, 1891-06-07
INDIAN LAWMAKERS.
An interesting Book Received From
the Cherokee Nation.
How That Aboriginal Section is
Peacefully Governed.
A National Newspaper. Prohibition,
and Other Notable Things.

territories for exchange. By far the most
interesting result is a modest volume
bound in law sheep and called Laws of
the Cherokee Nation" The book con
sists of 2s4 page and comprises all the
laws IN force in the nation up to 1875. 1t
was printed by n St Louis publishing
house and as far as language is concerned
Is pretty much the same as any other
statute book. The pcculiarities come in
in the subiect-matter.
The book was compiled by order Of the
national council Of the Cherokee nation
who, through vii P. Ross, principal
chief, selected a committee of compilation
to meet at Fort Gibson and attend to the
duty. The book consists first of the act
Of union between the Eastern Gnd West
ern CherOkees, constitution of the Chero-
kee nation, proclamation aud amendments
to the constitution and the laws in force
at the date of the compilation. The act
Of union is signed By a rather Rrotesque
mixture Of names including r. Taylor,
Te-ke-chulas-ke, George Hicks, Jesse
Bushyhead, Tobacco VIII. Moses Paris,
LoOney Riley, Young Wolf. Looney Price,
Lewis Melton and Ah-sto-la-ta. 1t was
further approved Aug %. 1899, by Aaron
Price, Maj. Pullman. Young Elders, Deer
Track, Young Puppy, Turtle Fields, July,
The Eagle, The CoYing Buffalo and a
great number of respectable old settlers
aud late emigrauts, too numerous to men
ton"
After acknowledging with humility
and gratitude the goodness of thu Sover-
eign Ruler OF the Universe, in permitting
US 50 to do, and lmplonng His aid and
guidance IN its accomplishment" they
ordain and establish the constitution.
All the land is to remain common
property, but the improvements belong to
the owner, although he has no right to
dispose of them to the United States, IN.
dividual states OF to individual ~citiEeus
thereof. The power of the government
shall be divided into legislative, judicial
and executive departments. The legis
latve power is invested in two distinct
branches. Il %notarial committee anil coun-
ell. The nation is laid of into eight dis
tricts, though the council is authorized to
add one or two more. Each district elects
two members of the national committee
and three members of the council
who are chosen by the qualified electors
every " years. BY an amendment to
the constitution the name of the national
committee was aiterward changed to sen.
ate. The representation was also subs
quently changed so that the representa-
ton would be changed and graded accord.
ing to the population in the various dis.
tricts on the basis of a census taken
every ten years. In the original c~onstitu
ton persons Of African descent were ex-
Guided from the national council but this
was subsequently, modified so that all
male bona fde residents of over % years
OF age are now admitted. All male citi-
zens who have attained the age of IS
years are deemed qualified electors. The
sessions of the council are limited to
thirty days and the pay to 50 a day while
in actual session. This amount may be
increased or diminished by law but not
to apply during the term of the legisla-
ture passing the act. All elections are by
ylve Voce vote. Many other provisions
are precisely similar to the provisions of
the constitution of the United States.
The supreme executive power is vested
in a principal chief. He is elected every
four years. Only natural born citizens
are subject to election. He must have
attained the age of 35. An assistant
principal chief shall be elected at the same
time and possess the same qualification.
The powers of the principal chief are
similar to those of a governor. The ma
tionAl council appoints a committee of
five, who with the principal chief may
hold and keep n council for ordering and
directing the affairs of the nation accord
ing to law" They hold office for two wears,
The treasurer of the nation is elected on a
joint ballot of the council. The
supreme our OF three judges are
elected by the national council, one every
year for a three year term, while circuit
court Judges for each district are elected
directly by the people for four year terms.
All judges must be 30 years OF age.
Many Of the remaining provisions are
about the same as those prevailing else.
where IN the United States.
amhlip kn4tfnn - zl.-- H.
selling and keeping houses of iIl-fame are
punishable by fines or imprisonment or
both, and in the latter case on a repetition
of the ~otfense, the house may be torn
down by the citizens or neighbors. The
non-observance of Sunday as a day of
rest is punishable by a fine not exceeding
$50. In cases of conviction for Islander
or libel the fine is limited to 81, 900 or i'm.
prisonment not exceeding two years, or
both. Deliberate murder is expiated BY
hanging IN the enclosure of the national
prison at TAhlequah. The number to
witness the hanging beyond the iail
officials, clergymen and counsel is limited
to six. Among the regulations for the
national prison is a provision that the
high sheriff shall provide at the expense
of the Cherokee nation a o p of the
Holy Scriptures for each prisoner under
his charge.
A provision IN regard TO elections has
much of the merit of the Australian
system. 1t is as follows:
Before the opening of the polls the
supervisor shall measure and mark off