The Cherokee Advocate
June 1, 1872

A CITIZEN ARRESTED AND TAKEN TO FT. SMITH IN IRONS FOR BEING A CHEROKEE JUROR

	The Treaty between the United States and the Cherokee, guarantees to the 
latter of the ancient right of trying their own native citizens according to such 
forms as they may have adopted.  It was in the exercise of this right that honorable 
Arch Scraper was in attendance at the Going Snake Court House as Juror in the trial 
of Ezekiel Proctor, when the United States deputy marshals attempted, without giving 
the Court notice of their business, or even telling who they were, to take the 
prisoner from the Cherokee authorities by force of arms.  Deputy Marshall Peavy 
knows that perfectly well.  Yet Mr. Scraper has been seized with every exhibition 
a brutality, as though he was the worst of criminals, and taken to Ft. Smith to 
answer we know not what false and outrageous charge in connection with the butchery 
caused by the unlawful conduct of the officers of United States Court at that place.  
If Scraper is guilty of any crime against United States for being a Juror on that 
occasion, the other eleven are also equally criminals and equally liable to prosecution.  
Mr. Scraper was listing to the remarks of Mr. Johnson one of the attorneys in the case, 
when the first shot was fired by the Marshal's company.  He laid under a seat for 
personal safety till the shooting was over, and after the attacking party had fled, 
he made himself honorably conspicuous by a generous effort to stop further disturbance, 
and by bestowing care up on the wounded and dead.  These are the facts in relation 
to the part Mr. Scraper took in that dreadful occurrence, and any evil and malicious 
charge to the contrary owes its origin either to devilish malice, or to some greedy 
scheme hatched by rascals connected with the Court at Ft. Smith, to compel him to 
spend his hard means and answering a false accusation.
The Cherokee Nation is bound to protect its citizens in such a case as this.  A 
citizen had rather pay his fine and stay away from Court, then run the risk of being 
ignominiously dragged to Ft. Smith in irons for simply obeying one of our Court 
processes.  If ever the National honor, dignity and interest were concerned, it is 
concerned now, and in this instance.
________________________________________
REMOVAL OF THE U. S. DISTRICT COURT FROM FORT SMITH 

	Fort Smith is a good deal exercised just now, (she always has something to 
disturb her equilibrium) over the fact that Mr. Pomeroy, of Kansas, has introduced a 
bill in the U.S. Senate, to attach the Indian country to the Kansas District, and 
making Arkansas one district as in olden times.  Senator Pomeroy urges, it is reported, 
as a reason for each removal from Fort Smith, that they have not Court accommodations 
and that the “Hotels are entirely inadequate" for the accommodations of so large and 
distinguished a Court and read extracts from one of the Fort Smith newspapers to show 
that the moral surrounding of the Court are extremely bad.  A sympathetic meeting was 
held at Ft. Smith the other night, in which a great deal of characteristic balderdash 
was indulged in for the purpose of creating ill feeling toward their neighbors, and 
influencing the people of the District to rally to prevent this outrage upon their 
rights.  Except for the few pensioners that attend Court twice a year, as attaches, 
the people cared little or nothing about the Court--have no interest in it, and as 
soon as the Indian District would be detached at from the Western District of Arkansas 
as not.  Senator Pomeroy should have credit for one thing, if for no more, that all 
of acting boldly and above board, in asking for the detachment of the Indian Country, 
and stands out in bowl contrast to the low, sneaking manner of the removal of the 
Court from Van Buren was accomplished.  We have not seen the bill and feel but very 
little interest in the subject one way or the other.
	Mayor Brooks of Fort Smith, passed down Saturday, on the Gibson, and after 
assisting at the “Brindle-tail” Convention at Little Rock, will proceed to Washington 
City, to use his influence to try and kill the Pomeroy bill.  We expect he will be 
felt about as much as a fly on elephants back and retarding its passage and the 
detachment of the Indian Territory from the Arkansas District.
	Our neighbors will permit us to caution them to husband their home supply of 
tears and lamentations, over each removal, for they will not together much of a crop 
outside of the town of Fort Smith.--Van Buren Press
________________________________________