Newspaper Page Text
i
•?
-irp iff ; w • •'• *
Mother person ha? been killed at Sumach.—
It is to be Wished thkt the officers ol this
District were more vigilant and more at
tentive to. their duties. Unless they do
■peedily go to work, they will make
themselves liable to public reprehension;
and these frequent thefts and murders will
go to confirm the world in the opinion that
e are still savages.
We hear it reported, that the General
Jovernment has found exceptions in the
[Constitution of this Nation, and that the
(.Agent has been directed to call a Council
(■and point out the errors. It is not our o-
] pinion that the Cherokees will be prohibit-
j «d from enforcing their constitution, which
Us intended for the Government of their ovvn
• people. It is probable that the General
» .Government has seen some faults in it
■which the framers unintentionally commit
ted, and which is desirable to be rectified.
If so, we hope our principal men will not
je obstinate, but duly consider the relation
| which exists between the United States and
the Cherokees, and make such alterations,
as they will, after mature consideration,
Jiscover to be wrong.
Under thehead, Congress, will appear Mr.
bods motion in the House of Represen-
tives, to inquire, by what authority Col.
Kenney took upon himself to depose a
Ch ; ef, acknowledged as such by the Creek
dians. When we heard of this instance
if power exercised by Mr. McKenney, we
:ould not but consider it oppressive, umvar-
\rantable and despotic, marking the way to
;h< time, when the liberties of the Indians
fpwill gradually he taken away from them.—
’tTo this result, many are now aiming. It
;4s true the person who was deposed, is a
^Cherokee, yet we doubt whether there is
3%ny treaty existing between the United
St ates and the Creek Indians, which will
jgo to vindicate Mr. McKenney, and debar
nnv private Cherokee from acting as Secre
tary for any oftheir Indian brethren. The
! person in question acted as such, from the
commencement of the Creek controversy,
ntn 1 was well known in that capacity, in
ashington, by Mr. McKenney, and the
ecretary of War. Yet no objection was
nade by the Executive. If there was any
'eason then existing, that Indians should
ot befriend each other in times of emer-
;cncies, why was it not made known?—
It is even said, unless we are very much
listaken, that large sums of money were
fl'ered to this “ impertinent Cherokee” and
is associate to purchase their “imperti-
lenoe,” or in other words, to present them
much, if they would influence the Creek
ielegation fo sell their Country. There
as no crime then to be interfering with
Creeks, on the part of the United States.
• e rather think this late assumption of
wer by the Agent of the United States
^jfianot be easily defended from the charge
ytf inconsistency. We have no evidence that
'this Cherokee lias behaved impertinently.
-This we know, that it was owing in a great
casure, to his exertions, that the base
eaty, called the treaty of the Indian
Springs, was abrogated, and another more
dvantageous treaty for the Creeks substi-
uted, &, thus the U. S. saved from recogniz-
g acts obtained by unwarrantable means,
if this is impertinence, as Mr. Lumpkin
ould no doubt call it, it is a pardonable
CONGRESS.
SOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
INDIANS.
The House then took up the follow-
ng resolution, offered yesterday by
Mr. WOODS;
Resolved, That the President of the
United States be, and he hereby is,
equested to inform this House, (if
jot, in his opinion, incompatible with
| e public interest, by what authority
‘homas L. McKenney informed the
reek nation of Indians, that no com-
mnieation of any sort would be re
vived from them, if a certain man re
ared to in his letter to the Secretary
f war, of the 29th November, 1827.
ad any agency in it, or what were the
oasons for breaking said individual,
nd of depriving him of his authority;
pd in what capacity said individual
as acting for said Indians; and to
mmunicate to this House the agree-
ent made with said Indians, referred
in said letter to the Secretary of
Var, with such information respect-
15 the same ns he may think proper
0 communicate.
■ The resolution having been read—
Mr. M’lvne asked for tKe question
consideration, which was carried in
c affirmative.
