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but that there are four taverns in the
vicinity of the Agency.” We do not
understand the idea you intend to con
vey, in reference to a palace for the
reception of a King or Emperor, as
the Cherokee Nation are governed by
neither, and we were not informed
that you had anticipated the arrival of
any of the Crowned Heads from a
broad. As to the four taverns spoken
of we assure you that they are un
known to us, and that we were in
formed that the Rattle Snake Springs
are sitnated in the wilderness, four
miles off from the Agency.
You also state that you are correct
ly informed that “Mr. Jno. Ross has
used all of his influence with the na
tion to thwart the views of the United
States, and has been mainly instru
mental in preventing their meeting a
greeably to your invitation of the 23d
August; and further that Mr. Ross
contemplates a trip to Washington
City the ensuing winter, and this fail
ure to hold Councils with the Com
missioners is to be the ostensible cause
of that enterprise;”” but you have not
thought proper to state who gave you
the information. We must therefore
inform you that you have been intrud
ed upon by those who were so expert
in fabricating these misrepresentations,
and we are sorry to discover that you
are ready to believe every unfavora
ble report respecting us.
Very respectfully, Gentlemen, we
are your ob’t serv’ts.
JNO. ROSS.
his
MAJOR > RIDGE.
mark.
CHEROKEE AGENCY,
4th Ocr., 1827.
To tue LecIsLATIVE COMMITTEE
AxD CouxciL oF THE CHEROKEE
NaTioN AsseMBLED AT New E
CHOTA.
Frienps ANp BroTuEßs:—The
President of the United States, on
the 13th of March 1827, appointed
the undersigned Commissioners to
Thold Councils with the Cherokee In
dians. A copy of our letter of ap
pointment we lay before you, which:
will shew you the desire of our father
the President of the United States;
and also the object of Congress in
making an appropriation of ten thous
and dollars to defray the expence only,
that shou!d attend the holding of the
Council directed. We now make
the propositions to you in accordance
with'the desire expressed by Congress
and the President; and have sent our
Secretary, Mr. James R. Cocke,
with directions to lay them before
you, and receive your determination.
We request your early attention and
reply, to enable us to report the re
sult to the Secretary of War by the
meeting of Congress. We have been
long detained with a desire to have
met our friends the Cherokees, but
without success, not occasioned, as
we believe, by the act of the Nation,
but through the influence of individu
als.
Respectfully your friends and Bro
thers.
JOHN COCKE,
GEO. L. DAVIDSON,
ALEXANDER GRAY.
DerPARTMENT oF WAR,
13th MarcH, 1827,
1o GeneraLs Joun Cocke, G. L.
DavipsoN AND ALEXANDER GRAY,
CoMMISSIONERS, &c.
GENTLEMEN:—An appropriation of
ten thousand dollars having been made
by the late Congress to defray the ex
pense of holding Councils with the
Cherokee Indians, for the two fold
purpose of procuring an extinguish
ment of their claims to lands held- by.
them within the limits of the State of
North Carolina, and for extinguishing
their claim to as much land as will be
necessary for a canal to connect the
Hiwassee and Conasaga with each
other—the President has appointed
you joint commissioners to carry the
chjects of said appropriation into ef
fect. No special instructions are es
teemed to be necessary. The’ mode
and preparations are left to your discre
tion. It is desirable that you act un
der this commission as early as you
conveniently can, and report your ne
gotiations and their result to the De
partment by the meeting of the next
session of Congress.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
very respectfully your ob’t. serv’t.
JAMES BARBOUR.
By virtue of the foregoing full pow
er, Major General John Cocke of the
State of Tennessee, Brigadier Gene- |
ral George Lee Davidson and Briga
dier General Alexander Gray, both of
the State of North Carolina, propose
to purchase, on behalf of the United
States of America, frem the Chiels
and Headmen of the Cherokee Nation
of Indians, and extinguish their claim
to all that tract or parcel of land ly
ing and being within the chartered
limits of the State of North Carolina,
one of the United States of America,
containing by estimation about five
hundred and four thousand acves,
bounded on the North and West by
the State of Tennessee, ————
agreeable to a line run and marked
by Commissioners of both States,—
and South by the State of Georgia.
