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remind you of facts within your recol lection. Early in july last one of the undersigned, (to wit,) Gen. Cocke, reached New Town, otherwise New Echota, and was introduced, together with his Secretary, to the Committee and Council then in session, by Major Ridge, the Speaker of the Nation.— In addressing them he informed that General Cocke and two others were appointed by the President of the Uni ted States to hold Councils with the Nation, and recommended to them the extension of the hand of friendship as a token of their respect for the Gen eral’s character, and attachment to and confidence in the government of the United States. This occurred on the 4th of July, as you both must well recollect. How then can it be “sudden and unexpected?” On this visit to the Nation Gen. Cocke applied to Mr. M’Coy, the principal Secretary of the nation, for the names of the Commit tee and Council, which was promised; but was afterwards informed by the Secretary, that Mr. John Ross had directed him not to impart that infor mation. Thus it became impossible to “consult the convenience of the members of the Committee and Coun cil” by the act of Mr. Ross, who the undersigned suppose to be the same person, whose signature is fixed to your joint letter. You then mention the great expence .that would attend the nation in consequence of the pro posed meeting. The undersigned with pleasure assure you that ample means have been afforded them by the Presi dent of the United States to defray every expence, and the necessary sup plies are now provided. Should the invitation be disregarded, it cannot be considered by the government of which we are the representatives in any other character than as disre spectful and contemptuous. Since the arrival of the undersigned at the Cherokee Agency they have been furnished with the written Con stitution of your nation, establishing a Separate Independent Government, not amenable nor subject to that of the United States. We take leave to en quire, is the present refusal to meet us in Council intended to shew that in dependence? or should the states, within whose limits the Cherokee Na tion is located, extend their laws and jurisdiction to those limits, can the Cherokees expect the interference And aid of the government of the Uni ted States. The undersigned address you as two Chiefs of the Cherokkee Nation. They are uninformed of the fact, nor l&aveyou, in your letter, stated wheth er you act in a public or private ca pacity not even by your signatures. We again remark that the Agency U the place designated & established as the place to transact all business be tween the United States and the Che rokee Nation, and located by the spe cial request of the Cherokees; and where all treaties records and docu ments, in which the United States and the Nation are interested, are depos ited. It is also the duty of the Agent to guard the interest of the Cherokees. Near his residence must be selected to enable him faithfully to discharge that trust. The undersigned will re main, and attend daily at the Rattle Snake springs near the Agency; or at the Agency, which ever is most agree able to the Nation, until all may have a sufficient time to attend, that think proper. They must then retire and report all the facts to their govern ment. They remew their invitation to the Chiefs, Head men and Warriors of the Cherokee Nation to meet them for the purposes mentioned in their better of the 23d of August last. ALEXANDER GRAY, JOHN COCKE, GEO. L. DAVIDSON. council a visit. We regret to find that the Commissioners peisist in urg ing the General Council to be conven ed at a place, where it would be im practicable to get the assent of the members of Committee and Council to meet them, as has before been stat ed. You will please to deliver them ♦he accompanying Communication in reply to their letter. JNO ROSS, his MAJOR* RIDGE, mark To Head or Coosa, Cherokf.e Nation, September 26, 1827. Col. Hugh Montgomery, Sir: We have received your letter by Mr. Cowan enclosing a letter from Gens. John Cocke, Alexr. Gray and Geo. L. Davidson, and requesting our prompt attention to their call, and. to treat it with that respect and atten tion due to it. We assure you that it is sincerely desired on our part to treat all the Public Agents of the Gen eral Government with proper respect and attention. As a manifestation of that disposition those Gentlemen were Invited to attend the General Council of the Nation at New Echota on the 8th day of Oct: next; at which, time and place it would afford us pleasure to see you also, and we hope that you Will make it convenient to pay our Ridge’s Perry, Cherokee Nation, Sept. 27, 1827. Generals, Gray, Cocke and Davidson. Gentlemen:—Your letter of tfe? 23d. in reply to ours of the 15th inst. was received by your special messen ger on last evening, and we avail our selves of the opportunity presented by his return in replying to your remarks. You express astonishment and regret at the Contents of our letters. We assure you that it was not intended to produce those feelings; but when facts are fairly and impartially scrutinized, we hope that no just cause will be found for youf astonishment and re gret. And in reply to a