Mr. Woods said, some misunder-
amling seemed to prevail, as to the
ljects which he wished to attain by
e resolution. It is stated in the re-
ort made to the Secretary of War,
by Col. M’K<?imey, that he was unable
to muice a treaty, or to effect the ob
ject of his mission to the Greek lad.
ans, until he assumed and exercise 1.
the power ot depriving one of the
Chiefs, or head-men of the nation m
his authority. Alter he had thus in
terposed his power, and preventeu
that chief from acting lor the nation,
he was able to accomplish his object.
Mr. Woods went on to say that lie
had, on a former occasion, stated that
the system pursued by the Govern
ment, in regard to the Indians, was
one of fraud and perfidy, lie wished
to obtain afull statement of the facts in
this case. This was not the only in
stance of the kind. He thought we
had acted towards these people in a
manner unbecoming the character of
our Government, and contrary to the
principles of justice and right. We
pretend to negotiate—to make trea
ties, and to enter into compacts with
the Indians, while on our part it is lit
tle less than a system of fraud and
violence. The resolution he had of
fered was expressed in the language
of the agent himself. He says, in the
document referred to, and which had
been communicated to this House,
that he “ broke him on the spot, by
anncuncing, in the name of the Presi
dent of the United States, that for the
reasons there assigned, no communi
cation, of any sort, would be received
by the President'if that man had any
agency whatever in it.” If the indi
vidual who was thus deposed belong
ed to the nation, and was one of the
chiefs or head-men, he was at a loss
to know what right Colonel M'Kenney
had to depose him, and to deprive him
of his authority to act as the agent of
the Indians. He wished to know il
the agent of the United States, who
assumed this authority, had the sanc
tion of the Executive. The resolu
tion is merely one of inquiry. It calls
on the President to communicate the
facts, if not incompatible with the
public interest; and to lay before this
House the treaty made with these In
dians, by Colonel M Kenney. He had
seen a copy of what he supposed to
be this treaty in the papers of this
morning. The subject would, proba
bly, he brought before the House in
the form of a bill, or in some othei
way, & he was desirous to have all the
facts properly before the House, that
they might be prepared to act upon
the subject.
Mr. M Lean said it was not be
cause he was opposed to the resolu
tion itself that he called for the ques
tion of consideration, but he was a-
ware that it would lead to a protract
ed debate, and a useless consumption
of time. If his colleague had atten
tively read the documents, he would
have seen that Colonel M’Kenney
said that, being sent by the Govern
ment, he had taken on himself the re
sponsibility of breaking this vffiief, and
he gives his reason for taking this step.
Here Mr. M’Lean read an extract
from the report of Col. M’Kenney.
He had previously given an account
of certain persons among the Creeks,
who had before interposed; and after
demonstrating their cupidity, he broke
this man. lie expressly says that he
had no authority for this act; why
then ask the President, on what au
thority this was done? The papers
of this morning contained a publica
tion of the treaty. The gentleman,
therefore; has all the information
which he desires. He knew of no
good result which could arise from
this resolution.
Mr. Lumpkin said, without any in
quiry into the facts, he had no doubt
that the agent, Mr. M Kenney, com
plained of, was either one of the imper
tinent Cherokees, or a lenegado white
man, interfering in what did not con
cern them. The agents of the Gene
ral Government could never be able
to carry their views into effect, or to
act with any efficiency, unless they as
sume the commanding tone which was
properly assumed by Col. M’Kenney
on this occasion. Every man who is
acquainted with the Indians, knows
I hat to do any thing with them, it is
necessary to ass ime a decided char
acter, and to speak in positive and
commanding terms. Col. M’Kenney
new he could do nothing unless he
did this. He really hoped that the
Mouse would never condescend to ap
proach the Executive with such lit
tle inquiries as the conduct of an In
dian Chief- Our humanity, Christian
ity, and all the benevolent feelings of
uir humanity, are appealed to on all
occasions, by those who consume a
re at portion of the time of the House,
in order to enfor e their opinions on
otherp. All that they accomplish,
however, is to shew that they do not
.idcrsiunu liie character ot mesc lu-
liiaus: uml that their efforts and ob
jects are only calculated tor sectional
and home consumption.
