June 18, 1870 THE CHEROKEE ADVOCATE W F Boudinot-Editor Rev. J B Jones-Translator Published by the Cherokee Nation Indian friendS, citizens of any of the nations of this Territory, anything you may contribute to these columns serving to show actual condition, state of advancement, doings, intentions, wishes, and prospects of your people, will be so much contributed to enlighten your white brethren and sisters upon matters of which they have been almost wholly but unwillingly ignorant or misled, to your disadvantage; will operate to excite their respect and friendship for your race, and will assist to shape and confirm an opinion of "the people" by which our salvation, and their honor will be alike secured. OUR CHEROKEE READERS Unconnected as they are with the great world outside, and what slender communication they have, embarrassed as it is by difference in language, are naturally prone to entertain some erroneous notions of the general disposition and wishes of their white neighbors regarding their condition, and rights, and prospects. These notions are mostly based upon their experience in other times, under different circumstances, and with, we hope and sincerely believe, a different class of people from those who live at present in the neighboring States of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas. Those times, circumstances and people, are associated in their memory with tyranny, outrage and humiliation. They know, and know well, that the Red man suffered, and the White man inflicted unprovoked ignominy and wrong. And in the course of that bad business, the colors were never mixed. The Red were indiscriminately mistreated. The imposition and injury was always the work of the White; and the outra! ge continued until the whole Nation was compelled to take refuge in the flight to which they had been invited by a faithless government. We disclaim feelings of any satisfaction in the misfortunes of the descendants of our old enemies; but, if such an emotion could be justifiable at all, it might have been fully exercised when General Sherman, the Federal Nebuchadnezzar, after laying waste, with fire and sword, the country from which the Cherokees were so ruthlessly driven, set down before the Georgia Jerusalem, a seeming instrument of Divine vengeance. All that is over, as everything else will be over but truth and goodness, in which we may reckon forgiveness of wrong. The time, the circumstances, and the people have changed; our notions should change also. The kind reception which is given to this unpretending brothers of the Press, shows the natural spirit of fair play to be as active and strong in the American breast as ever. When we were driven West there was a shadow of an adverse claim to our lands. There is not a shadow now. To take form us now the land we have purchased, and to which we have as good a moral and legal right as have any persons or people in the world to theirs, will be nothing but downright, disgraceful, outrageous, contemptible robbery of the worst sort conceivable, an unblushing robbery in daylight, for which weakness is the occasion, and nothing the excuse- in which the victim may hope neither for restitution or redress. That a Christian People should do such a thing, or suffer it to be done is simply inconceivable. BOUNTY!! Good News For Cherokees The following letter was received last night from Fort Gibson, and speaks for itself. Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation June 15, 1870 Editor Cherokee Advocate- Will you please notifiy the persons interested, that two hundred and nine checks for additional bounty, due for service in 2nd and 3rd Regiments, Indian Home Guards, have been placed in my hands to be paid to claimants, and that I shall be ready to make the payments on or after Monday, June 20th. Very respectfully, John W Craig, Brevet Major, USA. Agent for Cherokees. FORT GIBSON ITEMS Major Craig, the popular and efficient U S Agent for the Cherokee, returned from Washington Sunday last and has entered upon the discharge of his duties. At the time of his departure from Washington, where he had been detained for some time, at the earnest solicitation of the Cherokee Delegation, to aid them in their business, the condition of our affairs was regarded as far more favorable than it was at the time of his arrival there. We understand that those Bounties which have been allowed and remain unpaid, will be paid by the Agent in the future. Captain Olmstead, U S A, Agent for the Choctaws and Chickasaws, and his clerk, Captain Thomas Drennon, an old and well known citizen of Van Buren, Ark., and of the Indian Territory, after spending a few days at this place, left yesterday morning for their Agency at Boggy Depot. The four-horse Coach, which left here Tuesday morning, for the terminus of the Railroad, at Baxter Springs, when about two miles out, was run away with and upset. The Coach was crowded with passengers at the time and we are gratified that the injury to them was not more serious than it was. The driver and a lady were slightly injured. We understand that Major Field, USA Agent for the Muskogees, has an order from the Department of the Interior, to cause all Indians under his charge to be vaccinated. The measure is humane and timely, but the job will not be a light one, when it is remembered how sparse and widely spread are the people over the whole extent of their country. Harvesting of Wheat began in this vicinity last week. There was not a great deal of ground seeded with this grain last Fall, but the present crop is a good one. With a Flouring Mill going up at this place, under the energetic hands of O W Lipe & Son, those who have Wheat will find a good market at their door. Another year we hope to see a material increase in the cultivation of this important cereal in our country. The flour annually brought in and sold to us, from bordering Arkansas, has been a mine of wealth to its toiling farmers, and a source of poverty to the Indians.