Riley Keys, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was chosen President, and Budd Gritts, Secretary: the said amendments to the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation were read, considered, and severally approved and adopted by the Cherokee people.

In testimony whereof, the President and Secretary of said Convention, have subscribed the same at Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, on this the 28th day of November, A. D. 1866.

RILEY KEYS,

President of the Convention.

BUDD GRITTS,
Secretary.

AND, WHEREAS, The said foregoing amendments to the constitution, were duly submitted to the said general convention of the Cherokee people, and were severally read, considered, and adopted on the 28th day of November, A. D. 1866.

Now, therefore, Be it known, that I, William P. Ross, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, do issue this, my proclamation, declaring said amendments to be a part of the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, this the 7th day of December, A. D. 1866.

WILL. P. ROSS,
Principal Chief.

COMPILED LAWS

OF THE

CHEROKEE NATION.

CHAPTER I.

AN ACT RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

ART. I. Duties of Principal Chief." ART. V. Duties of District Clerks.

SEC. 1. Immediately after the meeting of the first annual session of the National Council after a general election, and the organization of the two branches thereof, the President of the Senate shall, (after having received the election returns,) cause notice thereof to be given to the Council that he will proceed to open and count the same at a certain hour, and requesting the presence of that body, at that time, for that purpose; and at the time designated, he shall proceed, with the

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assistance of the Chief Clerk of the Senate, and the Speaker and Chief Clerk of the Council, beginning with the returns for the chieftaincy, if any, to open and examine the returns from each district, one at a time, in the presence of the two houses, and carefully compute and publish the result, and have a faithful record thereof made upon the journal of the Senate.

SEC. 2. Whenever an election for Principal and Assistant Principal Chiefs shall have been held, and the result ascertained as by law provided, it shall be the duty of the President of the Senate to appoint a special committee of three members of the Senate to wait upon and notify the Principal and Assistant Principal Chiefs elect of the same. He shall also notify, in like manner, the speaker of the Council, for the information of the members thereof; and as soon as may be thereafter, the two branches of the National Council shall meet in joint session, for the purpose of inducting into office the said Principal and Assistant Principal Chiefs elect.

SEC. 3. The constitutional oath (or affirmation) of office, shall, in the presence of the members of both branches of the National Council assembled, be administered, first to the Principal and then to the Assistant Principal Chief elect, by the Chief Justice, or one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, or by any other judge or officer duly authorized to administer oaths; a record of which shall be made and retained in the proceedings of the Senate; and such Principal and Assistant Principal Chiefs, shall thereupon be qualified to enter upon the discharge of their duties; provided,

however, that the Principal Chief and Assistant Principal Chief elect, or either of them, as the case may be, may be installed and qualified by any officer authorized to administer oaths, by taking the constitutional oath at any place or in any manner most convenient or satisfactory, according to the circumstances of the case, or the emergency of the occasion.

SEC. 4. The Principal Chief shall have control of the national seal, and in all cases, when necessary, may direct the proper application, use, and preservation of the same.

SEC. 5. The Principal Chief may, in his discretion, appoint in his office, a Secretary, and when necessary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, who shall receive the compensation provided by law.

SEC. 6. The Principal Chief may require information in writing, or otherwise, from the various commissioned officers of the Nation, on any subject pertaining to their duties, and, from time to time, give such and other information to the National Council, concerning the condition and interests of the Nation, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he may deem expedient, so as to enable them to fully understand the condition of public affairs, the conduct of public officers, in the discharge of their duties, the condition and wants of the several national institutions, with the condition of the people, and the industrial, educational and religious interests, and prosperity of the Nation generally.

SEC. 7. If the National Council shall impeach and convict any officer suspended by the Principal Chief, the incumbent, holding by virtue of appointment by the Principal Chief, shall hold and continue (unless removed) in the discharge of the duties of the office, for the unexpired term of the person removed, or until a successor is elected and duly qualified. But if such officer, so suspended, shall be for any cause reinstated by the Principal Chief, or by the National Council, the Principal Chief shall endorse upon the back of the commission of the officer so suspended and re-instated, the date of both the suspension and re-instatement, and make official record of the same; and said officer shall not draw pay for the "interim," while not in actual service, neither shall the temporary incumbent draw pay, except for the time of actual service.

SEC. 8. The Principal Chief shall encourage friendly relations between the Cherokees and other nations. and tribes of Indians, and the adoption of such measures as he may deem necessary for their mutual safety and prosperity. He shall also encourage amicable intercourse between the Cherokees and people of the United States, and may, in his wisdom, confer with the officers of the Federal and State governments, upon all matters of mutual public interest.

SEC. 9. The Principal Chief may, whenever he deems it expedient, appoint one or more persons to act as Commissioners, for the purpose of meeting and conferring with, a like commission of any other nation or tribe of Indians, upon matters of mutual interest.