Mr. WicKLiki E moved to amend
the resolution, by adding the loilow-
iug words, winch Mr. AV oods accept
ed as a modification 01 the original
resolution:
‘ And also, a detailed statement ol
the expenses of the several Missions
to the Indian tribes sent, under the
authority of the Vfai Department,
during the years 1826 and 7, specify
ing the object of the expenditure, and
the persons employed. ”
Mr. Woods said the gentleman horn
Georgia had stated that the •agents ol
the Government must have decision of
character, or they would find il inn
possible to effect the objects we havt)
in view. When the great question
respecting the policy to be pursue/!
by the Government, 111 relation to tile
Indians, shall come before the ilousp,
he would he prepared to meet genye-
men on the subject of the treatmbnt
of Indians; and it would then be de
cided whether those who thought with
him, in regard to the measures pur
sued by our Indian agents, or iliose
who entertained the opinions of the
gentleman from Georgia, were the
true friends of the Indians. The
House had been t old by the gentleman,
that an agent of the General Govern
ment ought to have and exercise the
power to depose Indian Ciiefs.
Mr. Lumpkin, in explaaation, said
he did not contend that agents had a
right to depose Indian Chiefs, lie
itad said this man was an impertinent,
interfering Cherokee, or a w hite re-
negado.
Mr. Woods said he did not wish to
misrepresent what the gentleman had
said. Tiie power is claimed to de
pose these interfering and impertinent
agents—hall' breeds, as they are call
ed. Sir, we do not extent to these
half breeds any of our privileges—ue
do not give them the rights of citizens;
we treat them as Indians, but we are
frequently told, in the language of
complaint, of the influence which
these men exercise over the Indians
It seems that they have by their in
telligence, been able to defeat the
designs of the agents of the General
Government—not the policy of tne
Gove nment itself, but the interested
and sectional views which certain
gentlemen seem to entertain, lie dis
claimed all sectional views. But when
our agents & the officers of the Govern
ment have darling schemes auU ou
jects in view, they are disposed to
stop at notiiing which vviii enable
them to remove the obstructions in
their way. it is time for us to obtain
some information ou this subject
He had called for this information.—
He wished to know who tins man was.
Was he a Creek Chief? li as he a
Cherokee; or a white renagado?-
There is no evidence before us on the
subject. We have not even a state
ment of the reasons which induced the
agent of our Government to exercise
this extraordinary power. He sup
posed the individual was a chief, or
head man of the Creek Indians, or at
least recognized by them as such: and
that he could not be deprived of his
authority in this way by our agent.
Whenever we are unable, said Mr.
W. to effect our wishes by making use
of the authority possessed by the Indi
an chiefs, we exercise our power & de
prive them oftheir authority & influ
ence over their nation. The Indians
themselves have been compelled to
break and turn out the corrupt chiefs
whom we had brought over to our in
terests, & they have put in their places
intelligent young men, who are able to
meet our agents, and to resist their
plans. Yes, sir, they complain loudly
of the influence which these young men
have acquired by their intelligence
and, they complain that the Govern
ment has interfered with their policy
by endeavoring to civilize the Indians.
VVe have even heard on this floor, that
the policy of the government in edu
cating the Indians, and teaching them
the arts of husbandry, and furnishing
them with the means of living by agri
culture, was an interference with
the rights of our own citizens.
He said he would not pursue the sub
ject farther. The treaty which he
had seen in the paper of this morning
pleased him. It was better than he
could have expected, when obtained
by such means. But this is no justi
fication of the means employed. He
wished <0 know if we were still, with
out inquiry or examination, to pursue
ff’is ionise and snnetion Ibis monkey
of justice. As far as it depended ou
him, said Mr. W. he would expose it
ile would, to the extent ot his leeui
anilities, lend his aid to break down
ihe whole system, whii h is proilut ti\e
of, and at tiie same time sustained by,
so uiuch fraud and injustice.