The above named Commissioners like
wise propose to purchase and extin
guish the claim of the Cherokee Na
tion to so much land as will be neces
sary for a Canal to connect the Hi
wassee and Conasaga with each other.
To hold Councils with the Cherokee
Indians for the two fold purpose above
stated the said John Cocke, George
Lee Davidson and Alexander Gray,
request the proper authorities of the
Cherokee Nation to appoint Agents
of said Nation to meet them without
delay at the Cherokee Agency, where
all Treaties and Documents are de
posited.
JOHN COCKE,
GEO. L. DAVIDSON.
» ALEXANDER GRAY.
New Ecnora, CHEROKEE NATION,
Ocroser 11, 1827.
li# General Council Convened.
To GexeraLs Joux Cocke, GEo.
- L. DavipsoNX AND ALEXANDER
" (GRAY.
Friexps anp BrorHErßs—Your
Communication of the 4th Inst. to
gether with a copy of a letter from
the Secretary of War shewing the ob
jects of your appointment, and also
your propositions to purchase from us
a tract of land, containing about five
hundred & four thousand acres, border
ing on the state of North Carolina, for
the use and benefit of that state; and
likewise as much land as would.be ne
cessary for a canal to connect the Hi
wassee and Connasaga with each oth
er, were received on the 9th inst.
through your Secretary Mr. Jaines R.
Cocke; and in compliance with your
request, we have bestowed our ear
ly attention to the subject, and return
you this reply; that the representa
tives of this nation, in concluding the
treaty of 1819, surveyed the past
and present condition of their Nation,
and, with a deliberate and serious
consideration, looked to its future des
tiny, and solemly pledged themselves
in General Council, that they would
never dispose of one foot more of land
again. This sentiment and determi
nation have been repeatedly declared
to the Agents and Commissioners of
the United States, as well astoour
Political = Father the President
of the United States; but it appears
that - our brethren of the bordering
states would not willisgly believe that
the determination was made in sober
ness, and that the sentiment has been
expressed with an unchangeable sin
cerity of heart, or why should they
have so often and so urgently applied
to the President and Congress for ap
propriatioas to hold Treaties with us
on the subject? Surely our white
brethren of the states who surround
our small Territory possess too much
magnanimity and charity of heart to
disregard our unwillingness to part
with our homes, the land of our birth,
in order that their own aggrandize
ment may be raised upon the ruin and
destruction of ourselves and our pos
terity!—The Cherokee Nation with
great liberality have made cession af
ter cession for the accommodation and
extension of your states, and we had
flattered ourselves that they, with the
principle of liberality, would now
have beensilent on the subject of pro
curing further cessions from us.
We will now repeat again to you
what has often been told to other
Commissioners of the United States,
that the Cherokee Nation has no more
land to dispose of, and that we cannot
accede to your propositions.—There
fore we do not deem it necessary to
appoint Agents for the purpose of ne
gotiating a Treaty with you on the
subject, for the two-fold object pro
prosed. In giving you this definitive
reply, we do it with consideration and
respect, uninfluenced by any Individ
ual, but solely with the view of main
taining the interest of our nation.
With great respect, we are poli
tically your friends and Bretbren.
Members of the Commitiee.
Jou~ Ross, President N. Com.
" Richard Taylor,
£ Joseph Vann,
f George Lowrey,
‘ John Baldridge,
Hair Conrad,
Sleeping Rabbit,
- George Chambers,
| John Beamer,
| Thomas Pettit,
Chuwalukee,
Thomas Foreman,
A. M’Coy, Clk.N. Committee.
JMembers of the Council.
Masor Ripce; Speaker of N. Coun.
