The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-11-17
CANNOT BE ABOLISHED.
The Cherokee Naticn Estab-
|ished Upon a Firmer
Basis Than a State
of the Union.

Cherokees owned and occupied a
large, beautiful, and exceedingly
valuable scope of country lying
withing the confines of the state of
Georgia; it was only fragmentary
tract, the remains of vast terri
tory which they had anciently
owned. and which had swept down
from the comb of the Alleghanies
eastwardly to the sea, covering the
ground now embraced within the
Carolinas and southern Virginia;
and thence westwardly taking in
Georgia, Tennessee and northern
Alabama, the boundary OF their
country, in that direction being an
uncertain and shifting line of bat
tie between them and the hostile
nations that disputed with them
the possession of the rich valleys
of the Mississippi river. All this
extens.v We territory had been wrest.
ed from them by the white people,
in one way, or another, mostly
however by irresistible intrusion
and compulsory cession-all, ex-
cept this little gem-spot OF soil lett
to them in the heart of Georgia.
Years previous to this, the Cher
okees had laid down their arms
and entered into amicable rela-
tions with the United States. In
return for their stipulated friend
ship and alliance, the government
agreed to take them under it's pro-
lection, and not only to shield
them from the attack of outside
enemies, but to guarantee to them
the everlasting possession and ex-
elusive enjoyment of their coun-
try, together with the right to ex.
ist as a distinct political commu-
nifty, and, without hindrance, to
exercise the functions of self-gov.
ernment.
Now here we get first glimpse
of the foundation upon which the
structure of the Cherokee nation is
builded; and to mind that il
strictly loyal to principle, and IL
not fuddled by the intoxicating
sense OF power. it may be inter
esting to trace briefly compari-
son between our Indian body poll
} tic and that of state in the Un
ion, in reference to their respect
i've claims to the chance of exist
ence.
It must be conceded that tn,
power which is able to make {
, law. is also able to unmake, or re
J peal it. There is no law that ma.
not be modified, or annulled b.
the author Of it, specially where
ever it has ceased to be promotiv
} of the public good. The ordinanc
admitting state into the Union j
one of the most momentous act
that congress is ever called upo
| to perform; and yet these solemn
acts of admission by no means ex
I empt from the operation of thi
general rule. They are allrepeal
able. There is no state that wa
ever admitted into the Union b
an act of congress but that Nigh
by the same power, be expelle
the retrom simply by repeating Q
suspending the act of admission
nor is state of circumstances un
! der which such a political excom
I munication might actually TAX
: place at all uncomfortable.
& These conclusions flow logical
I (naturally) from the adiniur
J principle that power thatis abl
Z to make law, is also able to n
! peal it.
Z We see then that the polite,
I existence of state in the Unio
: depends merely upon SO precar
Z GUS a circumstance as an arbitrar
! act of legislation.
: Very different from this is th
Z footing upon. which stands OF
: Cherokee nation. The Cheroks
: body politic had being and vi
: of age, before the United Stat
: was born; before there was ever
Z congress To question its existenc
: or to prescribe 10 Il terms Of So
5 visal. But the prolific womb