The Western Georgian. (Rome, Floyd County, Georgia) 1838-18??, June 12, 1838, Image 2

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■TWIAT V-F IFtffl €<X3 SECOND SESSIOX- CHEROKEE INDIANS. In copying from the Globe a sketch of the debate in the Senate and House of Represen tatives, May 22, on the message of the Presi dent in relation to the removal of the Chero kee Indians to the West, we are enabled to give only the remarks of our own members, and those of a lbw other members who took part in the debate. IN SEN ATE. Mr. Lumpkin stood on ratlier different grounds in relation to this subject from most persons.' From time to time he had been con ferred with, in his official Station, by the Exec utive of the country. He had communed with the present and late President in relation to this affair. He had never entertained but one opinion, and that was to execute with fidelity the late treaty. Air. L. said he was aware that many of the Indians were opposed to it, and he thought them honest in their views.— 'Phe Executive was disposed to treat them with kindness and humanity; and he was persuaded that the most liberal feelings were indulged to wards these unfortunate people. The Gov ernment wished something done to soothe them, arid allay their excited feelings. Mr. L. would say to them firmly, but imperatively, *'lke treaty must be executed!" It might be due to the Secretary of War, said Mr. L., to state, that he [Mr. L.] had been consulted in relation to this matter, from which consultation, he presumed, this docu ment might have resulted. He told the Sec retary of War that he would be as ready as any man, and would go as far in acts of kind ness and humanity' to this unfortunate people. The communications he had jxi'ido to the War Department he presumed, would be found on file there, although they were addressed as a private letter. If any accommodation could be made by giving them some additional coin 'pensation, no one could be more willing to ef tect such a measure; but it was necessary they should be removed, and that at once. Mr. L. alluded to the murder of the Surveyor Gener al of his State, and shortly after, his ferryman: all which murders he attributed to the Indians, and said, as far as his State was concerned, there would be no compromise. Mr. L. con tended that the countenance these Indians had received here had been the cause of much of this excitement. Evil had been, and more would still be, brought on the Cherokee people by Ross and his immediate associates. So far as it was sought to delay' or check the fulfil ment of the treaty, the document would have no more effect than the paper he held in Lis hand. The decree had gone forth, and they must go. Mr. Cuthbgrt confessed that he had been much surprised at the tenor of the communica tion just read, and one which he had not the slightest reason for anticipating. No infor mation on the subject had been afforded him by ■ the Department of War, or by any portion of; the Executive branch of the Government. It surprised him greatly to find that there was any idea of changing a treaty solemnly ratifi ed, on the very eve of its fulfilment; and he was the more surprised at the idea of consult, mg the States interested, when the act itself of consulting them was to change the treaty. To-morrow was the day appointed for execu ting it, and yet it was proposed to consult the State of Georgia, six or Seven hundred miles off, tor the purpose ofchanging a treaty which was to go into effect to-morrow. Let the gen tleman from Massachusetts ho said, be cau tious not to give much consequence to this in terposition of the Executive. Let him be cautious, as well front) considerations of huma nity towards those unfortunate wretches, as regard for the pence of the people of Georgia, not to give too much importance to this com munication, for this treaty would assuredly be carried into effect, and any obstacles thrown in its way must produce the most fata! results. Would the interposition at this moment excite malignant feelings, a desire for revenge, and bitter hostility between the two races? If so, then let gentlemen reflect on the dangerous consequences of such interposition. He should be glad if gentlemen would suffer this paper to rest for a few day s. Ho was averse to any action on it, that would awaken hopes that ne ver could be realized, and excite feelings which would end in scenes of mischief and bloodshed. Let mo, he said, prevail on gen tiemen to pursue such a course as will allay exitement, and avoid tho giving of false hopes to those already too much deluded people. Mr. Clay of Alabama, said' he concurred in the view taken by the Senator from Georgia. He had 100 many indications in another quar ter lately in relation to quite another subject. We all knew how easily excitements were gotten up, and bow difficult'.hey were to allay. As the chairman of tho committee on Indian Affairs was not now in his seat, he would sug gest that it be permitted to lie over informally, or on the table for the present. It could then be called up at the will of any gentleman dis posed to do so. Mr. Cuthbert observed that nothing could possibly be more unfortunate, considering the conduct of the people of Massachusetts to the aborigines within her borders, and the course of her representatives here, than his reference to their consciences. The gentleman said that the “censden.