Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-03
AN EMBRYO STATE.
what Chief Bushyhead Says About the
Cherokee Nation

Ex-Gov. Bushyhead, chief of the Cherokee
nation from 1879 to 1887, is in the city looking
after the interests of his people, and was seen
at his hotel by a STAR reporter.
''How large population has your nation?'
he was asked.
THE census of 1880 gave US 90. 1886, and we
are now taking a census which, think, will
show between "a 900 and 25,OOO."
How much land have your people2"
1.-The government survey shows the Cherokee
nation to contain 5,031 $50 acres east of the seth
| degree of longitude, which is owned in common.
The buildings and improvements, cattle, &C.,
are owned in severalty. and any one may con-
| Vey by Will any property rights he possesses"
| What are the details of your government
| we nave chief, who Is nominated by dele
gates from all parts OF the nation in convention
and Is elected for four years by a vIvavoce vote
| OF the people at various polling places Then
| there is a legislature with two branches, the
| senate or upper branch consisting of eighteen
| members, elected for two years, and the council
| or popular branch of forty members, also
| elected for a term OF two years. The chief has
| much the Same duties the governor OF a
state and has veto power on all legislation.
| The other nations OF the territory have a SIM
| liar government"
CHEROKEE COURTS.
| "What about courts?"
|
| and criminal jurisdiction by citizens of the
| nation. We have district court of limited
| jurisdiction, which corresponds in a great
measure to the probate courts of states. There
are nine OF these districts, which serve the
purpose of political divisions i'll the election OF
delegates to conventions and members of the
| legislature. Each district has a Judge sheriff
| and minor officers. Then we have a circuit
court, divided into three circuits with one
judge for each, and from this court appeals
are taken to the supreme court, which has
three judges"
Have you juries?"
oh, yes, We have both petit and grand juries,
| like the states"
do you hang for murder?''
Certainly. But where a crime is between
an Indian and white man the case goes to the
United States court at Fort Smith. no matter
which one is charged with the wrong'
Are you opposing the bill making terri
tory of OklahomaY'
Not the bill itself, as that doesn't affect us.
What We object to is the rider tackled on to the
Dlll enlarglng the jurisdiction of the court at
Ausco6ee, III the Creek nation, creating other
courts, and, contrary to the treaty of 1866 put
ting the five nations under the laws of
Arkansas"
Does this rider extend the Arkansas law
over Oklahoma"
NO, 1t has no bearing on Oklahoma what
ever and should not be tackled on to the terri
torial bill"
PREPARING FOR STATEHOOD.
"DO your people want admission as a state7''
I'VE are trying to fit ourselves for statehood,
but are not ready yet. Congress cannot legis-
late civilization into people, and what we
want Just now Is to be let alone till We work
out our own salvation, which will require OILY
few years, and are prepared to come into the
Union on an equal footing with the other
states The allotment OF lands must be made
first, and all property rights definitely and
equltably adjusted"
How do parties divide in the nation?"
1--WE have our local matters and questions of
leadership. Oh which there is plenty of ground
| Tor differences OF opinion, but our politics.
like that OF the states, when reduced
| to its essence, depends much on the
| five leaves and the two fishes. The ques-
| ton OF allotment of lands east of 81 has ue-
| come ID political question with our people, and
| II We are let alone for IA little while 1t will be
satisfactorily settled among ourselves. The
| sale OF the Outletwes OF s. consisting of over
| 6,OUJ, 900 acres, to negotiate which IA commits
sion was appointed last winter, will probably