enjoyed within the limits of this Nation: provided, that this liberty of conscience shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this nation.

SEC. 3. When the National Council shall determine the expediency of appointing delegates, or other public agents, for the purpose of transacting business with the government of the United States, the Principal Chief shall recommend, and, by the advice and consent of the National Committee, appoint and commission such delegates or public agents accordingly. On all matters of interest, touching the rights of the citizens of this Nation, which may require the attention of the United States government, the Principal Chief shall keep up a friendly correspondence with that government through the medium of its proper officers.

SEC. 4. All commissions shall be "in the name and by the authority of the Cherokee Nation," and be sealed with the seal of the Nation, and signed by the Principal Chief. The Principal Chief shall make use of his private seal until a National seal shall be provided.

SEC. 5. A sheriff shall be elected in each district, by the qualified electors thereof, who shall hold his office two years, unless sooner removed. Should a vacancy occur, subsequent to an election, it shall be filled by the Principal Chief, as in other cases, and the person so appointed shall continue in office until the next regular election.

SEC. 6 No person shall, for the same offense, be

twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall the property of any person be taken and applied to public use without a just and fair compensation: provided, that nothing in this clause shall be so construed, as to impair the right and power of the National Council to lay and collect taxes.

SEC. 7. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, and every person, for injury sustained in person, property or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law.

SEC. 8. The appointment of all officers, not otherwise directed by this constitution, shall be vested in the National Council.

SEC. 9. Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government, the preservation of liberty, and the happiness of mankind, schools, and the means of education, shall forever be encouraged in this Nation.

SEC. 10. The National Council may propose such amendments to this constitution as two-thirds of each branch may deem expedient, and the Principal Chief shall issue a proclamation, directing all civil officers, of the several districts, to promulgate the same as exetensively as possible within their respective districts at least six months previous to the next general election. And if, at the first session of National Council, after such general election, two-thirds of each branch shall, by ayes and noes, ratify such proposed amendments, they shall be valid to all intent and purposes, as parts of this constitution; provided, that such proposed

amendments shall be read on three several days in each branch, as well when the same are proposed, as when they are ratified.

Done in Convention at Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, this sixth day of September, 1839.

GEORGE LOWREY,

President of the National Convention.

HAIR CONRAD, his X mark,

JOHN BENGE, his X mark,

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, his X mark,

THOMAS CANDY, JOHN DREW,

GEORGE GUESS, his X mark,

WALTER SCOTT ADAIR,

YOUNG ELDERS, his X mark,

WILL SHOREY COODEY,

THOMAS FOREMAN, RICHARD TAYLOR,

THOMAS FOX TAYLOR,

O-KAN-STO-TAH LOGAN, his X mark,

JAMES SPEARS, his X mark,

JOHN SPEARS,

STEPHEN FOREMAN,

YOUNG GLASS, his X mark,

LOONEY PRICE,

TOBACCO WILL, his X mark,
MAJOR PULLUM, his X mark,

MOSES PARRIS,

GEORGE WASHINGTON GUNTER,

KENCH LOGAN, his X mark,

YOUNG WOLF, JOS. MARTIN LYNCH,
SAL-LA-TEE-SKEE WATTS, his X mark,
GEORGE BREWER, his X mark,

JOSHUA BUFFINGTON,

JESSE BUSHYHEAD, JESSE RUSSELL,
JOHN FLETCHER BOOT, his X mark,
CRYING BUFFALO, his X mark,
BARK FLUTE, his X mark,

00-LA-YO-A, his X mark,

SOFT SHELL TURTLE, his X mark,

EDWARD GUNTER,

DANIEL COLSTON, his X mark,
LEWIS ROSS, GEORGE HICKS,
TURTLE FIELDS, his X mark,
ELIJAH HICKS,

TAH-LAH-SEE-NEE, his X mark,

JAMES BROWN, CHARLES COODEY, RILEY KEYS, DANIEL MCCOY, ' LEWIS MELTON.

PROCLAMATION

AND

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

ADOPTED NOVEMBER 26, 1866.

PROCLAMATION BY THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF.

WHEREAS, The National Council adopted certain amendments to the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation, and submitted the same to a general convention of the people of the Cherokee Nation, called at Tahlequah, on the 26th day of November, A. D. 1866, and which said amendments, with the preamble thereto attached, were in the following words, to-wit:

WHEREAS, By the treaty executed at Washington, on the 19th day of July, A. D. 1866, between the United States and the Cherokee Nation, through its delegation, ratified by the Senate and officially promulgated by the President of the United States, August 11th, 1866, certain things were agreed to between the parties to said treaty, involving changes in the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation, which changes cannot be accomplished by the usual mode, and

WHEREAS, It is the desire of the people and government of the Cherokee Nation, to carry out in good