Cherokee phoenix. (New Echota [Ga.]) 1828-1829, March 13, 1828, Image 3

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guy, however, that Mr. M. is notori ously guilty of violating the rules oi Rhetoric, (which by the way an ora tor ought always to observe, when he makes a speech,) in delighting to use hyperbolical expressions; and fur ther in this present instance, he ap pears to evince a determined spirit of misrepresenting, or very great ignor ance of things which lie within the compass of his observation. That which I have now quoted is certainly very great exaggeration, as every per son the least acquainted with th*i pet ty Governments of the Indians will easily perceive, and it is a wilful mis statement, if the speaker intended, as he undoubtedly did, to apply his re marks to the Cherokees. I believe liberty is as sweet to a Cherokee as to a white man, and it is with pleasure I can say that we have never been shackled with the “iron grasp” of a despot, and I hope that we will not only boast of being a free people, but be so in reality. Let us not possess liberty only in name, but let it grow freely, until its branches shall over shadow every family, and- equality, peace, comfort and intelligence, which are the ingredients of liberty, shall prevail without intermission through these hills and mountains. I will here transcribe the words of an Author, who deserves, to say the least, as much / credit as Mr. M. and is certainly ■ more capable of enlightening our minds on this subject. “The Indians are perfect republi cans; they will admit of no inequality ■among them but what arises- from age, or great qualifications- for either council- or war. Although this is the case in peace, yet in war they ob serve great discipline, and perfect subordination to their beloved man | who carries the holy ark, and to their ' officers, who are appointed on account 1 ' of the experience they have had of their prowess in war, and good con duct in the management, and surpris- | mg of an enemy, or saving their men by a timely retreat; but this subor dination ends with the campaign.”— [Star in the lVest.] One or two more quotations from Mr. M. will suffice. “ In their pre- *cat situation, it could not he denied that they are an injury both to lliem- jselves, and to the people among whom they reside.” This assertion, howev er, can be boldly contradicted, as far vis the Cherokees arc concerned, not withstanding the confidence with which it is made. We have only to appeal to disinterested men who have frequently visited u's, and made their reports. Mr. McKenney for instance, n his letter to the Secretary of War, n extract of which I notice in the rst number of your paper, lms done us-thc justicb to give us our due.— He has my thanks, though I must here acknowledge," that some of the (doctrines which he recommends arc jreougnant to my feelings, & I believe hey must be to all, except such as are already “held in bondage with an iron grasp.” The following is as absurd as it is unfounded. “They are as if they had been taking a dose of slow poison, lie deleterious effects of which are radually destroying them.” The esult of the census which was taken in 1824 by order of the General Coun cil proves beyond a doubt the falsehood of this remark, as it respects the Cherokess. On comparing the cen- us of 1824 and the one taken by or- er of the General Government a umber of years ago, it will be seen hat the Cherokees have been on the ncrcase, nearly equal in ratio with the vhites; and the difference of the two tatistieal tables taken at the two pe- iods, incontrovertably shews, that e are not on a retrograde motion.—r- hc Speaker, after exhausting words, hich may have a tendency to shew ur wretched and most degrad- d condition, recommends a remedy, nd that is nothing more than our peedy removal to the west of Missis- ippi, beyond the limits of any State r.Territory. There he is to put a w kind of Government on our shoul- ?rs, appoint Governors, Judges and her officers over us, and establish chools amongst us, “not your A B C chools.” [Where shall we learn ur letters if we are not to. have Schools of a lower order?] And all ns is to be done, ifl properly under and the subject, without our desire, ithout our approbation, and without ir vote. If this is not a “bondage ith an iron grasp,” I confess I do not derstand the terms. There up ears to he a new kind of friendship, r- Editor, in Jhc coining of which, this subject of concentration hn9 Jiad no small agency—But it is worse than none. It is much like the friend ship of Joab, who, we are told, went to Amasa and said unto him, “Art thou well my brother? Jlrul Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’g hand: so lie smote him therewith in the fifth n'6.” It is to be lamented that public men should not he sufficiently scrupu lous in making, assertions, liable to contradiction, and to public scrutiny. The same beaten track ;s still trodden by those who declaim on the condi tion of the Indians, though one would suppose it' to be too late in the day. It. was my opinion that the Indians were frequently, and intentionally mis represent cd, and I r.m sorry to say that the speech, which lias been the cause of this unworthy communication, has most sadly confirmed my believe. H©c3 pa. nee. 1 *".v, th g, ujjl IEW ECMOTA: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1823. CONGRESS.