•«’* of his constituents told them that wrong had been done to the Southern In dians. Where were the Indian tribes which once covered the lerri'ory of Massachusetts? W here slumbered the consciences of tho peo ple of Massachusetts when these tribes were exterminated by (hem? Yes, sir, butchered’ W ere their consciences to be aroused for the first time now, after the bones of the slaught ered red men in their holders had crumbled *» ’o dust, and when a cw had occurred of winch they knew nothing, and with which they could have nothing possibly to do? To satis fy their consciences? Who were these men whose consciences wq^-so tender? Were they the men of tender consciences who would let ; loose all the horrors of abolition in the South i ern States? Were they men who, after endea i vqring to excite a war of extermination be- tween the white man and the black man, would , now proceed to let loose the red man? We have said Mr. C. the certain and unchangea ble feeling that any attempt to arrest the exe cution of this treaty will lie followed by scenes of violence and bloodshed, at the very con , templation of which the heart sickens; and yet these men talk about their consciences, and their desire to protect the weak and the igno rant, while they are seeking to produce them. God of heaven! how are terms abused! Con . science! merciful God! for men to talk of conscience while their course leads to violence and bloodshed. Mr. Cuthbert observed that he omitted to notice, when last up, one important fact, which 1 he would now call the attention of the Senate ; to. But for the ratification of this treaty, two years ago, the State of Georgia would hersell have dispossessed these Indians of the territo : ry on which they ought not to have remained. For two years Georgia had passively yielded and suspended the operation of her laws, under : the full belief that this treaty would be faith- fully carried into effect. But just at the criti cal moment, on the very day that it was to be I executed, it was proposed to arrest it, and to consult the State of Georgia too, 700 miles, af ter she had already waited two years. He would vote for laying this communication on I the table, not to be taken up again. Mr. Webster stood on peculiar ground, it seemed, and he found i'. necessary to defend, himself. Here was a communication from the ’ President, deemed by him important to be com- | municated to the Senate. If there was any thing in that document which could have drawn forth such strange ejaculations, he thought they might as well have been directed against the source from which it emanated. He would not reply to the animadversions of the Senator, much less would he go l ack to his ancestors to trace the wrongs which have been done to the red man; they were sufficiently numerous, he dared say. The mere object he had in view when he moved to refer it, was that it should receive the respectful attention the importance of the subject demanded. Mr. Cuthbert said if there had been any fair attempt on the part of Mr. Ross to arrange the difficulties, he had no doubt they would long since have been arranged; but instead of that, this man had remained here creating pre judice and excitement, for his own selfish and ambitous purposes. If he had gone home to his people, while the fate of his nation was on the balance, mid from thence have made his appeals, there might have been less reason to impugn his motives. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr. Owens called for the reading of the ae- • companying documents which being done. Mr. Bell moved the reference of the whole i to a Committee on the Union, and that they. be printed. i On motion of Mr. Cambrelcng, the House 1 passed to tho orders of the day. After some conversation between Mr. Eve i rett ai d Mr. Cambreleng, the latter of whom stating that the above papers involved a new question. Mr. Glascock moved a vote of reconside ra- ■ tion, so ns to refer them to the committee on In dian Affairs, and gave his reasons therefor. Mr. Haynes was in favor of the latter refer-1 cuce. Mr. Everet advocated a reference to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Howard preferred the original refer- ' dice to the Committee on the Union, inasmuch as the subject was already before that body,on ; the amendments to the bill to prevent and sup press Indian hostilities. Mr. Holscy advocated tho reference to the Indian Committee, fur he could not consent to embarrass the above bill by bringing on p I protracted discussion upon tho validity of the i Cherokee treaty. Mr. H. apprehended hog. I tilities, and alluded to a murder that had al - ready taken place. ' I Mr. Reed insisted that the reference already ) I made was the proper one, and he moved to lay ; the motion to reconsider on the table. Mr. Owens expressed a hope that the gen-j tieman would not press that motion. Mr. Hulsey asked for the yeas and nays,but i ‘ they were not ordered, and the motion was in jected-—ayes 65, nocs 68. Mr. Bell knew nothing to be gain’d by the reference of the subject to the Committee on i Indian Affairs, for there was not the slightest ground to believe that that committee would i bring in any proposition. They would do no. thing, but sny “hands off'.’’ He was sorry the ' murder had been alluded to, for there were no * facts to show that it evinced a determination on the part of the Indians to commence hosjil- ; kies. As lo voting money,Mr.B. was willing to vote nil that was now and would be necessary, even to-day if it was thought expedient; but it would be useless to refer it to the Committee on Indian Affairs, as th’- Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union must eventu ally act upon it. Mr. Cambreleng advertedthe importance of the I’resident’scoinmunicaticn, which con tained several distinct propositions, all of which camo within the province of the standing Com mittee on Indian Affairs to inquire into, and gave other reasons for giving the subject that direction. Mr. Cushing expressed himself willing to yield the floor on the Northwest bo mJ ;ry quest'on to go on with the Indian Lo:;i ! ;ty: bi! 1 * The motion to reconsider was then agreed to —ayes 73, nays 69. The question® then ogait'i recurring on the conmitment to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, it was de cided in the negative, by tellers —ayes 72, noes 84. On sending it to the Committee on Indian Affairs, Mr. Everett moved to add the following in structions: ‘And that said committee have power to send for persons and papers.” Mr. Dawson assured all parties that if they expected to make any thing politically out of this'question they were very much mistaken. Where could be the necessity, or what good could result out of sending for peisons and pa pers to investigate the validity of a treaty long since ratified and confirmed? What! were they to suffer John Ross to arrest and change the whole action of this Government? Mr.D. had labored day and night to bring this man to a reasonable proposition, but he had no soo ner succeeded than in an hour afterwards he withdrew or changed his opinion. Mr. D. said the only proper course for the House to pursue was to disobey and disregard the President’s recommendations, which were in effect to declare war against the people of Georgia. He, therefore, moved to lay the whole subject on the table, but withdrew that motion at the request of Mr. Wise, who hoped this communication would be considered, and said he would pay the first compliment to the President he had ever paid in his life, for his propositions were a virtual acknowledgement that the pretended treaty was no treaty, as Mr. W. had often be fore alleged. He rejoiced that the Executive ot the United States had at lust signified a wish to do justice to the Cherokees. Mr. W. pur suant to his pledge to Mr. .Dawson, renewed that gentleman’s motion to lay the whole sub ject on the table, but withdrew it by his assent. Mr. Glascock addressed the House with ear nestness, insisting on the obligation of the trea ty of 1835, and the sacredness of the Vested rights Os Georgia under it; the certainty that her citizens would take possession of these lands, and tho imminent danger of an Indian war, Should tho Government attempt to over turn the treaty, Georgia would never bo found wanting io herself, as she had once before pro. ved. And ho would say to the gentleman from Virginia, [Air. Wise] that his bold threats about castigating his State into submission, had no terrors for him or the people he in part re presented. This was not the first limo that such threats hud boon made against Georgia, growing out of tho Indian treaties; but she al ways took her stand, and assumed her position under them, and was not to bo forced from it. She ever remained firm, as she will now, a midst all the calumnies and foul slanders which have been eagerly circulated to her injury, and unawed by every attempt of those who, under the sacred garb of humanity, seek to array against her public feeling find indigna tion. Sir, said Mr. G., she plants herself upon those rights secured and guarantied Io her un der the treaty of 1835—a treaty solemnly rat. ificd, and having all the sanctions and requis ites required by the Constitution and now the supreme law of the land; and such rights, thus secured, gentlemen of all parties might rest as sured Georgia at least would peri! her all to maintain and defend. Independent of this, said Mr. G., u large portion of his constituents had rights vested in them under this treaty, and by special enactments of their own Legislature— rights to the possession and occnpancy of their lands, and they, too, stand ready to resist, “e --ven unto death,” all encroachments upon them, coming from what quarter they may. And he could assure the gentleman from Virginia, that ifsuch contests should ever be made nec essary, however unequal and unpleasant, they would never falter. They had the firmness and courage on the one hand, to maintain their own rights under the treaty; and, on the oth er, the magnanimity to protect and defend the Indians in theirs. Sir, they stand upon the treaty; and all they ask at the hands of tho Government is a speedy enforcement of its provisions. They now ask it through their representatives, and they have a right to ex pect it. [We hope to furnish Mr. G’s remarks at length in a few days, as well as those of other gentlemen.