Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-12-01
NED BUNTLIN TURNS THE
BATTERY LOOSE.
Senator Bell Pleads the 'Possum
Act and Gets Skunked.

| promised in recent issue TO
turn the battery loose on ex.Sena.
ter Bell unless he retracted or
apologized for the statement that
the authors OF the vinita resolu-
tions were traitors and that those
resolutions breathed a spirit of
treason. This is bold, broad
assertion and | take it for granted
in the absence of anything to the
contrary that the ex-senator meant
what he said and said what he
meant, but in order that l might
be sure of this | called his atten.
tion to the charge in the issue al.
luded to and asked him to retract,
apologize, or explain it away IL he
could. Whatever might have
been his explanation or apology
il would have been accepted il Of.
fered in the proper spirit. Instead
of doing either he has added in.
suit to injury aud treated with sill.
ent contempt the authors of those
resolutions. We don't think the
ex senator can afford to do this
for the reason that among their
authors and indorsers will be found
some of the best men in the Chero.
kee nation, viz: Judge Cliugan,
Judge Foreman, w. l.. TrUtt, Hon.
Glenn Rogers, Hon. M. Daniels,
Judge Ward and Others too numer.
Gus to mention. | don't think he
can afford to call either of these
men traitors; but still he has done
IL and refuses to retraot
or apologize for it and now
| remind him Of the fact that
man who lives in glass house
should never throw stones
lest they be hurled back to his
own damage. Treason is one of
the most odious crimes known to
the law. 1t creates stain that
can never be wiped out; but still
the ex-senator saw fit to apply it
to many of the best citizens in the
Cherokee nation, and when called
on to retract his Odious language
he treats the demand with silent
contempt. Now let US examine
the authorities and see what trea-
sOn is According to Webster it
is an attempt to overthrow the
government by levying war or in
adhering to her enemies. Gu,
government adopts the same de-
finition with this addition, that
every person who shall agree to
cede, sell, exchange or dispose of
in any manner the lands belonging
to the Cherokees or any part or
portion thereof, shall be deemed
guilty of treason, and on conviction
thereof suffer death by hanging.
This is the definition of treason as
defined by our statutes. The hon
orable gentleman will not contend
that the authors OF the Vinita res.
olutions have been guilty of any of
the acts here set forth as treason;
he cannot. We could not have
levied war against her or adhered
to her enemies because we are in
a state OF profound peace. We
have not ceded, sold or exchanged.
or in any manner disposed of any
of her lands TO any citizen of the
United States and hence we cannot
be guilty of treason. But the ex
senator says these resolutions are
treason. If these resolutions are
reasonable why don't the honor
able gentleman come out and ex-
pose the traitors and teach them
what treason L.? The first resolu-
tion asks council for change in
our system OF taxation because of
its inequality and injustice. The
honorable gentleman admitted
this in his Claremore speech.
Then where is the treason in ask
ing for change? The second res
olution asks that the government
pay out the Strip money in case
Of sale OF the same. There can
be no treason in this because this
is just what the people want. If
this is treason then we have a ma
tion Of traitors with here and there
an exception, such as the honor
able ex-senator, who seems to be
elbowing his way to the treasury.
The third resolution asks for sur
vey of our country as provided for
in the 10Th article of the treaty Of
1866. Is il treason to do what our
iorefathers provided for by solemn
treaty when the time arrived? If
so, will the honorable ex-senator
be so kind and condescending as
to point out in what that treason
consists? We are anxious to
know. Why does he puppy down
and go dead like the 'possum and
wallow around in the slobber and
slime OF slander, and refuse to re-
tract or apologize for what he
knows to be false and uncalled for?
If the honorable ex-senator can do
nothing else. why don't he turn
his caudle appendage over his
back like the proud skunk at bay
and defend himself with his sick
ening odOr, even if honest people
do have to hold their noses in self
defense? Let him be a man or n
mouse, or bob-tailed rat. and not
plead the 'possum act after having
charged the best men in our coun.
try with treason. | move that he
proceed at once to make his charge
good or that he shall forever here
after hold his peace and not be SO
quick TO stick his bill in other
peoples business.
More anon,
NED BUETLIN.