Highly Important from the Cherokee Nation
The Gross" and "Ridge" Parties.
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CHEROKEE NATION, April "a, ls45.


Mr.. JAMES GORDON BENEFIT lMaae


have observed recently many statements in the
papers concerning the agations now existing in the
Cherokee Nation; some of these statements have
been made in truth and candor but the most of them,
however ably written, are destitute of any thing like
justice. They have been published with the single
view OF influencing the public mind in favor of what
is calledth dominant party" among the Cherokees,
and binding it to the character and interests of GER
| tain other party. The Cherokee question is becom-
ing, If such is not the case already of thrilling
interest, and must soon command the earnest aten-
ton of the whole United States. The history of the
Cherokees for the last few years. containing as 1t
does scenes of the widest commotion, and trage-
dies of the most fearful nature and terrible con-
| sequence, partakes strongly of the character
OF romance; and it is not without its instruction,
for following up the path In which natl onascends
from its pristine barbarty and ignorance to the diff


ferent points Of civzatlon is to follow the human
mind in some of its widest, and at the same time
grandest efforts. A people, who from age to age
have wandered savagely in dark forests and gloomy
mountains until their very spirit becomes OF a cor
responding darknessand gloom, who have1ived from
time lmmemorlal under stern customs, even more
imperious than laws themselves, and those customs
DeyOnQ the reaCn OF oven an extreme shadow oil
civilization, suddenly emerging from their ancient
state,. and, throwing of the weights long centuries
have imposed upon them, springing forward to the


enoyments, dignities, and the rights of civilized
man, presents noble spectacle well be pre-
sented to our imaginations; and then to see them,
Just they have reached beautiful eminence as
nation, suddenly hurled back to condition, if pos
sibe, worse than before, and yet, with the native
of what they have lost, adds shade the PICTURE


the contrast of which makes the spectacle still more
| noble. 4ts e


You are, aware, of course, that the Cherokee ma
ton is divided into two parties, and has been for
severalyears /; known originally as the Ross and
| Ridge parties. In 1889, most tragcal scene was


enacted in the murder Of the three leading men Of


the Ridge party-since then, but one side of the


question has been heard by the larger portion of the


citizens OF the United States representations have


been made entirely false, and deeply injurious to


this latter party the memory Of those who were


sassinated in 1859 has been most cruelty insulted


they have been denominated traitors to their coun-


try, receivers of brbes from their nations enemies


and the act by which they perished been termed


Just and right SIR, justice to the Dead if not to the


living, has long been an universal principle with
| mankind. These men are in their graves, and no
| voice can come from them to answer the charges


against their actions in life it is nothing but JUS


tice, therefore, that this side should have voice,


and also listening ear, and considering your He


raid to be paper proudly independent Of all others,
| bound by the shackles OF no party whatever, and


open to the free expression OF opinion, have con-
l cluQeQ 10 aQQreSS a communication 10 you on the


vexed subject of Cherokee affairs shall speak,


however, in no partisan spirit but shall give only
| true statement of things and if the judgment fall


against the Ross party they can bear it if against


us, we also can bear it. All we want is, of our bre


ren of the United States an unbiased decision, ,af


ter fair view of the case as 1t stands. have said


there were two parties existing at present in the
Cherokee nation. They were recently known as
| three. however, the Ross, Ridge, and Old Settler


parties but the two latter, finding their interests
mutual, have united, though believe by no formal


act, and are known now as the anti-Ross party


Follow me, if you please, IN very brief history Of
events, and l will explain their existence Previous


to the year 1923, little while before that time,
| when the expressions of the whites commenced the
Cherokees lived in the peaceabe possession of ter


ritory lying within the limits of Georgia, Tennessee
| North Carolina and Alabama. Formerly they had


possessed much larger territory, but having re-


duced themselves year after year, by treaties Of


sion, they were then narrowed into compass large


enough but none too large for their subsistence as


an agricultural people. A portion of the Cherokees


in 1885, had separated from the whole body of their


tribe on account of dissatisfaction their part with


the provisions Of treaty concluded in that year be-


tween their brethren and the u States at the temina
| tion of bloody war between them; and had remov-


ed to the then extremely wild country which lay in


the Spanish province OF Louisiana. afterwards call


ed the Territory Of Arkansas. They settled at a


point on the St Francis River, and held home


there long before the United States had any right to
| the country whatever. The Cherokees, finally, be-


ginning to advance in degree toward civilization,


became divided In habits-one portion following ag-


riculture, and the other the game. From this cir


cumstance, the Cherokees on the st. Francis River


received frequent additions to their number, those in
favor OF the hunter state continually joining them
and soon became distinguished as the Western
| Cherokees," or "old settlers" After the United
States obtained a reversionary title, (Which soon
became stronger tite,) to the country including
| the home of the old settlers, they recognised the
right Of the old settlers, to the land they claimed
| and made frequent treaties with them, by which


they removed farther back from their original set
tements exchanging the land theyfrst possessed for
other lands. They were treated, however, by the


United States the same as other uncivilZed Indian
| tribes around them, and held title of the same
| tenure-a title by no means SO sure as the one held
! by their brethren on the other side of the
Mississippi. But the time came when formal
division OF the tribe was to take pace-those
| in favor of the hunter state expressed
wish that the nation might be split into two distinct
| communities; and by mutual agreement, a treaty
was made with the United States, by which an ex-
change OF lands was made-those now ''emgrated
| to Arkansas, or who may hereafter emigrafe," in
the language of the treaty, (meanng those who
should separate from time to time from the general
body Of the nation exchanging their country "east
OF the Mississippi for an equal quantity OF land on
the Arkansas and White rivers, or 'west of the
Mississippi" Thus, by open act and free consent
OF all the Cherokees. the nation divided into
two separate and distinct communities, owing no
obligations each to the other, maintaining aegi-
ance, and bound by no compact whatever. This
treaty was concluded in 1917. Treaties with the
Western Cherokees were made after that, for the
adjustment of boundaries Nc, and one for their
removal farther West 1t is unnecessary to trouble
you with minute detail of all the transactions of
the United States relating to the Western Chero-
kees-the causes of their removal from one bounda-
ry to another, and so on, and so on. II sutfices
that they held title, sure title, acknowledged by
the general government, to goody portion of land
in the Territory OF Arkansas Though their avowed
object was in the outset, to pursue hunter life,
they, after the year lSl7 began change their
character as hunters, and betake themselves to agr


culture. Their progress rapid and in 1924, the
whole nation became alive to the importance of es


tablishing regular government, under written
constitution. Ageneral convention was accordingly
held In batyear-a constitution written and adopted


form OF government and code of laws approved


and all started into instant operation.


Now begins, perhaps, the history Of Cherokeedom


We have said that for several years previous to the
year 1923. or little while before that year. the Che