Cherokee Phoenix

GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION

Published November, 19, 1828

Page 1 Column 4b-5b and page 2 Column 1-2b

GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION.

NATIONAL COMMITEE [sic]

Monday, Nov. 10.

The Committee met according to adjournment.

The subject of Jesse E. Bean's charges against Edward Adair, was taken up. Summons were issued for the appearance of David McNair, Jacob Harnage, William Burgess, Alexander Otterlifter, and John Martin, as witnesses.

The Resolution regulating the issuing of permits, as amended was agreed to by the Council.

Mr. Foreman moved that the amendment passed 28th Oct. 1826, to the law passed 25th Oct. 1820, on the subject of strays be so amended, that the owners of stray property shall be allowed at any period after the money arising from the sale of said property shall have been paid into the Treasury, to draw the same by making satisfactory proof.

The resolution sent up from the Council, requiring officers, under the penalty of fifty Dollars, to advertise stray property in the Cherokee Phoenix, was unanimously rejected.

The resolution on the subject of roads and ferries, was concurred by the Council, but rejected by the principal Chief, who returned it with his objections.

The petition of Geo. Lowrey and David Brown praying for compensation for translating the laws of the Cherokee Nation, from the English into the Cherokee language, agreeably to the resolution of the General Council. Seventy two dollars was appropriated for the benefit of petitioners.

The petition of W. J. Tarvin, praying for permission to establish a shoe and boot shop in New Echota, was referred to the Treasurer of the Nation.

The petition of John H. Garret, a citizen of the United States praying for permission to reside in the Cherokee Nation, was received and unanimously rejected.

Tuesday, Nov. 11

The petition of Messrs. Geo. M. Waters, William Rogers, Moses Parris and others, sent up by the Council, praying permission to open a road was granted.

The petition of White Path, Motoy and Cricket, to cut and open a road, leading from Major Ridge's Ferry, through Ellijoy, Tahquohee, Aquohee, to the boundary line of North Carolina, was granted.

The petition of John Wright, Moses Alberty, William Rogers, and others, to open a road from New Echota, through Pine Log, to the Chattahoochy River, was granted.

The resolution on the subject of roads, rejected by the principal Chiefs, was again submitted to the Council with some amendments.

The resolution submitted to the Committee by the lower house, imposing a tax of fifty cents on every Gallon of spirits introduced into the Nation, by citizens or white men, and a tax of $5 on every distillery, was unanimously rejected.

A Bill was introduced by Mr. Gunter, making it unlawful for citizens of the Nation to retail spirits, without first obtaining licence [sic], and paying tax for same. The Bill was rejected.

The petition of James Brown, Pigeon, and Jesse Half Breed, praying for permission to open a road from James Brown, by Pigeon to Oogillogy, was granted.

The claim of Thos. Woodward for nine days service as commissioner in running the boundary line between the Cherokees and Creeks, was received and laid on the table.

The petition of Nancy Boggs praying for redress for unlawful proceedings against her by the Court at Chickamauga, was laid before the Committee. The Committee decided they had no right to interfere with the Courts.

The petition of John R. Daniel, Wm. Rogers and other citizens of Hickory Log District, praying for a removal of the Court house, to a more eligible place, was submitted and granted.

The petition of T. Conyell, a citizen of Georgia for permission to open a road from Carroll County, Georgia, to Mr. David Vann's was submitted to the Committee and rejected.

Wednesday 12th.

Mr. Gunter introduced the following Bill, which was agreed to.

Resolved by the Committee and Council in General Council Convened, That if any person or persons shall interrupt, by misbehaviour [sic], any congregation of Cherokee, or white citizens, assembled at any place, for divine worship, such person or persons so offending, shall upon conviction, before any of the courts be fined in a sum not exceeding Ten Dollars, to be adjudged by the Court of the District in which such offence may be committed. And if any negro slave shall be convicted of the above offence, he shall be punished with thirty nine lashes on the bare back.

A communication was received from the principal Chiefs, recommending some measure to be adopted by the General Council for the adjustment of some important business with the United States.

The Committee decided that it was expedient to send a Delegation to Washington, during the ensuing session of Congress.

The Bill regulating elections and precincts was again resumed, ' laid on the table, until the next Gen. Council.

The resolution submitted by the lower house, granting the Ferry bank in the Fork of Ooste-nah -lee and Conasauga rivers, to A. McCoy, and imposing a fine of Two Hundred Dollars on any person who may put a ferry boat in opposition to his, or at any established ferry in the Nation was submitted to the Committee. After some investigation, and examination of witnesses, the question of concurrence was taken. Yeas, Bowlen, Daniel, Downing, Gunter and Sanders, 5- Nays, Foreman, Griffin, McDaniel, Timson, Taylor, Jos. Vann, (C.) D. Vann, J. Vann (H.) and Ward, 9.

