Article consists of editorials regarding content contained within previous volumes of The Chronicles. The editorials are Letters to the Editor that contain proof that W. P. Brown was the governor of the Chickasaw Nation. This has been a mystery for several decades

J. Y. B.

Wright, Muriel H. (Muriel Hazel), 1889-1975

Gateway to Oklahoma History

Chronicles of OklahomaVolune V. September 1927 Number 3EDITORIALW. P. Brown, Governor of Chickanaw NationThe following letter is sufficient proof that W. P.Brown was at one time Governor of the Chickasaw Na-tion. We give the letter in its entirety that you mayknow something of the discussion had prior to this date,Miss Wright has given us some very interesting facts inthis connection which the readers of the Chronicles willappreciate.Miss Wright has a vast amount of information con-cerning the Choctaw and Chickasaw people and is con-sidered good authority on matters pertaining to their pasthistory.As a reader of Chronicles you will be pleased to knowthat Miss Wright has consented to give us an article soonbearing on matters of intense interest oncerning the life,habits and government of these splendid people.J. Y. B.Olney, OklahomaMay 27, 1927Mr. J. Y. Bryce, Secretary,Oklonoma state tistoriens society,Oklatoma City. Oklahoma.My &ar Mr. Bryce:'le June number of the Chronicles was received here yesterday,and I want to tell you how much pleasure it has given me to resd thevery iteresttng historteal contributions the magazine contains.I sas also interested in your editorial with reference to W. P. Brownwho %is Governor of the Chickasaw Nation from 1870 to 1871. If youhave ut already found documents to prove that he was governor at thattime, would refer you to the copy of the Constitution and taws ofthe Clkasaw Nation in your library, which is entitled, "Chikasha Nan-Ulhpte' You will find that Governor w. P. Brown signed the laws passedby the sessions of the Chickasaw Legislature of October. 1870. and tJune,1871, ad, also, the first part of the session of September, 1871. I findthat the nrst law signed by him, given in this volume, was on Sep-tember 1, 1870, and the last law on September 7, 1871.In te original manuscript of these laws. w. P. Brown also snedthe measures, dated September 15, 1871, and September 18, 1871, but hisname is sry neatly and deliberately scratched out and bears the signa-ture of Tbmas Parker, as governor, just below. As the contents of these264 Chronicles of Oklahomatwo measures are Interesting hito of history. I herewith give them rr-respectively, from the original manuscript in Efliish :"As Act authorizing the National Secretary to have the Capitol .bellhung.Sec. tot. Be It enacted by the Legislature of the Chickasaw Nationthat the National Secretary te and he is hereby authorized to employwome competent mechanic to examine the cupalo & see if said eupalo isfit and substantial enough to hold the weight of the Bell and to hangthe National hell in the cupalo of the Capitol; and for such laboe theme-hanic shall receive ten dollars.Sec. 2nd. Be It further enacted, That the National bell shall nothe rung unless on National occasions as follows: For the calling of themembers of the legislature together for the Sessions of Court ; for re-ligious meetings and for flre in Tishomingo; or for such occasions as theLegislature may designate.Sec, 3rd. tie .1 further enacted, That If any person not authorizedshall enter the Capitol and ring the bell, he, she. or they so offendingshall be subject to a flne of not more than ten dollars for every offense,as the County Court of Tishomingo may Impose and such tine shall be putin the I'ational Treasury for County purposes.Sec'. 4th. Be It further enacted that this act shall take effect fromand after the time the bell is hung.""Approved Sept. 15th, 1871.""Thos. Parker Governor.""An Act in Relation to filling vacant offices.Sec. tst. Be it enacted by the Iegislature of the Chickasaw NatioThat from and after the passage of this act all appointments and Cormissions given by the Governor for filling vacant office shall not extelbeyond the first annual election of the people; or the first annual Wsion of the Legislature as'the case may be.Sec. 2ned. Be it further enacted. That if the vacant oftoees are Stdby election by. the people or by election of the joint vote of the Lef'nature, the people or the Legislature. as the case may be. shall he filletbyelection ; but such election shall be to fill the vacancy in office for thetn-expired term only.Sec. 3rd. Be it further enacted. That this act shall not be on-strued as to interfere with the appointing power filling vacancieforthe unexpired term of the former incumbent already provided for b..theConstitution or laws.""ADDroved Seot. 18th. 1471'"Thos. Pnrker Governe"It may be of further interest to you to know that tev.Allen Wright, former governor of the Choctaws from 1866to 1870, was commissioned by the Legislature of the pick-asaw Nation, in 1872, to translate the laws of the J.itioanfrom the English to the native language, as the Ch.:tawsand the Chickasaws have the same written language,their spoken language being very similar except as tosome dialectal forms. The above mentioned -alume,Editorial 265"Chickasha Nan-Ulhpisa," in the native tongue, representsthe results of Reverend Wright's labor on his commissionfrom the Chickasaws.With best wishes, I amSincerely yours,Muriel H. Wright.

Chronicles of Oklahoma

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Chronicles of Oklahoma

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