certain pa ragraph of our letter in which we re marked that your general invitation for a General Council of the Cherokee Nation wna “sudden and unexpect ed,” as “the convenience of the mem bers of the committee and Council had not been consulted,” in fixing the time and place appointed b/ you you observe that you will remind us of facts within our recollection, and then proceed to state that, “early in july last, General Cocke reached New Echota, and was introduced, together with his Secretary, to the Committee and Council then in session, by Major Ridge Speaker of the Nation; and in Addressing them [the Com mittee and Council] he [Major Ridge] informed that General Cocke and two others were appointed by the Presi dent of the United States to hold Councils with the nation, and recom mended to them the extension of the hand of friendship, as a token of their respect for the General’s character, and attachment to, and confidence in the Government of the United States;’ and that “this occurred on the 4th of July as [we] both must well recol lect.” And you ask “how then can it be sudden and unexpected?” Here you will please permit us to reply, and to state facts attending General Cock’s visit at New Echota in July last. The General arrived at New Echota on the 3d. of July, in compa ny with a Gentleman whom he intro duced as Major Hyne, together with Messrs- Lewis Ross and Joseph Coo- dy. The General Council was then in session, and was expected to adjourn on the evening of that day; but, in consequence of its having been rumor ed from newspaper reports, that Gen. Cocke and two other gentlemen from North Carolina were appointed by the President of the United States to hold a conference with the Cherokee Na tion, for a certain object, and as Gen eral Cocke had arrived, it was deem ed proper that the Council should be prolonged, with a view of giving Gen eral Cocke an opportunity of commu nicating to the General Council the object of his visit, and to assertain if lie had come in the capacity of a Com missioner from the United States.—- Accordingly a resolution vva9 passed to postpone the meeting of the Conven tion to the 5th of the month provided the business of the General Council should not be disposed of on the 4th. And when the Council was convened on the 4th, Gen. Cocke and Major Hyne appeared in front of the Council house, where Major Ridge, (one of the un dersigned;) speaker of the Council, an old acquaintance of the General’s, went forward, and took the General by the hand, and the General then in troduced Major Ridge to Major Hyne, Major Ridge then Conducted them in to the Council room, and introduced the Gen. to the members ns an old acquaintance, who had commanded the East Tennessee Troops at Fort Armstrong in the first Campaign of the Creek War. He then conducted the General and Major Hyne up into the Committee room; and on entering the room Mqjor Ridge observed to the members of that body, “This is Gen. Cocke, a friend and an old ac quaintance, who had served in the Creek War, and no doubt he is known to some of you; give him the hand of friendship.” At this introductionJMr. John Ross, (one of the undersigned,) President of the Committee, and also an old acquaintance of the General’s, rose and took him by the hand, and was then introduced by the General to Ma jor Hyne; and the members of the house, each in succession, rose and shook the hands of the General and Major Hyne, an* their names were respectively imparted to General Cocke. After being seated a while, they retired, and the Council continu ed in session'until towards the latter part of the day; and General Cocke having made no intimation of his ap pointment, nor Communicated the ob ject of his visit, the General Council was then adjourned, and the members of the convention then met and organ ised them<clves for business Thus ended theCouneil in July last. And as General Cocke did not make himself known js a commissioner, nor suggest ed any thing on the subject ofhis visit, or of jour intention to appoint a place and time for the purpose of inviting a General Council of the Cherokee nation, previous to the session which is to take place at New Echota on the 8th day of next month, therefore we could not but have said that your in vitation was “sudden and unexpect ed.” Further, you state that “ General Cocke applied to Mr. McCoy, the Principal Secretary of the Nation, for the names of the Committee and Coun cil, which was promised, but was af terwards informed by the Secretary, that Mr. John Ross had directed him nut to impart that information, and thus it became impossible to “consult the convenience of the members of the Committee »nd Council” by the act of Mr. Ross, who you suppose to be the same person whose signature is fixed to our joint letter. Here again we bfeg leave to remark, that General Cocke remained several days after the rise of the General Council, and during the sitting of the Convention, in the course of which time it was un derstood, that the General had enquir ed of a private individual, if he could furnish him with a list of the names of the members of the Committee and Council. Being answered in the ne gative. the General then on the eve of leaving New Echota asked Mr. M Coy, clerk of the Committee, and