370 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
their local affairs in such manner as seemed most satisfactory to them 
not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the Cherokee Nation 
or of the United States. Again it was provided by the ninth article of 
the treaty that all freedmen who had been liberated by voluntary act 
of their former owners or by law, as well as all free colored persons who 
were in the country at the commencement of the rebellion and were 
still residents therein or who should return within six months and 
their descendants, should have all the rights of native Cherokees. 
Congressional legislation was sought in 1879, having in view the en- 
forcement of this ninth article, but it failed of consummation.! The 
Cherokee council, in the mean time had passed? an act urging upon the 
United States the adoption of some measures calculated to reach a sat- 
isfactory adjustment of the status of the colored people within their 
jurisdiction, and requested the attendance of some properly authorized 
representative of the Government at their ensuing council for consul- 
tation as to the most satisfactory method of settling the vexed question. 
United States Indian Agent Tufts was accordingly instructed? to 
attend the council, which he did. It resulted in the passage * of an act 
by that body authorizing the principal chief to appoint a commission of 
three Cherokees to confer with the United States agent and draft arti- 
cles of agreement, which should, after receiving the approval of the 
council and of Congress, be considered as permanently fixing the status 
of the colored people. The agent, however, soon discovered that no 
action looking to the full recognition of the rights to which they were 
entitled was likely to receive favorable consideration. It seems from 
his report’ that it was still very unpopular in the Cherokee Nation to 
advocate any measure conceding to the colored people the same rights 
enjoyed by the Cherokees themselves, and that until a radical revolution 
of public sentiment should take place among them it was useless to expect 
any favorable action from the national council. Agent Tufts concluded 
his report with a recommendation that a commission be appointed by 
the Interior Department and instructed to hold sessions in the Chero- 
kee country, hear evidence, and determine the status of each disputed 
claimant to citizenship, subject to the final revision and approval of the 
Department. Inspector Ward and Special Agent Beede were, therefore, 
instructed ® to consult with Agent Tufts, and, after familiarizing them- 
selves with the question in ail its details, to visit the executive officers 
of the Cherokee Nation and see if some satisfactory solution of the 
troublesome problem could be brought about. This conference, like all 

1A bill to this effect was introduced into the Senate by Senator Ingalls, of Kansas, 
June 3, 1879, and reported from the Committee on Indian Affairs, with amendments, 
June 4, 1880, by Senator Williams, of Kentucky. 
2 December 6, 1879. 
® October 16, 1880. 
4November 23, 1820. 
5 January 26, 1882. 
® May 9, 1883. 
