374 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
mmade such advancement that, nearly thirty years later,' Return J. 
Meigs, their long time agent and friend, represented to the Secretary of 
War that such Government assistance was no longer necessary or de- 
sirable; that the Cherokees were perfectly competent to take care of 
themselves, and that further contributions to their support only had 
a tendency to encourage idleness and dependence upon the Government. 
Their country was especially adapted to stock raising and their flocks 
and herds increased in proportion to the zeal and industry of their 
owners. The proceeds of their surplus cotton placed within reach most 
of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The unselfish devotion 
of the missionary societies had furnished them with religious and school 
instruction, of which they had in large numbers eagerly availed them- 
selves.2. From the crude tribal government of the eighteenth century 
they had gradually progressed until in the month of July, 1827, a conven- 
tion of duly elected delegates from the eight several districts into which 
their country was divided® assembled at New Echota, and announced 
that “We, the representatives of the people of the Cherokee Nation, in 
convention assembled, in order to establish justice, insure tranquillity, 
promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity 
the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with humility and gratitude the 
goodness of the sovereign Ruler of the Universe in offering us an op- 
portunity so favorable to the design and imploring His aid and diree- 
tion in its accomplishment, do ordain and establish this constitution for 
the government of the Cherokee Nation.” By the constitution thus 
adopted the power of the nation was divided into legislative, execu- 
tive, and judicial departments. The legislative power was vested in 
a committee and a council, each to have a negative on the other, and to- 
gether to be called the ‘General Council of the Cherokee Nation.” This 
committee consistcd of two and the council of three members from each 
district, and were to be elected biennially by the suffrages of all free 
male citizens (excepting negroes and descendants of white and Indian 
men by negro women who may have been set free) who had attained 
the age of eighteen years. Their sessions were annual, beginning on 
the second Monday in October. Persons of negro or mulatto blood 
were declared ineligible to official honors or emoluments. 
The executive power of the nation was confided to a principal chief, 

1 May 30, 1820. 
2Letter of Hon. J. C. Calhoun Secretary of War, March 29, 1824. In this letter 
Mr. Calhoun says: ‘‘Certain benevolent societies in the year 1816 applied for per- 
mission to make establishments among the Cherokees and other southern tribes, for 
the purpose of educating and instructing tkem in the arts of civilized life. Their ap- 
plication was favorably received, The experiment proved so favorable, that Congress, 
by act of March 3, 1819, appropriated $10,000 annually as a civilization fund, which 
has been applied in such a manner as very considerably to increase the extent and 
usefulness of the efforts of benevolent individuals and to advance the work of Indian 
civilization.” 
3 The eight districts into which the nation was at this time divided were, Chicka- 
manga, Chatooga, Coosawatee, Amohee, Hickory Log, Etowah, Taquoe, and Aquohee. 
