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bound to fulfil it. He spoke at some
length to persuade them to yield this
strip of land, which would settle ail
difficulties and troubles &c. Opoth-
leholo, apparently tired of the har
angue, told him, “you have heard our
talk and we have no other. If you
were to talk as you do now for ten
days, the Council could nor would not
give you another answer.” This was
strong language and could not be mis
understood, and dried up to its source,
the 1 -sweet thins, for Indians.” He would
now have denounced the Creeks with
an awful prophecy of their impending
ruin, but checked by a spark of con
science, he stood with an expression
of countenance indicating a sense of
disappointment. All was lost. IIow
could he appear at Washington, when
his pompous chain of successful In
dian treaties was broken. I felt for
the Gentleman. He spoke—he was
sorry they had made choice of such
u talk for their father—he would take
it with him as he must know every
thing that was said by his children;
and was about to take leave, when Mr.
Vann reminded him of his promise to
devote a day to our claim. He stop
ped and said he would now attend to
it, and asked for the letter to be pro
duced, which was done. He acknow
ledged the correctness of the letter to
the Council; at this instant a person
whispered something in his car. It
was the whisper of Col. Crowell
The closing part of Col. McKenney’s
devotion of a day to the letter, there
fore, was ambiguous and filled with in
sinuations calculated to forestall opin
ion, and to prejudice the minds of the
Creeks against the claim. I there
fore procured Col. McKenney’s per
mission to speak, and told the Chiefs,
“that claim was for money in lieu of
reservations that had been granted us
by the Delegation, and all vve wanted
was Col. McKenney’s recognition of
the letter in their presence, which he
had done, but it was a matter of re
gret to me that he had not made out
his statement without listening to the
whisper of Crowell, which they had
seen.” Col. Crowell said he did not
whisper any thing but what was cor
rect. Col. McKenney told the Coun
cil that if any man whispered bad
things in his ear, either by a red or
white man, he would knock him down.
He said so because it had been insinu
ated that he had been wrongfully whis
pered to. This closed our Council
for that day. Col. McKenney started
as he told us for Washington City, and
we to our lodgings. In the afternoon
of the next day, after Col. McKenney
took his leave, and as we expected
was far advanced on his journey, the
Council was called on. to convene at
an out shed a few hundred yards from
the square, where Little Prince with
his Chiefs of the lower towns wished
to meet the Principal Chiefs of the
upper towns. I was asked by the lat
ter to attend it, and there heard, Col.
McKenney, instead of pursuing his
journey, had halted on the other bank
of the Tallapoosa from us, and had
scut the lower towns to meet the
Chiefs of the upper towns on the sub
ject of the u verbal p-omisc.” Divis
ion was visible now in their counte
nances, but the upper towns possess
ed the prepondering weight of talent
and influence, and above all, the love
of native land, so dear to all Nations,
who yet are unshackled from the in
fluence of base submission or corrupt
ing gold. The lower town Chiefs
placed a great deal of emphasis on the
verbal promise. Opothleholo told
them the verbal promise was nothing.
It was like a note without a signature
it was not in the treaty, it was not
binding. “ But, said Little Prince,
the Great man says you did make the
promise.” Selocta, the sonofChin-
nubbee and who was in the lost war
a favorite warrior of General Jack-
son, a Chiet of undaunted courage,
here opened his mouth and spoke as
follows. “I was sent by you to Wash
ington to break McIntosh’s bad treaty.
We did so and we secured to ourselves
some land yet, that rs scarcely large
enough for our people to stand upon.
I don’t know any thing of the promise
tills man is talking about. Our friends
John Ridge and David Vann don’t
know any thing about it. We the up
per towns love our native land that
has been under us, from our youthful
days, and will not sell it. But I have
heard strange reports about you Lit
tle Prince & the Lower Town Chiefs.
It is that you wish to sell land. I heard
this at home, from the McIntosh par
ty and from news heard of white peo
ple. Is it so? or is it not?” Little
Prince could not have been more clec-
made the promise, and they were trifled, if a clap of thunder lmd struck
off the shed of our Council House,
than ho experienced from this speech.
He denied the charge and said the
report was lucli&cha, or false and was
followed by his whole party in this
denial. It was then decided that
Col. McKenney should be called in
Council, & that the Delegat ion should
individually tell him, that they knew
nothing of this verbal promise. In
the mean time Mr. Vann had been
met by Mr. Compere, who delivered a
message from Col. McKenney, that if
he would use his influence to induce
the Creeks to accede to his proposi
tion, he yvould sec that his claim on
them should he paid. After this,
Judge Blake told Mr. Vann that he
had been sent by Col. McKenney to
request him to go in and talk with the
Council. All of which we had in
formed the chiefs previous to the ar
rival of Col McKenney. This was
the third interview of the Council and
Col. McK. and from what had passed
on the proceeding day, I deemed it
prudent to he furnished with a pipe
tomahawk in the act of smoking, and
to be ready to make effectual resist
ance, in case of assault from the white
men, should they be instigated to it
by Col. Crowell. My position here
again was near the Principal Chiefs.