Thursday 13th.

Twenty five Dollars was appropriated for the benefit of Jesse Bushyhead.

Mr. Gunter moved that the general Council adjourn on Tuesday next. It was opposed by Mr. D, Vann. The motion was lost.

A communication was received from the principal Chief, on Robert Lovett's petition. The Committee decided that it was not expedient to pass a law for his relief.

The salary of the principal Chief was fixed at $300 per year.

The salary of the assistant principal Chief was fixed at $150 per year.

The salary of the Treasurer of the Cherokee Nation, was fixed at $350 per year.

The pay of the Executive Counsellors was fixed at $2 per day during service.

On motion of Mr. J. Vann (C.) it was resolved that the salary of the Sheriffs be $50 per year, besides collection fees.

On motion it was resolved to let, to the highest bidder, the two National turnpikes on the Federal road, and to require the contractors to give bonds and good securities, for the payment of money to the Treasurer of the Cherokee Nation.

The law passed 4th day of July 1827, requiring the Treasurer of the Nation, to lease to the highest bidder, the ferry and improvement on the Chatahooche River, commonly called, Vann's Ferry, was repealed.

Four dollars was appropriated for the benefit of each of the superindents [sic] and Clerks, who served on the first Monday in last August, during the election of members of the General Council.

The petition of Oo-le-noh-wah Scraper; granted by the Council, praying for a hearing in a certain case, was received and rejected.

The communication of Mr. D. Grown respecting a pair of Globes, presented to him, for the Cherokee Nation, by individuals of New Orleans was submitted. The globes were received, and an appropriation was made of fourteen dollars and eighty eight cents, for the benefit of D. Brown.

Fifteen dollars was appropriated for the benefit of Joshua Buffington and Alfred A. Hudson for illegal fees collected from them, by direction of the Supreme Court of 1827.

Friday 14th.

The petition of Moses Fields, praying for a grant to open a road from his house to the Cherokee Agency, was granted.

A Bill was passed regulating expenses occasioned by criminal prosecutions.

John F. Baldridge returned and took his seat.

The petition of Thos. Woodward, for a grant to cut a road, was granted by both houses.

A communication from the principal Chief was received, containing his objections to the bill regulating the issuing of permits.

The Bill was again taken into consideration, and was so amended as the penalty of employing white men without permits not to exceed fifty dollars, and not less than one dollar.

The petition of Tahnoowee, and Thos. Pettit, to establish a ferry on the High Tower River, was granted.

The petition of several citizens of Taquohee District, praying for the appointment of commissioners to select suitable place for a Court house in that District, was submitted and granted.

Saturday, 5th.

The following communication was received from the principal Chief, nominating Delegates to Washington.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Nov. 15th 1828.

TO THE PRESIDENT

OF THE COMMITTEE

SIR-Agreeably to the resolution of the general Council, deciding on the expediency of sending Delegation to Washington City this winter, for the purpose of transacting ' adjusting business with the Government of the United States, I hereby recommend to the Committee, Messrs. Richard Taylor, Edward Gunter, and William S. Coody to be appointed on this mission.

I am, Sir, respectfully your Obt. Serv't

JNO. ROSS.

The Committee returned the following answer.

COMMITTEE ROOM,

Nov. 15th 1828.

TO THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF

OF THE CHEROKEE NATION,

SIR.- Your communication recommending Messrs. Richard Taylor, Edward Gunter, and William S. Coody to be appointed as Delegates to Washington City this winter, to adjust the unsettled claims that this Nation have against the Government of the United States have been read to the Committee, who are all of opinion that the interests of this Nation require that you should accompany the Delegation, and request you to inform them, whether you are willing to go. If you are, will it be necessary that three other persons should be appointed, or only two? LEWIS ROSS, Prest.

The resolution submitted to the Council respecting executors and administrators, was concurred by the Council, and sent to the principal Chief.

A communication was received from the principal Chief, expressing his willingness to accompany the Delegation to Washington.

Mr. D. Vann moved that it was not expedient to appoint more than two Delegates.

Mr. Gunter opposed the motion.

The Committee decided that it was expedient to appoint four.

The two houses met, and proceeded to elect the Circuit and District Judges.

Daniel McCoy and Walter Adair were duly elected Circuit Judge's [sic] of the Cherokee Nation, for the term of four years.

John Sanders was elected District Judge of Coosewaytee District.

Alexander Sanders was elected District Judge of High Tower District.

John Duncan was elected, District Judge of Hickory Log District.

Geo. W. Owens was elected Dis-District [sic] Judge of Tahquohee District.

Richard Walker was elected District Judge of A-quo-hee District.

Young Wolf was elected District Judge of Ah-mo-hee District.

John Benge was elected District Judge of Chickamauga District.

Daniel Griffin Sr. was elected District Judge of Chattooga District.