Going Snake,
William Hicks,
Tesateskee,
. Kelechulee,
Tunateehee,
The Feather,
Walking Stick,
oOld Turkey,
: Dick,
Rising Fawn Lee,
The Bark,
Little Turtle,
The Beau,
Chickasawtechee,
Three Killer,
Sicketawee,
Chunoyikee,
Tsquie, ;
;. Oowanookee,
: Poor Bear,
’ Skalola,
| Slim Fellow,
Tahquoh,
Ahclosenee, -
: Kunusenee,
The Hog,
Charles,
: , Ooclunotah,
Suwakee,
Kaahteehee.
E. Boupixort, Clk. N. Council.
COMMUNICATIONS,
Mgz. Epitor.—l have noticed in
your paper accounts of missionary op
erations, therefore, without intrusion,
permit me to solicit in the columns of
the Pheenix a place for an authentic
and true statement of the Cherokee
Missions under the superintendence of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
There are four missionary stations,
located as follows; Creekpath, Chat
tooga Courthouse, Oochgelogy and
Pinelog. At each of these stations a
school is taught, and the children are
instructed in spelling,reading, writing,
arithmetick” and English Grammar.
in these several branches of educa
tion, they are advancing with conside
rable facility. The aggregate num
ber of scholars is about one hundred.
The teachers of these schools are
preachers, and employ themselves
during the week in the business of in
struction, and on the Sabbath admin
ister the word of life. None of the
stations are permanently fixed, but
subjected to be continued or discon
tinued as may be deemed expedient.
Itineratinz schools of this character
are, in my opinion, the best possible
means to improve and enlighten, and
effectually civilize and christianize
the rising generation; for they may
embrace every: family and neighbor
hood, and in. the mean time not pos
sess national identity with us; and
when the whole nation shall have pro
gressed so far in the arts and sciences
as to supersede benevolent and char
itable auxiliavies, the instructors may
withdraw from the field of labor with
out leaving antiquated permanent es
tablishments with their concomitant
appendages. It is not my design in this
remark to reflect upon the well meant
exertions of other dencminations, who
have been successful in doing much
geod among the Cherokees, for I am
very conscious there may be correct
ness of design and error in method.*
There are three large circuils em
bracing about sixty preachiug places,
upon two of which the gospel is regu
larly preached in English, and on the
other in Cherokee. These circuits are
superintended by the Rev. James I.
Trott, the Rev. Greenburry Garret,
and Turtle Fields, the last of whomis
well known to be a Cherokee. Un
der the labors of these pious and de
votedly zealous men, the prospects of
doing much good appear invitingly en
couraging. May their labors be a
bundantly blessed by the great Head
of the Church. :
There aret seven hundred members
of Society. Some of whom are lead
ing men of the nation. and many fami
lies of first respectability. These u
nited-exert ‘a happy influence over
their relatives, friends, neighbor’s and
the nation generally.
The whole work is under the gene
ral superintendence of the Rev. Will
jam M'Mahan, Presiding Elder of the
Huntsville district, ‘Tennessee Annu
al Conference, and a representative to
the General Conference of Methodist
Episcopal Church in the United States
of America; a Minister of known
character, and a man of exalted ta
lents. '
Thus T have given you a specific
account of our stations and schools,
and shall conclude by observing that,
with the visible effects of christianity
presented to our view on all sides
round, itis time that the enemies of
Missionaries, should hush their objec
tions and throw down their oppositions,
that the gospel might have universal
prevalency, and that its benign, salu
tary and heavenly influence might be
diffused through all our social, politi
cal and religious institutions.
This is a day of events with us, we
are merging from darkness to light.—
Those clouds that have so long hover
ed over us, and shrouded us in ignor
ance, are about to be dispersed forev
er. May the sunof science m full
orbed splendor shine upon our intellec
tual firmament, and may his piercing
and meridian beems chase away the
darkness of that night that has so long
hung around our minds. While I con
template the rapid improvement ma
king among the Cherokees, from the
apex of their present condition, I roll
back the curtain of futurity, and cast
' mine eyes down the stream of time.—
I perceive that it is at least within the
range of possibility, that ere long,
from our infant institutions, will go
forth orators with flaming eloquence,
defending their countrymen from the
cupidity, chicanery, and deep laid ru
in of their enemies; that men will be
raised up to bear the good news, the
glad tidings of salvation to other heath
en nations, to carry the rays of the
sun of righteousness to the dark cav
erns of ignorance, superstition, and
idolatry, and to preach the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ in all its gran
deur, and in the demonstration of the
spirit and power of God. May Satan’s
Kingdom fall like lightning from the
skies; and may the commissioned an
gels soon proclaim that the Cherokees
have become subjects of saving grace
and h=i: of Glory. ey
— N. D. SCALES.