Cols. McKenney and Crowell came
and listened to the Delegation, indi
vidually denying their knowledge of
the verbal promise of throwing in the
Georgia lands, if the lines should not
reach them. Col. McKenney said he
believed these chiefs, but thepromi.se
was made; and at Washington the
most and all important business was
transacted by Opothleholo, John Ridge
and David Vann—these three usually
came to the War office and spoke for
the Delegation. He did not know why,
but thought the Delegation had confi
dence in them for sense and honesty,
and in that light the Secretary of
War transacted business with them.
To prejudice the council against us
appeared to be his object, but Opoth
leholo was ready to face him in any
ground or argument. He told Col.
M’Kcnney, that “the Delegation
were present and could tell the coun
cil, whether any business had been
transacted without their knowledge
or consent at Washington. The trea
ty was in existence and the names of
the Delegation were to it, and if it
had any benefits in favor of the Creeks,
the council knew it. Facts do not sus-
tainyour talk. You charge the two
Cherokees and myself for having
transacted all important business. I
speak my own language only, and they
do not understand mine, how could
we understand each other to transact
important business?” Col. M’Kenney
said, an Interpreter tvas not consider
ed an official person & therfore he did
not mention him. ' Opothleholo pro
ceeded, “you talk a great deal of the
verbal promise, which is not recol
lected. I can also tell you, that you
have not always fulfiled your words
or your promises. Look at the Black
burn and Houston claim against us for
upwards of $5000, for whiskey con
fiscated by us at the order of our for
mer agent, Col. Hawkins. This
claim was brought here and was re
jected. It was carried to Washing
ton and rejected by the former Secre
tary of War (J. C. Calhoun) and so
written down in the books of your of
fice. This claim was again brought
forward by Gen. Cocke at Washinton,
and you wished us to pay it, and we
refused. We scarcely had turned
our backs for our nation when you
paid this claim, without our knowl
edge and consent. (See letters mark
ed B and C the only correspondence
on the subjects. Col. M’Kcnney said,
“do you deny the acknowledgement of
that claim?” The chief said he did.
“Now said, M’Kenney, I will prove
before this council and these white
men, that you did acknowledge it and
what you say is false. Ridge, was
not this claim acknowledged?” “No:
but was positively refqsed,” was my
answer. I now felt indignant at the
insolence and assurance of this gentle
man, attempting to prove a falsehood
by me. He turned to Vann and said,
he would tell the truth, and asked him
the same question. Mr. Vann said, he
knew that they had refused to pay
the claim, and that ho did not know
any thing about the acknowledgement
of it. Col. M’Kenney was now awk
wardly situated; in the attempt to
disgrace an Indian chief, the reaction
fell upon himself. lie said that he
had it in black and white at Washing-
Ion, and could prove that he was right.
The President had not sent a boy to be
contradicted in council, but had sent
a man-—-he would expose Mr* Vann
and myself in this matter, and that his
proofs were at home—these Chero
kees could not on the bible support
their statements on oath. “As rny
veracity was questioned, I told the
Creeks, I was willing to be qualified
on a stack of bibles sky high in sup
port of my statement. The chiefs
laughed and said they knew I was a
man of truth. Col. M’Kenney then
made a disconnected speech, destitute j
of any reason, apparently the effect of i
anger and disappointment. Opolhle- !
holo told him that he talked too much, |
and if he talked this way for ten days
it would not alter the determina
tion of the council. Col. M Kenney
said he was the judge of the length ot
his own speeches and would talk as
much as he pleased; and told the
Council, to respect John Ridge as
much as they pleased, but no atten
tion would be paid to their letters, if
he had any agency in it.-He was a bad
Bird—had written charges against the
Creek agent which were all black
&c.” then departed without taking
leave or waiting for a reply, abrupt
ly, more in the humor of a Terma
gant than in the dignity of a Commis
sioner of the United States.
