted.

A1NAl'h NNtff tf'f'f
,eipt Of a letter from gentleman,
whose opinions | highly respect,
saying he regrets that | have adj
lrossed to the Cherokee freedmen
Inc following circular letter;
TO THE cnrRogEE FREEDMEN.
ylMrA. r., sept. Y, ls'9
The pelilions, memorials and ar.
rumenis which have obtained for
You the act Of congress recognizing |
your right to a participation IN
money Of the Cherokecs were
drawn and made by me, Many Of
YOU no doubt remember the speech |
/ made at the Vinita fair grounds,
in which served notice on the
Cherokee authorities that II they
did not do you justice | would ap.
neal in your behalf to congress, and
never rest until justice was done
YOU. have fulfilled this declara-
ton. Mr.. Turner, Art Williams
and George Vann, Of your own
race, who have acted under my
instructions and direction, are en-
titled to your thanks and consid-
Grafton, The Cherokee govern.
ment and Judge Parker have held
that those of your class who failed
TO return to the Cherokee nation
within six months after the treaty
ofJuly 10, 1886, were barred from
any participation in the rights OF
Cherokee citizens; the instructions
of the department to Commission
er Wallace, as first drawn, also
made this discrimination. ] sue
ceeded in convincing the depart
ment in July last that this was an
error, as Commissioner Wallace
who was present when ! presented
the matter will testify. | took the
ground that the six months clause
referred only TO those eolored peo-
pie who were free when the war
began, and that there was no limit
for the return OF those who were
slaves at the commencement ofthe
war. All you have to do to get on
the roll, now being made by Com
missioner Wallace, is to prove by
one or more witnesses that you
were a slave OF some Cherokee
citizen when the war began and
that you were made free after that.
Should anything happen TO pre-
vent you from getting on the roll
| il viii not forever bar you, as you
haee been told; those who tell you
this only do SO to irighten you in
to giving them money. 1t will be
! well for some Of you to consult an
attorney as to the best manner OF
presenting your evidence to the
commissioner; and in this connec-
tion commend you TO Mr.. Jesse
Elliott, who is fully capable Of di.
recting you.
| notice in The CHIEFTAIN
communication from one Tel
Brock, in which he made fran
tic appeal to you formoney. This
man has done no service TO yol
and deserves no pay. You have
a freeman's right to throw away
your money if you wish, and t
pay the man Ten Brock or Turne
any money, whatever, will simply
be throwing il away.
&c BouDINoT.
II has not been my fortune 70
the last twenty-five years to be il
accord with the views of the ma
jority Of my people. That lon
ago | advised an allotment Of on
lands in seyeralty, and was dc
nounced as a traitor for so doing
, to-day We see a senator-elect iron
f the second largest district of tn
nation, who in letters and speech
es advocated the very same thing
In 1888, the Cherokee counc
voted TO divide, per capita, $500
900, appropriated BY congress
the Cherokee nation among Chcr'
KEGS by blood only, thus exclu'
+ ing from all participation in sue
common fund, adopted white
|, Delawares, ShawneeS, and colore
citizens. | considered this as
: violation Of tour treaty stipulation
and of our constitution, and
speeches and published letters
!. denounced it. | advised tt
: Cherokee council to reconsid'
=. this act of injustice to our adopt'
citizens, and declared if it did n
do so l would appeal in behalf
;, these adopted citizens to congres
and endeavor to have their righ
enforced. This | succeeded in d
? ing, with the exception Of Il
! adopted whites, who did not e
courage me in my efforts and wi
= were consequently left out in 4
late appropriation Of $4,000, f
y the benefit Of the Cherokee free
. men, Delawares and Shawnees.
In this connection will St
:. that all white citizens ofthe Cher
4 kee nation by marriage, are just
much entitled to their pro ra
!. share Of the $500, 900 apprcpriat
,e by congress on March 3, 1888, "a
- in all other moneys Of the Chez
=, KEGS, as the Cherokee freedme
- shawnees and Delawares, and
b they don't get their share, it
!. their own fault.
Heretofore It has been my b
fortune TO stand almost alone
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