-Ourlast Washington pa pers contain a debate which took place in the bouse of representatives, on the resolu tion, recommended by the Committee on In dian Affairs, published in the second Num ber of our paper. It appears that the advo cates of this new system ofcjvilizing the In dians are- very strenuous in maintaining the novel opinion, that it is impossible to enlighten the Indians, surrounded as they are by the white population, and that they will assuredly become extinct, unless they arc removed. It is a fact which we would not deny, that many tribes have perished away in consequence of white population, but we are yet to be convinced that this will always be the ease, in spite of every measure taken to civilize them. We con tend that suitable measures to a sufficient extent have never been employed. And how dare these men make an assertion with out sufficient evidence?- What proof have they that the system which they are now re commending, will succeed. Where have we an example in the whole history of man, of a Nation or tribe, removing in a body, from a land of civil and religious means, to a perfect wilderness, in order to be civiliz ed. We are fearful these men are building castles in the air, whose fall will crush those poor Indians who may he so blinded as to make the experiment. We ara sor ry to see that some of the advocates of this system speak so disrespectfully, if not contemptuously, of the present measures of improvement, now in successful opera tion among most of the Indians in the li nked States:—the only measures too, which have been crowned with success, and bid fair to meliorate the condition of the Abo- ortgincs. The following remarks of Mr. Vinton, on this subject, in the House of Representa tives, we freely publish, as our readers in this Nation will be glad to perceive that this concentrating business has met with a manly opposition, and as the views of Mr. Vinton generally, so far as they have been expressed in this extract, are consonant to our views and feelings. What is the proposition of Mr. Monroe? It is, first that you shall es tablish certain fundamental principles of policy, and then send intelligent men to the Indians to explain those p.inciples; and when they give their assent, then, to fulfil the recommend ation of the message of 1825, you may remove them. They rely on the gov ernment for protection, and this is tiie proper course. Instead of this, we have pressed the Indians over the Mississippi, without giving them any choice, or assurance of protection. It is a policy of death or desolation, and they who force this upon the In dians opghl to pause before they pro ceed.further. He referred to two or three cases which had occurred. A treaty was made with the Florida Indians, while living in Happiness and prosperity, in the heart of the country. A gentle man holding high a station in Florida, had told hjm that lie was struck with the comfortable manner in. which these Indians were living, compared with the Indians at the north. We sent our coipinissiqners to them to ask them to leave this country for one cf send & sterility. They refused to go. They are told, they must-they should o;o. They then threw themselves on the mercy of the commissioners, and the organ of that nation told us. in the most powerful language, that, death must be the inevitable consequen e of the policy ol commissioners. This language was prophetic of the trnge- 1 dy which followed. It wa$ after wards established here, that 1500 of these poor Indians perished of starva tion in the swamps to which they were removed. We ilien voted 2U,U00 dol lars for their relief; and he had the honor to point, out the provision, in the severalty. They must be brought to consent ly these modifie'atioi.s which are necessary to the improvement of their condition. Supposing all this preliminary pro cess gone through, and you place 100,- bill which extended their territory of | 000 individual* in the wilderness- good land. Vet we art now told by j men, strangers to each other, enter- Cov. Cuss, tha* the Indian s ure wsst- ing away in the w ilderuess with u la- pidiiy which is-unl.now n in b.e \ i init v of th.: whites. lie aocoun 's for this the gentleman from Fluida, tha th condition of there India) ■ is now suc h that they are obliged lc picy upon his constituents. liow docs he piopose to relieve them? BysenrJig them 2000 miles further north, lie would point out another, and a speedier method of relief. lie. called on Li* colleague, who is at the head of the Committee on Indian Affairs, and whois in a meas ure responsible for the lives of these Indians, to see this treaty fulfilled, lie called on his colleague, as a clr.ia- tian to do this; and he pledged himself to call the attention'of tlie House to the provision on some suitable oeca sion. Ha referred to the policy which had been pursued towards the Quapas whom we had removed to the Red River, and supported for a time. We- now hear of the misery of these poor Indians.