Mr. Thompson enquired if the res
olution caiJed for the name of the per
son dismissed, and his foimcr place
of esalence.
Mr. Woods replied'in the negative.
Mr. Thompson suggested an a-
mendment to that purpose.
Mr. Woods accepted the amend
ment as a modification.
Mr. Willi ans of N. C. said he saw
no practical effect which could result
ordered, respectable community.—
tins sui.e 01 1 bin.s, ana with sucli
. prospect beloie them, Governor
ffoisylii has issued a proclaim 1 n,
1 no object oi winch is obvi us it is
to breah up Ibis tribe chive them u-
way alter the Greeks to the wile, r-
ncss, crush every elloi t towards cr.i!*-
zillion, and destroy all the hopes of
improvement winch have thus fur
been entertained 111 behalf of this in
jured people.-—cV. JK. uai. «idv.
Tom the resolution. The treaty was
published, and nothing more could he
altered.
H c moved to lay the resolution on
the table—Ayes 70—Noes 54.
The resolution was then laid on the
table.
FOR Tim CHEROKEE PHOENIX.
Officers, under any Government,
are intended toperfoim the duties for
which they were created. The la
borer should he worthy of his hire.—
Malevolent motives are sometimes as
cribed, to the undeserving of such
censure, when in tiie honesty 01 mi.id,
they find it a duty to complain ol pub
lic servants. The Marshals of this
Nation were appointed in lieu of our
light horse Companies, who it was be
lieved, would render more and exact
service to our country. This calcu
lation has lost its power <0 delude the
people any longer. Our Marshals
are asleep on the wati h tower, and
have no disposition to awake from
their slumbers, unless it be at the
approach of our Legislative Cm 11 il.
to get their forty ddllais for services
expected of them hut not rendered
They are like drones in a Bee-hive,
useless to the Nation. The duties of
the officers as required ol tin m, arc-
contained in a law passed 11th Nov
1824 viz:
“The several Marshals, Sheriffs
Constables, shall take . ognizance ot
every violation of law within their
respective hounds of dist ricts, and to
give information of, and bring to jus
tice. according to law, such person or
persons so offending; and should any
of the aforesaid officers neglect to
bring to justice any transgressor of law
after having been duly informed of
such trangression, such officers, upon
conviction before any of the district
courts, shall be subject to pay a fine,
to be assessed by the court, the fine
not to exceed one hundred dollars,
and not less than five dollars and the
officer or officers so neglecting, shall
be subject to be removed from office,
at the discretion of the National Coun
cil ”
The Marshal of Chattooga, instead
of attend! g to his duties within his
bounds, is living at his e; so in Chick-
amauga District. 70 or 80 miles from
the seat of justice of the district of
which he is an officer. The Marshal
of Cooscwattee has taken a journey
towards the west, to the Arkansas ,or
to the Texas, and we do not know
whether he is still in the land of the
living or not. But it is needless to
particularize any farther.
Thieves are again rising in con
tempt of half breed officers, in spite of
our Marshals, and Sheriffs, and Con
stables. May the next Legislature
notice their indolence, and discount
their wages. If we wish to have our
property secure, and criminals punish
ed, our wishes will be unrealized, so
long as these officers remain in neglect
of duty, and adhere to the policy of
picking money flora the National
pocket without rendering the requir
ed service. I may be excused in the
opinion that the Light horse Compa
nies were the host and most efficient
officers for vigilance, and were better
adapted to keep down the thieves of
the country, and to inflict punish
ment on their naked backs. But fine
times now for rogues.
OAKFUSKIE.
Jjistressing Shipreck.—In the ,/cuJt
nal uu iJuiiC, 01 the 18th December
we find ihe following particular of
the distressing shipreck of the Amer
ican hiig Lydia, Capt. Sylvia, bound
to this port from Cork.—,V. T. Jldv. ,
Havre, 18th Dec.—The crew of
this vessel, to the number of 36, ar
rived this morning, by the Jean Bap
tiste, Capt. Auburt, who took tin in
oil’at sea the 28th November. The
statement of Capt. Sylvia is subjoined.
