The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-07
HISTORIC
CEREMONY
How Cherokee Nation Declared
Its Allegiance to the Con-
gfedcracy. I
HISTORY Of THE i Il Re REMOVAL N A !.
Homes 81 Luxury Built iii Indian
HISTORY OF THE I. .|IE REMOVAL [: N al
Homes Of Luxury Built iii Indian
Tcrritory--Thc Roses and
Their Descendants.
Especial Correspondence Of The Times
Pa 9 Dlspatch)

{, i L { u = I fi41 & L b o.
(special Correspondence OF The Times
Dlspatch) !.
b TAHLEQtrAH. +. T.. Feb. 1-slxty-
five years ago. as the result of the de-
termination, Of the United States gov
eminent 10 remove h TO "a community
beyond the limits Of the republic the
Indians congregated in tho Southern
States" more than 5000 Chcrokees left
the mountains and valleys OF Georgia.
Alabama and Tennessee, where for CEN
turtles unknown had been the homes and
hunting grounds of their fathers, and
journeying westward, came at length to
a portion of country which had until
that time been a part of tho territory
Of, Arkansas. Some years previous. at
various times, smaI bands OF Cherokees
had Of their own accord come west and
settled in the southern part of the future
Cherokee country. They were known as
old settlers,,'' or Western Cherokees, as
distinguished from the Eastern or larger
body living east Of the Mississippi.
5fEIJpon the arrival Of the Eastern Chero-l
KEGS these two branches Of the ancient
Cherokee tamily,"3as they denominated
themselves, met in general convention,
end b. an act Of union, formed them
selves into body poVtic, thenceforth
10 be known and styled THE Cherokee
Nation" This was in 1880. A consti-
5tution-the first ever made by an abortgi-
nal people. end modelled In some respects
after that OF the United states-was
adopted. Provisions were made for the
election Of officers and the capital es-
.tablshed at Tahleauah.
John Ross, who for. a score of years,
had been at the head Of the Eastern
Cherokees was by unanimous choice
made principal chief Of the new nation.
He was the son of one Of the earliest
adopted citizeUssof the Cherokee tribe.
Daniel Ross, native Of Inverness, High
land Scotland, had about the close Of
the Revolutionary war left Baltimore,
Nd, with a trading expedition. Descend
Ing he Tennessee River in boats. they
eventually reached the country occu-
pied by the Indians. Ross was captured
4 by a. band Of hostile warriors and owed
his life and liberty to the intercesslon
and influence of John Mcdonald, who
previous to the struggle for independence.
was. stationed as British agent among
the Cherokees and had afterward con-
tinued to reside with them. he having
married the daughter of one Captain VIII
wife, full-blooded India n woman. Show
ney was one Of the first white men to
become a citizen of the tribe by inter
marriage. Taken by, his rescuer to his
home. Ross there met the only daughter
Of his countryman. whom he soon after
married. John Ross was the oldest of a
3la-ve "a r,'lv. sthe results Of this union.
The heat OF the summer had past. and
early in the morning OF that memorable
September day, forty-two years a go. from
miles around great host had assembled.
awaiting with interest the coming OF the
distinguished visitors. whose arrival in
the nation had been heralded far and
wide. 81 Near the noon hour the carriage
Of the chief. followed by his va rious Off
GERS and a company Of the Cherokee
Light Horse. his personal bodyguard. a p
peared and at near the same MON ent!!
from the direction OF Hunters Home. =
the equipage of Major II Murrell came
into view, accompanied by8his guests and
large crowd OF friends. rela tives and
countrynnen. Near the center of the field
the parties met and proceeded to a small
eleva ton. swhereon flagstaff had been
erected. Here General Pike spoke briefly
of the coming struggle. promised full
protection to the Indians, and proposed
the organiza ton of a brigade. Chief
Ross ma de few remarks. mentioned that
steps were already under way to raise a
lighting force, and hoped that the storm
of war might he tempered to. his Scoun-
trymen. "A tastefully costumed company