—As to the Delawares, re moved from Indiana into Missouri, which seems to be the common resev- oir of the Indians. In 1825, these Indians, as soon as they crossed the hunting path of an Osag< , created difficulties; and it was with great dif ficulty that a war ofextermina 1 ion be tween these tribes was prevented. The executive lias recommended, ns the only means of preserving peace, that the Delawares shall be removed jOO miles from the Gsages; yet in-the same paper, it is strongly recommen ded, absurd as it may teem- the io in- try West should be laid off into con tiguous Districts for the Indian tribes. His colleague had yesterday pro duced a letter from. Governor Clarice to be read, which, probably lutd its effect upon the committee. It was there said that these Indians were per ishing; and that, unle'ss relieved, they must break out upon other tribes, for pillage. This, the letter says is the result of the removal of these Indians from their comfortable homes; and ought to operate upon its to be careful how we remove them hereafter. The facts he had staled were the strongest arguments against loving another step until we have provided those principles which will protect them from want and death. It is avow ed that this-is the policy of the Gover nment. If we allure the Indians-bcyond the Mississippi, the whole of the Indi ans, as soon as vve have taken this first step, will be allured, by powerful in ducements, to follow', until the whole have migrated. It is a system of cru elty, fraud and outrage,"which.has no parallel. If w r e are to proceed with this policy why do not gentlemen offer some prin ciple to consideration which may be a- dopted & made known & acted on, in stead of seducing the Indians gradually to migrate, under those circumstances to which he had referred. lie regarded this movement as push ing forward these- Indians half way to that ocean- where, it is to he feared, they are.ultimately destined to termin ate their existence and misery togeth er. Gentlemen have described in glowing terms the condition of these Indians. They tell us that the Indians cannot be civilized in the neighborhood of the whites, that man cannot he civ ilized in the vicinity of civilized man. —He contended that w T e had not tes ted. t,hi$ assertion. We have done no act of legislation to incorporate them into the family of civilization. We have never undertaken to regulate the principles on which property is held among them. We have done nothing to break down the system of Kings and Chiefs among them. Until we have done this, it is wrong to argue they cannot he civilized. How did we find these Indians? With the exception of the Cherokees, who have formed a Constitution, we find the Indians gov erned by the same laws, as when the pilgrims first came to this country.— lie asked if it would not be too great an effort to be expected from uncivil ized men to break these shackles.— Tt is not to he expected from Iho chiefs and head men, that thev will destroy their own power and influence. But suppose these Indians are re moved across the Mississippi. We all agree that they are not to he removed unless their condition shall lie better ed. What is to he done to better that condition? They must he brought to consent to the removal, to change the evisfi iir relations between the chiefs and people to hold their property in tabling opinions and feelings in hoslili ty to each other—and you undertake to civilize them. He asked by what process-this is to he accomplished.— All that has yet been said on the sub ject, is mere declamation. We find then there is total ignorance of the laws and regulations of the new Gov ernment which is to be imposed upon them. He would-ask, by what legis lative spell these people could be at once reduced to order and civilization. He who could accomplish it, woud de serve a higher fame than that of Solon oi’ Lycurgus. But, as his; col league yesterday re marked, there were no Elysian fields in the wilderness. Where do we hear of misery and distress.' Is it on this side the Mississippi? With the ex ception of Florida, it. is not. It is be yond the Mississippi. The letter which was yesterday,read proves this- fact. It is said the Indians only degenerate in the vicinity of the w hiles. Here the argument is not-sup; oi led by (lie fact. He referred i-o (lie opinions of but si.ice the tradcis arms into their hands to ■}• animals merely for the s; hides, they regie, t laying in for the winter, and dost. w. i; ;uy of on rational principles. While their knowledge was confined to-the how and arrow,they were unabh to destroy the immense herds of bundlo and elk; i- put fire the the rovision e means WHICH Ih vidence lr,.s giv.- n for their own subsistence The onsequcfire of ten is, the most ouvor ;ibei-le suffering fiom hunger, and sometimes actual If. then, you put these Indians t region o! country, you send into the midst of desolation.— is the eons-quence? It would require lass to sustain an army of 200,- 000 men than to support half that number of Indians five hundred miles in the interior. death, in thru the in What TURKISH CANNON- ft is singular that in our ccniih <s with barbarians, or with half-disciplined trooj s, we generally■.sustain a heavier loss than in our battles with veterans and well organized armies. Wlieth er this arises from our contempt of the enemy inducing us to attack them at greater odds, or at closer quarters, or that such foes are stim ulated by the fiercer passions of un tamed nature, vve eannot determine, hut the fact is well worthy of i onsid- eration. In our battles with the Americans last war, our loss was al ways heavy in the extreme. Our at tack on Algiers v, as attended w ith a loss of life nearly equal to any thing we had ever sustained on board of a fleet; & if we inelucle the numbt n, on. board the Russian ships at Navarino,we shall find the total number killed & wound ed to he nearly ns great as in any of our battles last war. With respect to the Turks, this may arise from the ex tremely heavy cannon which they gen erally use. In our ships. and, we be lieve, in our batteries, we seldom use a heavier gun than a 32-pounder. No man-of-war carries any