who was then acting as secretary to the Convention for a list. Upon re ceiving this information the members of the Convention expressed a curiosi ty to know the object of the General for applying for the list in such a pri vate manner, and he not having com municated to any person the object of his visit, they in order to draw from the General an idea of bis visit, as well as his design for soliciting the list of names, requested Mr. Ross, then President of the Convention, to ask Mr. McCoy if Gen. Gocke bad given him any reasons for requesting a list of the names, and if not, to request Mr. McCoy to defer furnishing the list, until the General should give some reasons for making the request this request of the members, as stat ed, was communicated to Mr. McCoy who said that the General had assign ed no reasons for making the request soon after this the General and Major Hyne left the place, without hearing any thing further respecting the list of names. You are not mistaken ii supposing that Mr. Jno. Ross, refer red to is the identical person who sign ed the joint letter you received from us. Gentlemen', these statements are indisputable facts, and can be estab lislied by the members of the Com mitt.ee and Council, and of the Con vention, so far as come within their respective knowledge; and it is pain ful to us to be compelled to make statements in contradiction to your own understanding; altho’ we cannot for a moment suppose, that the Hon orable Gentleman, who coramunicat ed what you have staled, could have designedly misrepresented them,there fore we must belierve that he has been misinformed in these particulars, thro the medium of misinterpretations.—- General Cocke being introduced the members of the Committee and Council in session, we cannot see bow it became “impossible to consult their convenience” on the subject of appointing a place and time for a Gen era! Council. We believe it would have been uncourteous and imperti nent for the members of the Commit tee and Council to have called upon General Cocke, or any other gentle man, for information respecting the object of his visit, and to have asked more properly the province of General Cocke to have introduced the subject ofhis visit; and his failing to uo so ought not unjustly to cast blame on any other person. You say that ample means have been afforded you by the President of the United States to defray aery ex pense, and that the necessary supplies are now provided. There are various incidental expenses attending the meeting of the General Council ol the nation, independent of supplies of aliment, such as the employment of cooks, members’ pay for services &c. $lc. which we cannot suppose are con templated to be embraced in the ample means afforded you by the President. You further remark, “should our invitation be disregarded, it cannot be considered by the General Govern ment in any other character than dis respectful and contemptuous. *’ We would here assure you with profound sincerity, that nothing is more remote from the intention or wish of the re presentatives of this Nation, than to treat the Public Agents of tne Gene ral Government with disrespect or contempt. You have also thought proper to speak of the Constitution of the Na tion, as establishing a seperate Inde pendent Government, not amenable or ubject to that of the United States; and you enquire if the present refusal to meet you in Council is intended to shew that independence; or should the States within whose limits the Cherokee Nation is located extend their law3 and jurisdiction to those limits can the Cherokees expect the interference and aid of the Govern ment of the United States? We would remark that the Constitution is not considered in any respect to change the relationship which the Nation sustains with the Government of the United States. It was adopt ed with no view to set up an indepen dence unwarranted by the Treaties with the United States, therefore we have every just reason and confidence to expect the protection of the Unit ed States in good faith, in supporting such rights as are secured to the Che rokee Nation by our Treaties. And we hope, Gentlemen, after all the so licitudes which have been so laudably manifested by the greatest and best of men, General Washington, for the civilization of the Cherokee Nation and for an improvement in their civil Government, and which objects have been patronized by the succeeding Presidents, and now, when the Chero keeS are beginning to embrace the comforts of civilization, that you are not disposed, as Commissioners of the present administration, to find fault with our improvement in Government al as well as in domestic affairs; by endeavoring to disorganize our system and complaining of our Constitutiorf. even after one of you, General Cocke having expressed his opinion voluntari ly to Mr. John Ross, one of the under signed, in Calhoun, that the constitu tion which the Conventioners made is a good one. We deny having refused to meet you in General Council, and contend that a respect is due to the cohVen ietice of the Nation in fixing a time and place for holding a General Coun cil. And as it is well known that the Cherokee Nation for eight years past have permanently established their seat of