— Globe.] Mr. Athernon then rose and demanded the previous question, as it was apparent that a protracted discussion was growing out ol this preliminary motion of reference. Mr. Owens hoped the gentleman would withdraw that motion, and permit the question to betaken on laying the subject on tho table. After some conversation between the Chair and Messrs. Wise and McKay, as to tho read ing of the papers again, Mr. Owens moved to lay the subject on the tabic, and'called fur the yeas and nays, which being ordered, were yeas 39 nays 113, —so the motion to lay on the table was decided in the negative. The question recurring on the demand for the previous question, Mr. Montgomery said he hoped this subject would be settled, temporarily at least, without further excitement; and he appealed to his friend from New Hampshire to withdraw his motion for the prev oti* question, to enable Mr. M. to move its pas: - T-ment for one week. Mr. All lernon not ...> • nting to the request, the House passed between the tellers, and sec onded the previous question —78 to 53; so the main question was ordered, put, and greed to. So the subject was referred to the commit tee on Indian Affairs. A person being asked what was meant by real ties of life,” answered real rstofe, real nren-y, an I a real good dinner. WESTERN GEORGIAN Rome, .Intie I*2, 183$. The following named gentlemen will act as Agents for the Western Georgian: Howell Cobb, Esq., of Athens, Georgia. E. M. Johnson, Esq., ®f Gainesville, <Jo. S. Ripley, Esq., of Jefferson, do. X. Erwin, Esq., of Cumming, do. John S. Bel), Esq., of Spring Place, do. R. As. Aycock, Esq., of La Fayette, do. Turman Waithail, Esq., of Cedar Town, Paulding County, do. Leroy Pattillo, P. M. Monroe, du. Charles Murphey, of Decatur, do. Dr. Hugh Quin, Chattooga, Floyd coun ty, Georgia. John Woods, Esq. Woods Station, Walker Coun’y, Georgia. Union Congressional Ticket. ROBERT W. POOLER, of Chatham. Gen.B. GRAVES, of Newton. Col. J. S. PATTERSON, of Early. D. C. CAMPBELL, Esq. of Bibb. JUNIUS HILLYER, Esq. of Clark. Hon. HIRAM WARNER, of Meriwether. Hon. ALFRED IVERSON, of Muscogee. Dr. J. G. McWHORTER, of Richmond. Gen. CHARLES 11. NELSON, of Cherokee. The Cherokees. Tho troops placed in this country, for the collection of tho Cherokees, are doing well; al ready have they collected nearly the entire na tion, especially in Georgia. From what We can learn, we do not suppose that there are five hundred Indians al this time in Georgia, out of the contrcul of the troops; so far as this country is concerned, we are satisfied that there are not ten Cherokees in it, running at large; so far as information has reached us, and so far as our knowledge extends, all has been quiet, peace and harmony. Some of tho In dians appear to some extent, discomfited, but iho great mass appear cheerful and satisfied. We most gladly congratulate the citizens of this country, v. ith tho blight prospect of a spee dy relief from the heavy clogs and trammels which they have borne with patience for the Last six years. We now see the day in full view, when the entire Cherokee Nation East, will strike its line of march to lhe setting sun, far beyond tho great Mississippi. Wo give them a hearty shake by the hand, in tho spirit of peace and friendship; bid them a pleasant journey; a welcome and joyous reception by their brethren west; a happy home, and a qui et wigwam, so long as “witter runs, dr grass grows.” The agents appointed for this coun ty by the Superintendent of Cherokee emigra tion, to sell end dispose of tho Indian’s proper ty, have nearly completed the duth s assigned them, and will soon be enabled to make their report to the superintendant. We learn that the property has generally sold at a fair price. While every thing connected with Cherokee emigration, is in the happy tide of prosperity, we regret, very much, io say the least of it, to see the very imprudent and improper course of the Executive of the United States, towards John Ross, and his delegation. The time ne ver was when such a course would bo proper, ’ but of all other times, this is tho most innuspi. Icious; his policy to Ross may be fraught with consequences, both to the white and red man, which the Executive may hereafter have much causo to regret. We know there is no pros pect of tho suecessof any such policy, yet it is unpleasant lo witness it. Georgians havo too much at stake in securing tho quiet of their newly acquired territory, to listen to Execu tive councils, or the “proposed arrangements,” by the Secretary of War with Ross and his delegation, or yield to Indian exactions. But wo have done for the present, and refer our readers to our first page, for further informa tion in regard to this “proposed arrangement” ■ between the Secretary of War and the Russ delegation. Tho following official letter has been trans mitted by Mr. Poinsett, to the Governors of each State, interested in the removal of the Indians: Department of War, / Muy 23, 1838. J Sir —l have the honor to transmit herewith to your Excellency, a copy of a proposed ar- | rangement, with John Ross and other Chiefs,, and head men of the Cherokee nation, now in this city. Your Excellency wi.l perceive in these proposals, that the government, while it seeks to procure the co-operation of the dele gation in the peaceable removal of the Chero kees, has carefully abstained from compromit ing the rights and interests of tho States con cerned in the execution of the treaty. It is not supposed that it will require so long as two years, to remove the remaining Cherokees to their new homes west of the Mississippi; but, whatever