Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-05-07
HE WANTS TO GO WEST.
CHIEF SMITH TALKS OF A
POSSIBLE REMOVAL.
HE FAvORS THE TRIBES MOVING
TO THE TERRITORY.
The Indians Never More Prosper.
Ous In CherOkee-TrOubl Over
an Indian school Master.

AHlcI NIlllll, WIN 10 At ehS N"' w S''>
Cherokee Indians in North Carolina,
came over with number of members of
his tribe to attend the present session OF
the federal court. They were witnesses
in some trespass cases. Yesterday Judge
Dick decided that his court had no juris-
diction in the contested questions, and
the cases were dismissed. They will re-
turn to their home to-day.
Mr.. Smith is far above the average In
dian in intelligence, and his appearance
is striking. AS straight as an arrow his
six feet of stature and solid build make
his presence commanding. His black
hair hangs in curls on his shoulders and
a small moustachc of the same color
breaks the swarthy monotony of his
face. lie dresses modestly and well and
looks every inch chief. He is fluent
convcrsationalist, uses good English and
shows that he has had the advantage of
a liberal education. Before court opened
this morning he stood in Court Place
and talked of the condition of his tribe
and OF their probable future.
at isl NY idea, he said, that ultimately
we will move to the Indian Territory
where the other Chcrokccs are located.
There is a strong feeling among my tribe
that we would be bcttcrcd by the move.
A large number are in favor of it. do
not know that half of them are, but the
feeling is growing. have tried to have
them take some steps in the matter, and
for myself would like to go. Many
things in this section are not to our lik-
ing.
"In 1856 first began the agitation of
the subject. 1t was Immediately after
we were defeated in the suit with the
western Chcrokccs over the division of
the proceeds of the sale of their lands.
came back from Washington when the
suit had been decided, and on the advice
of the Indian commissioner called n coun-
Gil to appoint a delegate to go west and
sec il it would he advisable tor us to
move there. There were number of my
enemies who saw an opportunity to cut
me in this call aud they at once began
circulating the story that had sold out
the property of the tribe. They even
went so far as to give the price. They
said had received 100000. Many OF
my people believed it and for that reason
no delegate was appointed. Since then
have been able to prove to them that
have remained true to their interests and
now there is not one who believes that
had sold them out. At the same tim,
the idea of moving has grown constantly
and now many favor it.
IL have been thinking the matter over
seriously, "he said, "and have almost made
up my mind to go. What | hear of thu
country is favorable and think woult
like it much better than this"
"And il you CO." he was asked, "whc
will become chief OF the North Caroline
tribe 2"
III go. he replied with dignity, "thcr
will be no tribe here. The majority vii
20 with me and all that will remain vii
bc few of the older members who hav
spent their lives in the mountains an,
want tn end them there"
Everything on the reservation is mo>
ing along well, he said. The pcopl
were never in n more prosperous cond
ton. They are doing n great deal
farming and are constantly buying I'll
latest improved agricultural implcmcnt
Eighty children are attending the India
school. The latter is now causing son
trouble. Nine years ago he said the trl
had made n contract with an Indian
colony of Quakcrs to run the school Il
ten years. and u man named Spraguc ";
, sent to supcrintcnd it. For few yea
Mr.. Smith says all went well, but final
). the new superintendent extended his ju
!. isdiction until he attempted to make lav
4 for the tribe. In the traditional histo'
, of the race Mr.. Smith had never heard
- n chief who had volunta lily abdicatcd
4 favor of a school master and lr did n
s intend to bc the first, and there the mf
g., ter has stood. Farther than that
- saws that Spraguc has made maj
- sharp dealings with the Indians, and h
=. made considerable money of of the
!, This was the way the matter stood VIII
y som, representatives of the society cal
!, down few weeks ago to have the &C
:. tract renewed. A majority did not fay
;, the renewal, and the judicious distril
nj ton of money where it would do
=" most good is the reason assigned by h
,c for vote slightly iayoring new CO
10 tract. But when il came to him II "
4 promptly vetoed, and the Representative
y, left for Washington threatening to to
him to agree.
he Chici Smith is in hopes that the ~
It. crnmcnt will make an order dividing
4. land on the reservation to the lndi'
y scycrally. The present system of hav
u, everything held in common is to him
all %, the chief reasons why more do not
tn vor a removal to the territory.
IN Notice to the Alumni.
Il is important to know at q
whether YOU will attend the Alui
OF. banquet at Chapel Hill. Wednesday j