*We are inclined to think that the wri
ter is here incorrect, or at least, this asser
tion is not supported by facts or experience.
It is not from Schools of this nature that
an ignorant child will derive the greatest
permanent benefit, In ‘itinerating Schools,’
children may be taught to speak the
English language, (in neighborhoods
where the Cherokee only is spoken even
this will hardly be acquired,) they may
learn to read and write, and perhaps ac
quire the rudiments of Grammar and Arith
metic, yet all this will but poorly qualify
them asinstructers to others; for the com
plete civilization of this people must de
pend in a great measure, upen the instru
mentality of their own Citizens. It can
hardly be expected that Missionaries wil
overrun this Country in order to civilize,
us—it must be done by preparing our own
kindred for the work, whose labours will
be by far more efficient, when properly and
judiciously conducted. Itinerating preach
ing we consider an excellent method of
diffusing the knowledge of religion. A
preacher ought, however, always to be ac
companied by an intelligent interpreter,
(whenever such can be obtained,) for those
who are ignorant of the English language
will derive but little benefit from
sermons which they do not understand.—
We hope the exertions of benevolence, by
means of the different Missionaries in this
Nation, will particularly be directed to this,
by far, the largest portion of our popu
lation. ‘
t The writer does not mean, we appre
hend, by ¢¢ Members of Society,” Church
Members in regular standing, butsuch as
have intimated a desire to receive instruc
tion. ) Ed.
FOR THE CHEROKEE PH®ENIX.
Mr. BoupiNorr:—Perhaps the
communication of Mr. Huss, (The
Spirit,) contained in your paper of
May 14, including the last words of
the man who was executed for mur
der near Chickamauga Court House,
may not be uninteresting to your En
glish readers. I have, (with assist
ance,) prepared a translation, which
I offer for insertion. W.
TRANSLATION.
I here transcribe the addresses of
the man who was executed at Craw
fish-town a few days since. The first
address, which [ give below, he re-
quested me to write for him, when he
was about to be executed. In the
morning, while the sun was yet low,
1 penned it for him, on the same day
on which he was to be hung at noon,
April 18, 1828.
These are his words. ““This day
I address you, my Uncles, that you
may abandon the practice of drunken
ness. Forsake all evil, ye whom I
leave behind. I desire you to believe
that the practice of drunkenness which
you follow is evil. Follow that which
is good. Abandon drunkenness. If
you believe, we shall meet again. I
have relinquished my sins to God, who
only, I believe, is able to save me.—
Do ye also the same. Truly drunk
enness is exceedingly evil, for yon see
‘before you the end of my life; my in
temperance is the cause of it. There
fore it is that I request you to forsake
it. Do not fail to regard what I say,
now that I am delivering to you my
last words; for this day I shall leave
my present life.
To you also, my brothers, I say,
follow that which is good. Regard
my words. This also T say to you
respecting our aged parents,—still
provide for their support. Do not
injure them, for I had promised to
suEport them, and this is my end; for
sake them not, but support our parents
as long as they live. 2
Let this be all my address.” )
The following address alsohe made
when he was just about to be exeeut
ed. '
¢ T have thought, I will speak this
day—-let them remember my last
words. My prayers only are present
to my mind, [literally cleave fast to
me, ] I cannot put them away. I en
deavor only after that which was spok
‘en to us yesterday.* There is nothing
in my heart which does not accord
with that place of destination of which
they speak. Should that be my des
‘tination, we shall meet again, if you
believe. Now we are met for the
last time. Truly the drunkenness
which prevails is a great evil. For
sake it. Follow that which is good.