The Lydia sailed, from Cork on the
13th October for New-York. 1Gi li
was overtaken by a storm which split
his sails. O11 31st another storm, in
which the mainmast was carried a-
way, the pumps choked, and two of
the best hands disabled. 4th Nov.
fell in with ship Corinthian, of Baltic
more, bound to Lima, who refused us _
all succor, though informed that
each one on board was reduced to ah
ounce of laid bread per 21 hours —
Fortunately the s: me day fell in v. itli
•the French ship Panurga, from
Charleston to Havre, from whom we
received some sails, and a few provis
ions. When we reached the 63 deg.
of long, the mate was no longer able
to work. 13th Nov. spoke brig Ospray
from Salem hound to Boston freni
Gibraltar, from whom we received a
little oread and flour. 21st lost our
other most, and (lie vessel became
unmanageable. Every body being
exhausted by fatigue and want, des
pair was visible in every face, the
provisions were exhausted—a dog then
served for our food for three days;
this last resource consumed, and fa
mine staring 11s in the face, all I ho Is
were turned to another horrible re
source. The exhausted & miserable
wretches whose strength had foiled
them, became the victims of these
who could yet work at the pumps !! *
In this desperate situation, Heaven
sent to our relief on the evening of the
2Sth, the French brig Jean llaptisldi,
which restored hope to our worn out.
spirits. About was sent to us. and
two of our passengers returned in her
to communicate to the commander'
our frightful situation. M. Aubert
said he was bound from Charleston to
Havre, and would take us all on board.
—we were 36—but when, in spite of
the rough weather, the women and
children were safely transported to
the French brig, the captain said that
having a long route yet before him,
he could not burden hiuiself with so
many people, but would scud provis
ions and sails to those left on hoard.
The boat returned with this news,
and a scene of terrible despair ensued.
The separation of mothers from chil
dren, and brother from brother, seem
ed more terrible than death itself;
and as the brig prepared to make sail,
the most pierei ig cries of despair
wore ut tered from both vessels. The
generous Frenchman, touched by the
scene, and listening rather to the dic
tates of human nature than of pru
dence, (since he only had on hoard die
necessary allowance for his own crew,)
resolved to receive all in his vessel;
and each sailor emulating the exam
ple of his captain, shared with the
shipwrecked sufferers his bottle and
his bread. To this generous devoted
ness do we owe our existence.
Jl Second Troup.—Iiis Excellency
Coventor Forsyth, of Georgia, ap
pears to possess a full portion of the
spirit of his predecessor, in the office
of chief magistrate of the above men
tioned state. It is well known that
the Cherokee Indians in the state of
Georgia, have made such advances in
civilization and the arts, as to have
established over themselves a regular
form of government, with tribunals of
justice &c. and that they are making
rapid advances in every species of im
provement in civilized life. Among
other things they have established
?•■ bools, and a printing press and bid
fair, in a short time, to become a well
Judge'Breckenhridge in reprimand
ing a criminal, among other hard
names, called him a scoundrel. Tiie
prisoner replied. “Sir, T am not sir
great a scoundrel as your honor *
takes me to be.”—“Put your words
closer together,” replied the Judge.
AGENTS FOR THE CHEROKEE
PHCEN1X.
Application has been maile to a number
of Gentlemen, in different parts of the Unit
ed States, toacl as Agents for this work;
We hoar, as yet, of only the following w ho*
have consented.
Hf.np.y Hii 1., Eso. Treasurer of the A;
B. C. F. M. Boston, Mass.
Georgf M. Tkacy, Agent oflhe A. Br
C. F. M. New York.
Pollard &. Converse, Richmond, Va„
Rev. James Campbell, Beaufort, S. C,
Col. George Smith, Statesville, W. T„
Besides the above; Mr. Thus. R. Goi
an itinerant Gentleman, residing lately iu
Troy, N. Y. has rendered u< much service,
and will ad iu wtUre a* our Agejjt v