Government at New Echota where every convenience for the ac eommodation of strangers, as well as for the members of the Com. & Coun cil, are provided, it is the only place where you can in reason have a right to expect to be met in General Coun cil of the Nation; and at which place we have invited your attendance the day appointed for the meeting of the approaching session. We can see no reason for your persistance renewing your invitation at the Rattle Snake springs or Agency, where no preparation, for the accommodation of the members of the Committee and Council have been made, and where they would be exposed to the weather as a congregated assemblage of rude People on a hunting expedition. If you will examine the public docu ments at the agency, you will no doubt find letters from the Chiefs to Col. Meigs, former Agent, by which yop will discover that you are mistaken as to the Agency being located at a place designated by the special re quest of the Cherokee Nation. And we are also convinced, that you are not correct in supposing, that all bu siness between the United States and the Cherokee Nation was intended to We admit that there are Various busi ness between the United States and liie Nation, as well as between the individuals of the States and of the Nation, which are necessary to be transacted at the Agency, with and thro’ the Agent; but we cannot admit that Commissioners of the United States are justifiable in demanding a Convention of the Generel Council of the Nation at the Agency without con sulting the convenience of the Chiefs, on the occasion, especially when it is their object to communicate in Gene ral Council the views of the Genera] Government on subjects calculat ed to promote the interest and happi ness of the Cherokees, as well as the welfare of the citizens of the United States. You appear to be at a loss to know whether we are acting in a private or public capacity. If you bre not a- ware yourselves that we act under authority, and if you do not choOse to be informed through the Agent of our official characters, and it should be forgotten by you that General Cocke was introduced by Major Ridge* Speaker of the Council, to the mem bers of the General Council, and that Mr. John Ross presided over the Committe as President of that branch of the Legislature, we will inform you, that the undersigned are the pre siding officers of the Committee and Council; and since the death of the two Principal Chiefs of the Nation; the corresponding department of the Nation has been entrusted to the Pre sident of the Committee, and the bu siness of convening the General Coun? cil, devolves on both of us, and having consulted some of the most influential members of the Committee and Coun cil on the subject df your circulars of the 23d of August last, we Were ad vised to address you the letter which you acknowledge to have received. We can only add, should ydu decline attending the General Council at New Echota, and think proper to transmit to the General Council communica tions on the subjects of your instrucr tions from the President of the United! States, they will be received with a proper respect by the Committee am! Council, and a considerate reply wifi be made to them. We are, Gentlemen, very respeefr fully, your db’t serv’ts. JNO. ROSS, his MAJOR* RIDGEi mark. NEW ECHOTA: WEDNESDAY, MAY Si, 18S8- TO PATRONS. As applications are continually made fo/ the first numbers of the Phoenix we would; state for the information of our readers 1 , that we are not in a situation to meet with such applications. The first three numbers are disposed of, and the present force coru nected with the printing establishment renders us unable to have a second addition struck off. At the last Circuit Court held in High Tower, three persons were convicted for stealing horses out of Carrol Co. & were sent tenced to receive fifty lashes each. These persons, we are told, stole upon the prim- ciple of rendering evil for evil. How back ward some of our neighboring whites may be to do justice to the Indians, we confess we feel a pleasure in noticing this instance of the impartiality of our courts. It would be well if the authorities of Carrol County (Gov. Forsythe’s Ministers) will look ft? bout and punish their offending citizens* It would be a sweeping work if they were to begin. So much u for the success of tbb new Constitution.” him bis business. Therefor© it was I be transacted at the Ageucy, solely It is the prevailing opinion here, that Col. Thomas L. McKenney will be one of the Commissioners who will be sent by the General Government to extinguish the Cherokee title to lands within the Charter ed limits of Georgia. A few years ago this Gentleman would have been Welcomed into this Country on any business, as a friend of the Indians, but now, we take the liberty to say, a more unpopular Commissions? could not well be sent. What is the rea* son? We hope when he comes to have i talk with us, his illiberal recommendation will not be verified—“ the presence of a few troops.” FOR THE CHEROltEE PHOENIX. THE WEDDING. Yesterday, being the last day of A- pril, was a delightful day. Nature in a smile seemed to invite to a banquet of pleasing recreation; the birds min gled their charming melody with the*