term of time may be necessary to their comfortable emigration, the .Department relies upon the generosity of the Stales inter ested, not to press their claims so long as they are sat.sfied that due diligence is used by tLo agents of the nation to effect this desirable ob ject, as speedily as practicable. Very respectfully, Your most ob’t servant, J. R. POINSETT. To the Governors of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina. For the Western Georgian. Mr. Jack: It is with no less regret than astonishment, that the people of the Cherokee Country' have read the late answer of tho Secretary at War, to the propositions of Mr. John Ross and his self created co-delegates at Washington. Has not the language of tho Federal Government to th s man Ross and his associates, on tho sub ject of a new treaty—an alteration, modifica toin or enlargement of the treaty at New Echo ’ ta—hitherto been prompt and decisive in rejec ting all his propositions on this subject, and e ven notifying him, that as tho treaty of New Echota had become tho Supremo law of tho land, by the ratification by the Senate, all cor. respoiidence and propositions for its alteration were interdicted by the President? Yet after ail this, what do we see? To our mortifica tion—to the disgrace of the Government—and to the hazard of the most sacred interest, peace and quiet of this country, we see all these sol emn annunciations suddenly taken back! We know not the motives which havo prompted the President to this course. Be them, how ever, what they may, wo are wholy unable to appreciate them for good; however they may be garbled under the colouring of a false and morbid humanity, towards the whites or Indi ans, to our minds they exhibit a weakness and timidity, wholy incompatible with- what should be the character of the high funetionary from : which they have emanated, not to mention, the I crying injustice which uoild le inflicted on i tho rights of the persons and property of the people of this country, were their Objects con summated. In this communicatron we aro told, what? That Mr. Ross and bis party, on behalf of the Cherokeo nation, “engages and stipulates lo remove from ail the lands now oc cupied by them east of the Mississippi, and hereby ronourrees and relinquishes to the Uni ted States all claim of every descriplion to such lands: such removal to be commenced nt tho earliest convenient period, and to be fu.ly completed within two years from (his date; u> be effected by the Cherokees themselves, and' by their agents; and the entire expense of re moval to bo defrayed out of the money to bo paid by the United States, as herein after pro vided.” To which the Secretary replies:— “As has been before observed, the Govern ment of the United States could not agree to this act without the consent of the States whoso rights arc involved, and whose interests may be affected by this stipulation; but the Execu tive pledges itself to use its best efforts to in duce them to abstain from pressing their claims in a manner that would produce loss or incon venience to the Choiokee people, and would 1 be inconsistent with their being removed with ev ery reasonable comfort. From the well known humanity and generous character of the States of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina, there ran be no doubt of their gran ting every indulgence, which the interests of humanity require; and if two years are neces sary for the comfortable removal of the nation, the undersigned toill venture to assure lhe dele gation that their - 'quest will be granted." Now • who is there that can see any good in all this? After the Government has already been at tho trouble and expense of ordering some ten thou sand troops into this country for the purpose of carrying the Treaty into execution prompt ly, as it had previously pledged itself to do, both to lhe Indian? and the States’ interest, and as was its unquestioned duty. We will here remark, that the amount of expense in curred, and the number of troops ordered into this country for this purpose, is no doubt, ten fold the amount absolutely necessary; but we will not ut this time, cornplain of this, only as an item of unnecessary prodigality on the part of the Government, should not the operations of these troops hereafter be .attempted to be used io awe us into n relinquishmeut of our rights. At the very time this famous “conces sion,” —for such the Secretary calls it—makes it appearance, the treaty is substantially exe cuted so far as Georgia is concerned—the In dians in Georgia having nearly all been col lected, without violence or bloodshed, by tho prudent and energetic measures of the Geor gia mililia. Who authorised tho “Executive to pledge itself” to John Ross “to use its best efforts to induce” the States interested “to ab stain from pressing their claims in a manner that would produce loss”or even l ‘inconveni~ ence to the Cherokee people?” when that very same Executive knows, or ought to know, that an omission to press that claim might be worse at this crisis, than a total abandonment of it; Even the best that could possibly result to tha people of this country ficm such a course, would be to turn them out cf house, home and land, with their families, and yield their farmr ■ and improvements to the Indians for two years, unless tho Indians cc ; i remove