2
TH E
CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
first they began to preamble constitutions, documents and any article
that could use one, and one may guess that this great and august gath
ering—in which the names of men such as these appear: Crying
Buffalo, Bark Flute, Soft Shell Turtle and Tobacco Will, spent several
hours in deep discussion—the same as was done by the constitutional
convention of the great state of Oklahoma, of whether it should read
supreme being, God, Lord or what and other such weighty questions.
But it is in general just about like the constitutions of these enlight
ened days and would suit very well for any state government, except
ing the fact that it provides that all title to lands of the nation shall be
in the nation.
The plan of government is Democratic and follows in part that of the
United States.
It hasa “ fourteenth amendment” which was added to the constitu
tion November 26, 1866.
In the laws of the nation are found very little of an unusual or freak
ish nature but a great many good ones, and some of these laws that are
credited to the present enlightened civilization of this day and making
fierce fights to have adopted.
For instance they have a law’ making it a crime for any one to offer
for sale as food or drink anything that had been in any way adulterated
in such a manner as to render it injurious to health or who should offer
for sale any drugs or medicine without a label thereon giving to the buyer
knowledge of any adulteration. Also for any man to give short weights
was a crime and a table is given which establishes the weight of the
common commodities.
Betting on elections w’as a misdemeanor, and destroying the forests
was also prohibited.
The salaries paid to officers of the nation in that time would appeal
to the average tax grumbler of today, as the chief was only paid $1000
a year and other officials usually about $500.
The high sheriff received $500 and out of that paid his deputy and
furnished the wood for the fires in the capito’ building.
The convicts were used to work roads and to cut wood for the
national institutions.
One law’ that would be antiquated in this age was that a person not a
citizen of the nation who made himself objectionable to the authorities
was taken to the line and kicked out of the nation with the injunction
to remain out.
Any artisan not a citizen of the nation, had to have a permit before
he could practice his trade in the nation, for which he paid$l a month,
and as soon as his work was completed he had to leave the confines.