Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-02-26

cannot properly be censurcd-it
matters not who utters them-I
may be permitted to utter mine.
Chief Mayes having within less
than 65 days signed the law and
rounded up council for their long
and expensive session and warned
them that they alone we're account
able to their constituents--in the
face OF this and other things asking
him to convene council on even the
gravest proposition, WASH dead
ener." The chiefs opinion on the
law, as given in his answer, is
most unsatisfactory. If, lawyer as he
Is, he did not know that common
illusions and comparisons do not
make constitutions, he had as we'll
throw up his chances. No one can
doubt but the Arkaps,ss river IL rne
line drawn by the frst section of
.ne cow-lRw, and that all cattle
brought from west Of said river in ,
to the Cherokee nation east Of said
river shall pay q tax Of fifty cents.
II is enough TO satisfy the people
when the chief magistrate of ma
tion is compelled to use common
illusions" to establish a consti-
tutional opinion upon. IL is very
clearly seen by the way the chief
starts his answer that he wished to
throw cold water on the request of
The petitioners, stating that they
were mostly nor. citizens. This
was conveying the idea, il possible,
that IL WAS only a white mans
move and knowing on this account
that prejudice could be easily
aroused among the Cherokees and
they be thus controlled. If / am
not mistaken the people, Chero-
KEGS and all, are thinking for the
best at this time. Allusions will
not be viewed with favor unless
substantiated by clear proofs. If
the non-citizens suggest ideas and
volunteer TO aid us in the right IL
certainly becomes US, as lovers of
our country and people not to al.
lude TO them in n way calculated
TO injure them with the prejudiced
class o. the people. AS to refer
ence to the cowmen in that part Of
the letter relating TO class legisla-
ton, no explanation is given and
'twould have been better had the
chief not mentioned it. The peo-
pie are not asleep. How many
cowmen are there? Can they and
their money control matters next
August7 As to time of introduc-
ton, April Is, / believe the chief
told the truth when he said he was
at loss TO know what 10 say as TO
facts in this matter and at loss to
know yet, il he cannot explain bet
ter than he has. Experience should
have been sufficient TO have con-
trolled his actions, aside from
knowing that 81 q head was prof
fered by parties most concerned in
the passage OF this law-then sign
ing Tor fifty cents a head. Joel,
you have heretofore held out for
the "biggest dollar" in matters of
doubt, but when you knew to
certainty that 81 a head could be
got you softened up. Was any
amendment offered or suggested2
No sir; this will raise a revenue to
pay us out and we will pass it if it
does destroy the poor, hardwork-
ing farmers cattle or the poor wild
ow's last COW and let her children
plesdingly look up into her face
and cry, Mamma, is there no
silk" Wonder if any of those
couDcilmen were ever little fellows
or headed a family. / allude to
those who forced the law upon the
people. Time will speak volumes
If the cattle should die next sum-
mer rs expected. My illusions in
this matter do not apply person.
ally, but to official and public acts.
Understand me, we are not oppos-
ing the revenue part but must say
that 81 so could have been got as
easy rs so cents. Under the old law
March lst was the limit; the differ
ence is As days in favor Of the new
law which TO any cowman is worth
at a low estimate Sl.50 head,
considering losses sustained by
bringing in in winter, feed, care,
etc. Why not, then, demand this
amount before signing the bill,
when these facts were known? IL
not (observe illusions on the sub
ject in answer) enough cowmen
were consulted on tie extension OF
time to have found out from. But
/ am not hitting the cowman, it's
the law, and lest | cary the read
or, l will close. You're, as ever,
J. X. CLINGAN.
p. SIN my letter of last week |
observe an important error in the
figures. A computation Of the val
ue of Cherokee property, had all
lands been kept to the present day
and sold at s1.25 an acre, shows a
total which divided per capita
among 26, 900 people gives about
S461o. each.
]. K.C.