“My doubts, says Col. M’Kcnney,
as to the success of my mission be
came strong, for I knew by one of
their laws, to succeed, the answer to
the proposition must be unanimous; a
single negative given, in what they
call their deliberate Councils, would
bring out by the mouth of their speak
er in the public square a refusal, al
though there should be four hundred
and ninety and nine of the five hundred
in favor, of the proposition.” The ab
surdity of this doctrine is too obvious
to require refutation. One vote in
five hundred cont rolling the will of a
Nation, in a free Government?—
Where is the law, and who knows any
thing about it excepting Col. McKen
ney? The treaty of the Indian Springs,
well known to all for its baseness, was
made by a minority in opposition to
the protest of the majority, who warn
ed their countrymen of the terrible
consequences of their error, and who
notwithstanding concluded the treaty,
which destroyed their leaders, and
cost the United States so much.—
Could any one at Washington believe
this story when the scenes that had
disgusted their feelings in conse
quence of that treaty were still fresh
in his recollection?
I have therefore first stated the
proceedings of the Council, &c.
JOHN RIDGE.
[to be concluded.]
the Chiefs to make good that obliga- j
tion. All that he could do, he has
done. The price that was required
for the cession was accepted, and the
whole of it was included in the appro
priation, and remitted. If this par
ticular sum you claim were added,
and formed part of it, the time of pay
ing out the consideration money as pro
vided for in the Treaty, was the time
for the Delegation to have come for
ward, and made known that ten thou
sand Dollars had been included on
their demand, for you, and for you to
have received it.
Your good sense will satisfy you
that your claim is on the Creek Na
tion, on a contract entered into be
tween you and its Delegation, and not
on the Government of the United
Stales.
If the Secretary could serve you in
any way he would be happy to do so;
but he does not see how it is possible
for him to interfere in the matter
which you have submitted through
Col. Johnson, it being one which re-
lafes wholly to yourselves and the
Creek Nation.
I am, Respectfully, your friend and
Brother.
THOS. L. McKENNEY.
[B.]
Department of War, Officf. Indian Af
fairs, Dec. 19th 1825.
To Opothle-Yoholo, &c. 8lc. k.c.
Delegates from tiie Creek Nation.
Friends & Brotiif.rs—A letter has
been addressed to the Secretary of War,
calling his attention to a claim against your
nation in favor of Houston &. Blackburn.
I am directed by the Secretary to call
your attention to it, and to request such in
formation in regard to it as you may he
able to furnish. It is stated that Mad
Wolf has some knowledge of the transac
tion in which the claim originated.
1 am your friend and brother,
THOS. I.. McKF.NNEY.
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AJ3.
One hundred and sixty acres of un
improved land, adjoining the town of
Tallahassee, in Florida, recently sold
at public sale, for nineteen thousand
six hundred and ninety-one dollars.
The Murderer Taken,—The perpe
trator of the daring and brutal mui der
of Miss B. George, of Lancaster coun
ty, in April last, has been discovered
in the person of a runaway negro, who,
on being apprehended, made a full
confession of the shocking transaction.
He is to he executed on the 23d inst.
Steam Boat Explosion.—The Whee
ling Gazette of the 24th ult. says: “At
the Canadian Reach, about 600 miles
below Louisville, sometime last week,
the boiler of the steam boat Car of
Commerce, bursted, and ffty-seicn
persons were killed and wounded
1825.
[A.]
Department of War, Office In
dian Affairs, 25th Jan. 1827.
To John Ridge, & David Vann,
Friends 4’ Brothers—Y our letter of
the 14th ult. to Col. R. M. Johnson,
on the subject of your claim for the
sum of five thousand dollars, each, in
lieu of reservations &c. has been sub
mitted by him to the Secretary of
War.
The Secretary directs me to state
that he well remembers the proposi
tion that was made for a reservation
of land for each of you; and that he
answered, it could not be complied
with, but to a commutation in money
there could, he presumed, be no ob
jection. lie also remembers that
fi\ s thousand dollars to each was nam
ed in lieu of the reservations referred
to; and he has no doubt hut the con
sideration money in the Treaty was in
creased by this much, and he had no
reason to doubt but the Delegation
who arranged this with you, having
lull powers from their Nation, would
see to the application of the money
thus provided.
You will at once perceive that the
only point which connected the propo
sition with the Secretary, and on
which lie acted, was that of rejecting
the proposition for reservations; and
that his agency in what happened af
terwards, was only an agency of acqui
escence, (as he had no control over it,
any way,) in what you, and the Dele
gation agreed upon—which was, as
the Secretary understood it, that ten
thousand Dollars more were to be
added to the consideration money, as
the terms of the purchase, and which
the Delegation, it was understood, in
tended for you.
