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Show REPORT OF THE CO?XMIBSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 11 and agent, and reported to the department for approval. Right of way for railroads is provided. The western boundary is to be snroeyed at the expense of the United States. An amount not exceeding $10,000 is to be expended by the United States in the erection of agency boildings upon the diminished reeervation. The provisions for a general council are the same as in the Sem-inole treaty. Annuities, as providcd ineformer treaties, are to be renewed and continued. The eovernment to nay $10,000 for expenses of negotiating this A " treaty, if so much'be necessary. - - The last of the four treaties with tribe8 in the "Indian country " was made with the Clir~oX.ees: Concluded July 19, 1866 ; ratification advised with amendment July 27; amendment accepted July 31, and proclaimed August 11, 1866. More difficulty was experienced in arriving at the consummation of a treaty with the Clrerokees than with any of the other tribes or nations of the Indian country. This difficulty had been previously encountered by the commissioners at Fort Smith, in 1865, though the issue was postponed by tbe agreement of the delegates there present to come to this city, with the view of making a treaty. A brief statement of the causes of the trouble may not prove uninteresting. Qoite early in the late war, the proper authorities of that nation, the late John Ross being the principal chief and manager of their affairs, made a treaty with the rebel States, and employed every practicable means of engaging the other tribes upon the same side. It will be well to remember that the Cherokee nation had long been divided into two factions known as the Ross and Ridge parties, whose quarrel dates back to the time when the people lived in Georgia, and that blood had been frequently shed in their quarrels. The Ridge party favored the treaty by which the removal to the west was effected, while the Ross party opposkd; but after that removal, the latter, being the most numerous, obtained and kept the ascendency, and practically ruled the nation. There mere many men of intelligence, education, and ability upon both sides, and the old jealousies have bee11 fostered and increased from year to year; the Ridge party, under the late leadewhip of Stand Katie aud others, endeaooling to secure a division of the natiooal dnmain and funds, which the Ross party as strenuously opposed; the former part-j rendil- entered iuto the late war, doubtless hoping to succeed in their prirate plans of eecession, as well as in those of a larger scale.. As to the motives of the other party, then holding the national power, it is eharitahie to say that they are doubtful. Judging from the cotemporary records, it seems clear enough that Ross and his party at all eveuts believe& that the rebellion would succeed, hoped for its success, and were sincere in joining.it; but their delegates and counsel very strenuously insisted here that the action of their eoun-cil in making a treaty with the rebels was only a diplomatic ruse-a temporary expedient-to enable them to hold together until the federal forces should appear for their protection. Wherever the truth may lie between these two extremes, it is certain that after hostilities had continued for a year and a half, the Chero-kees in col~siderable fowe fighting on the side of the rebellion, the federal forces advanced illto the Indian country, and one regiment of Cherokees deserted to their side. Ross recouvened the national council, and forthwith and henceforward these Clirrokee3 xere "loyal," and commenced and carried into tff~,et severe confiscatio~l~ii tvs, operating principally upon the members of the Ridge party, who remaiued true to tlle eoufederacy; while nearly three thousa~~ofd the people at one ti111e or another were enlisted on the Union side. The end of the war came at last, and the commission of 186.5 met at Fort Smith delegates from both factious, those of the Ridge or Watie party rearly to meet all the views of the government, and asking its protection from the confiication lams which had excluded tham from their l~omes; lookiug to a sepnnttion of intcresta from the remainder of the tribe, and excusing themeplres fbr taliill$ up arms against the government b ~l.ay ing the responsibility upon the rhuulders of. the council |