cannon of a larger calibre, hut the Turks make use of even 800-pounders. \V hen Sir J- Duckworth passed the Dardanelles to attack Constantinople, in 1807, his fleet was dreadfully shattered by these immense shot. The Royal George was nearly sunk by only one shot, which carried away her cutwat- ter; another cut the main-mast of the Windsor Castle nearly in two; a shot knocked two ports of life -thunderer into one; tiie Repulse (71) had her wheel shot away and 24 men killed and wounded, by a single shot, nor w as the ship saved but by the most wonderful exertions. One of these guns was cast in brass in the reign of Amurat; it was composed of two ports joined by a screw at the chamber, its breach resting against a massy stone work; the difficulty of charging it would not allow its being fired more than once; hut, as a Pacha once said, that single discharge would destroy almost a w hole fleet of an enemy. The Baron de Toll, to the great terror of the Turks. resolved to firo this gun. The shot iweighed 1.1001b;, and he load ed it with 3301b. of pow der: he says,“I felt a shock like an earthquake, at the distance of eight hundred fathoms. I. saw the hall divide into three pieee*J and these fragments of a rock crossed the Strait, and rebounded on the moun tains. The heaviest shot which struck our ships was of granite^ and weighed 3001b., and was two feet two inches diameter. One of these hugh shot, to the astonishment of our tars, stove in the whole larboard ho.w of the Active; and having thus crushed, this immense mass, of stijid timber, the shot rolled ponderously alt. and hvo.T up abreast the main hatchway, <|ie crew standing aghast at the singular spectacle. A few years ago, a party of English midshipmen craw led into one of tl’.ese guns on their hands and knees, to the no small amusment of' the Turks.—Ji laic English paper- Savages first seeing a watch. One-morning during Fenaw's stay r*t tiiis island, some of (lie natives brought Mr. Mariner’s watch, which they hod procured from his chest, and with looks of curiosity inquired- what it was. He toe k it from them, wound, it up, and put it to the ear of ope of them-and returned it. Every hand was now- out stretched with eagerness to take hold of it—it was applied in turns to their ears—they wore aston ished at the noise it made—they lis tened asrrin to it—turned it on every side, and exclaimed, “Moo-ovi” (it pi alive.)—They pinched and hit it, as if expecting it would speak out-they looked at each other with wonder, laughed aloud, and snapped their fin gers. One brought a sharp stony for Mr. Mariner to force it open w it!),. He opened it in the proper way, and showed them the works. Sever 1 endeavored to seize hold of it at cncq- hut one ran off with it. and ail thcicst after him. About an hour after they returned with the watch completely broken to pieces, and giving bin? the fragments, made signs for him to make it do as it did before. Upon his me* king them undeistand that they hae| killed it, and (hat it was impossible to firing it to life again, the man who considered-it r.s his property, exclaim-' ing-mow (spoiled,) and miking a hiss ing noise, expressive of disappoint* nie-nt, accused :b<? lest cf using it With violence; and they in their turn, ar-, cased him and each other; Whilst they were in high dispute, another mo tive approached, who had seen and !earned the use of a watch on board a French ship. Understanding the i a use of (heir dis ute he called them all cow-vale (a pack of fools,)aqd exr plained in the following manner, the use of the watch. Making a code in the sand, with sundry marks about its ciroomfereiK e, and turning a stick almut tha centre cf the circle to rep resent an index-, he informed them- that the use of the watch was to tell w here the sun wi s—that when the sum was in the cast, the watch would point to such a mark, and when the sun waft; highest it would point low—and when in the west, it would point there, and this he said the watch would uo, al though it was in the house, and could noi see the sun; adding that in. the night time, n w ould tell what portion ol a i clay s length it w ould be before the sun ! would rise again. It would be ditfi- I cult to convey on adequate idea of j their astonishment. One said it was an animal, another said.it was a plant-*- but when he told them it was maim* factured, they all exclaimed—Foon- noor lioto! what an ingenious poo*- pie.—Mariner's Account of the '1 onja islands. DIED—In litis neighbourhood, on ilia 8th in,taut Mr. EDMUND CRUTCH;' FIELD. We arc told that the deceased went to bed apj arently well, and was found a corpse the next morning. At A11>anv,«n the lltli ultimo, vorv sud* denlv, His Excellency DE WITT CLINr TON, Governor of the State of N ew Yci k. (pan?.—.o-Qtsy sir,* 81, 0 3 IiF {W>1'4T rotrz o-rr.xo- Ts.rr. etsy^Myii qct** TVoT-, !i.ISYKU-6*V* IiA.38 TltUlA-lT, lU til 0=01 AS r. x.sy o-nte-RT ne.:<* js NOTICE, A LL persons are hereby fort warned a- gainst trading tor a Nr.lo of hand, given bv the Subscriber to James Cunning* ham, of Ten. for the sum of $14 with a. credit of fine dollars; dated the 19th dav of February 1S23. Also a Due Bid of thirty tb’ir dollars given liy Alexander McCoy in favour of Michael A, Render with a credit of about two dollars and twenty five cents made ores to said James Cunningham by me. As the consideration for which the said Note and Due 11 M were given, has proved to be unsound, 1 ant determined not to i ay- except by due c.ouse of law. EDWARD ADAIJL- Mapph 6,1828.—fMK