Keep in mind such things as these.
i have alsomade a request to those
who are left behind [my relatives] to
forsake the evil of drunkemmess. I
wish they may regard it. But here
is one standing by—he sees us.—This
is all—l can now say no more.”
Friends, Brethren, Lzt us read
id meditate upon the adaidsses™das™
livered at Crawfishtown, which are
here printed. In his first address,
made tu his relations, his object evid+
ently is to persuade them to forsake
the evil of drunkenness, and to regard
the commands of our maker. And
again in his second address he exhorts
“us all to forsake the evil of drunken
‘ness. Thus it is that when God di
rects his mercy towards any individu
al, he is then desirous of forsaking sin,
and such is the language which he u
ses. For it is manifest that he must
forsake sin who would obtain the mer
cy of God; for so God has said in his
word. For the language of the be
loved Son of God is such as this;
“Forsake your sins, and I will give
you eternal life and peace.” But all
the unbelieving our Maker will banish
into hell. When we read, let us re
member what God has said, that if we
believe it will be well with us.
This also let us remember, thai in
truth drunkenness is exceedingly evil:—
that which he [the criminal] especial
ly exhorts us to forsake. For it is
manifest that the great prevalence of
drunkenness amongst us is the source
of multiplied evils. For this man,
who was executed, explicitly states
that his intemperance was the cause.
And it may easily be perceived, that,
as drunkenness increases in our coun
try, so the instances multiply in which
men do injury to each other. Thisis
our greatest enemy. Manifold are
the evils of which drunkenness is the
source. I also, therefore, entreat
you to forsake this creator of mis
chief. JOHN HUSS.
May 3, 1828.
*1 suppose Mr. Huss had made an ad
dress, after the trial on the preceding day:
MATTHEW, CHAP. V. ᎹᏚ. ᎠᏯᎪᎸᎢ Ꮩ. “
21. ᎢᏣᏛᎦᏅ ᎯᎠ ᏥᏂᎨᏥᏪᏎᎴᎢ Ꭱ-Ꭹ ᎠᏁᎯ,
ᏞᏍᏗ ᏣᏓᎸᎩ; ᎩᎶᏃ ᎢᎠᏓᎸ ᎬᏩᏢᏰᎢᏢᏕᏗ ᎨᏎ--
ᏍᏘ ᏗᏄᎪᏘᏍᎩᏱ:; -
292. ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏴ ᎯᎠ ᏂᏨᏪᏎᎭ, ᎩᎶ ᏗᎧᏖᏅᏳ
ᎠᏍᎦᎨᏢᏍᏗ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᏄᏍᏛᏗᏍᎬᏫ ᎢᎨᏎᏍᏘ, Ꭼ
ᏩᏢᏰᎢᏢᏕᏗ ᎨᏎᏍᏘ ᏗᏄᎪᏗᏍᎩᏱ, ᎩᎶᏃ ᏗᏮᏓᏡ
ᏅᏳ ᏣᏁᎫᏉ ᎢᎪᏎᎮᏍᏘ; ᏕᎦᎳᏫ; ᎬᏩᏢᏰᎢᏢᏕᏘ
ᎬᏎᏍᏗ; ᎩᎶᏃ ᏂᏣᏓᏅᏛᎾ ᎢᎪᏎᎮᏍᏗ, ᎬᏩᏢᏰᎢ
ᎠᏕᏘ ᎨᏎᏍᏘ ᏨᏍᎩᏃᎢ ᎠᏥᎸᏱ.
98. ᏐᏩᏃ ᎢᏳ ᎠᏥᎸ Ꭸ ᏎᎳᏤᏍᏗᏱ ᎯᏂᎯᎮᏍᏗ
ᏣᏓᏁᏘ, ᏩᎿᏃ ᎭᏅᏓᏘᏍᎰᎨᏍᏗ: ᏗᏍᏓᏓᏅᎶ ᎪᎱ
-ᏍᏗ ᏤᏢᏎᎲᎢ; ,