It appears from your letter that the
distribution was made without regard
to this obligation on the part of the
Chiefs.. Whilst the Secretary would
be gratified that your views should be
answered all round in regard to that
transaction, he nevertheless has no
power to interfere and require it of
[CO
\\ ASHINGTON, 19lh Dec
Thos. L. McKenney, Esq.
Sir—Your note of this day’s date, call
ing our attention to a certain claim in fa
vor of Houston &. Blackburn, has been re
ceived. This claim has been presented to
our Nation and has been rejected. We
believe that it has met the same fate from
the Cherokee Nation. It is more than the
Delegation believes, 14 years ago, a boat
loaded with spirituous or intoxicating li
quor descended the Coosa river. The
Chiefs of the Cherokees objected to its pas
sage without effect, and the Creek Nation
made similar objections, & informed their
Agent Col. Hawkins, who ordered that it
should he confiscated, as lie was certain it
was in violation of the Intercourse law of
the United States. When our citizens at
tempted to confiscate the whiskey agreea
ble to their laws, the owners of if opposed
them by exhibiting a license, which they
said had been given by our Agent, Col.
Hawkins. This having been produced
was submitted to the Agent who pronouuc-
ed it spurious and issued an order to con
fiscate the property. The Big Warrior
was supposed to be in possession of the or
der and search was made, but could not be
found after the said claim was presented.
Not expecting a claim would be made, the
order of course was not much attended to.
To explain the cause of the transfer of the
claim from the Cherokees to our Nation
we slate, this property was confiscated by
the Creeks on the land now in the Chero
kee Nation. At that time g boundary was
not established between the two Nations,
but the Cherokees and Creeks permitted
promiscuous settlements to he made, in that
quarter where the-whiskey was taken. It
or part of it was retailed to Creek Indians,
and when it was taken, Mad Wolf being in
company, the amount of the property was
this, viz: 54 barrels whiskey—2 kegs of
powder and the boat, nothing more.
You will be better able to determine
whether it ought to be admitted, having in
view the restrictions of the Intercourse
laws of the United States imposed on the
Introduction of property without license a-
mong the Indians, particularly whiskey,
the loss of which is complained of; and if
the claim is just, a legal claim authorised
from the Agent, ought to be submitted
with the account by the claimants, which
we believe will be hard for them to do.
I am your friend and brother, in behalf
of the Delegation,
OPOTHLEYOHOLO.
By order of the Creek Delegation,
John Ridge, Secy.
TGLOT O'CMrtVChJJ.
© W* AJS4S DGoiErt 'IKAhJl TS 1828.
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Grvi.irt ^gsfof, p*xroy.
A Horse In Easton, Pa. with har
ness on, runaway, entered the dwel
ling house of Mrs. Brown, and went
up stairs into the second story. Con
tinuing a little farther, he tumbled
down a staircase, broke the banisters,
and with a terrible crash came rolling
into the kitchen, causing no small dis
may and scattering of the family, and
a great derangement of the supper ta
ble. —
The following are Candidates for the
General Council of the Cherokee Nation to
represent the District of Coosewatee.
For the Committee.
WALTER ADAIR,
JOHN RIDGE.
For the Council.
MAJOR RIDGE,
TE-SA-DASKJ,
JAMES FOSTER,
JOHN FIELDS, Jr.
WAT IE.
The following are Candidates for the en
suing Legislature of the Cherokee Nation,
to represent the District of Chattooga.
Fon the Committee,
RICHARD F.F.LDS,
THOMAS WILSON,
DANIEL GRAFFIN, Jr.
LITTLE TURTLE,
EDWARD GUNTER,
ANDREW ROSS.
For the Council.
B\RK,
AHCHILI.A SMITH,
HEAD THROWF.lt,
JOHN RATCLIFF,
LAUGH AT MUSH,
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL,
SAH-KF.-AH,
SCRAPER.
The following are Candidates for the en
suing General Council of the Cherokee
Natior, to represent the District of Chick-
ainauga.
For the Committee.
DANIEL McCOY.
RICHARD TAYLOR,
JOHN F. BALDRIDGE.
For the Council.
NATHAN HICKS,
CHARLES REECE,
CTJN-NF.-QUOH-YO-GE,
SLEEPING RABBIT,
THOMAS MANON,
TSU-NU-GE.
The following are Candidates forthe Ge
neral Council ol the Cherokee Nation to re
present the District of Alnnoc.
THOMAS FOREMAN,
GEO. FIELDS,
JOHN MILLER,
YOUNG WOLF,
JOHN WATTS,
CRAWLING SNAKE,
DE-S QUA JUNE,
DEER IN THE WATER.
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CHEROKEE ALPHABET,
Neatly printed and for sale at this Office.
cwy J5GXot.I Dh SZ.l.