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“jll. CROCKETT, of
Hue house oi Reprcsen-
provide for the removal of the Indians
ever the Mississippi.
nt. c»..o»¥r snid that consider
ing his very humble abilities, it migtit
he expected that he should content
hitnself with a silent vote, but situate
ed as he ivas in relation to his col
leagues, he felt it to be a duly to him
self, to explain the motives which
governed him in the vote he should
give on this bill. Gentlemen had al
ready discussed the treaty-making
power, and had done it much more a-
hly than ho could pretend to do. He
should not therefore enter on that sub
ject, but would merely make an ex
planation as to the reasons ol his
vole, lie did not know a man within
500 miles of his residence that would
give a similar vote; but he knew at
•the same time that he should give
that vote with a clear conscience.—
He had "his constituents to settle with,
he ivas aware; and should like to
please them ns well as other gentle
men; hut he had also a settlement, to
make at the bar of his God; and what
•liis conscience dictated to he just and
right he would do, he the consequen
ces what they might. He hcleivcd
that the people who had been kind o-
nough to give him their suffrages sup
posed him to be an honest man, or
they would not have chosen him. If
so, they could not but expect that he
should act in tlie way lie thought hon
est and right. J/e had always viewed
the native Indian tribes of this country
as a sovereign people. He believed
they had been recognized ns such (com
the very foundation of ibis G.vern-
nient, and the United States were
hound by treaty to protect them; it
to do so. And as to
was their duty
giving the money of the American - . .
m ■ ° - -■ ■ " omoviii" men upon their land. 11 had never
order to sfend proper persons to
examine the country. And witch this
had been done, anil a lair and free
treaty had been mode with the
tribes, if they were desirous ol remov
ing, he would vole an appropriation
of any sum necessary: but till this had
been done lie would not vote one
cent. He could not clearly under
stand the extent of this bill. It seem
ed to go to Ihc removal of all the In
dians, in any Stale East ol ihc Missis
sippi river, in which the United States
owned any land. Now there was a
considerable number of them still neg
lected—there was a considerable
number of them in Tennessee, andthc
United States Government owncl no
land in.that ^tate, North and EaU of
the Congressional ‘reservation live.—
No man could lie more willing t» sire
them remove than lie was, if it could
be done in a manner agreciwle to
themselves; blit not otherwise. He
know personally that a part of (lie
tribe of (he Clierokees were unwilling
to go. When the proposal was made
to them they said “No: wo will take
dentil here at our homes. Let them
come and tomahawk us here at home!
we are willing to die, but never to re
move.” He had heard them use this
language. Many different construc
tions might be. put upon this bill.—
One of the first things which had set
him against the bill, was the letter
IVorn the Secretary of War to Col.
Montgomery—from which it appear
ed that the Indians had been intruded
upon. Orders had been issued to
(urn them all oil’ except the heads ol
the Indian families, or such us possess
ed improvements. Government had
taken measures to purchase land from
llii! Indians who had gone to Arkansas.
If this bill should pass, the same plan
would be carried further—they would
send and buy them out, and pul white
yy— ■
Indians and a pledge was then given *lioa., of the earth,' and" from their
by the Government to pay ' tl)»m , stocR' ->
is Vjro such thing as an In-
mamJiVdWfJ.ding'itp have a claim to the
$50,000 on their complying with the
terms of the treaty. This lias*beci\
folly done on the part of the Indians,
but the Government has not ns yet paid
the money. When wc witness the pro
fessions of the Government on behalf
of the poor Indians; llicir readiness to
pay them for their improvements and
to give them land equal in quality to
that which they now occupy; their
forwardness to hold out inducements
of one sort and anofher to the Creeks
and Clierokees to emigrate, and to a-
bandon their present homes, where
they enjoy very many of the comforts
of civilized life, and where they have
successfully cultivated many of ils
most useful m is—where, moreover,
in a multitude of instances, the blcss-
fruits of his neighbor’s industry. He
lays a claim to his generosity, when
he is in need; and this claim is ac
knowledged and* acted on. Riches
hauMppot yet destroyed this most ex
cellent feeling of our nature in those
who possess them among the Indians
The rich perhaps here give more in
proportion to their ability than the
poor.”
The same writer informs ns, that
the annuities paid to tlu; Choctaws
have not been appropriated to the
private use of the chief's. He need
not have added, that the charge a-
gninst the missionaries, of their bavins:
hired the natives to become coimmi-
ings of that religion which our Sav-j nieants, by the, presents of blankets
our taught have been largely shed up-' and other gifts, are utterly false. No
on these poor red men; and all this to person acquainted with our missioua
gratify the States of Alabama and
Georgia, and to minister to the cupid
ity of some of their mean and baser
spirits, without intending to comply with
the terms of the net which Congress are
importuned to puss: wc turn from the
spectacle with disgust and loathing.—
A Nation’s faith ought to he far, far n-
bove suspicion; but in these wild and* not enjoy such advantages as the few
inhospitable regions, we can furnish j w ho have been taught in missionary
that which will more than fix suspi- schools and have become Christian in
lies among the Indians, would fora
moment listen to such a slander.
Our brother is assured, that we
give full credit to his statements, and
have ever relied upon the veracity of
liis fellow labourers. We did how
ever suppose, and must still think,
that the mass oft.be Indian tribes do
•jieaple for the purpose of i - . . . , , ,.
then, in the manner proposed, he | been known that white men and ludi-
would not do it. He would do that j ans could live together; and ie this
«only for which he could answer to his j ease the Indians were to have no privi-
God. Whether he could answer it | leges allowed tliern,^while the white
before the people was comparatively
nothing. though it was a great satis
faction to him to have the approbation
of his constituents.
Mr. C. said he had served for se
ven years in a legislative body But
from the first hour lie had entered a
legislative hall, he had never known
Ivhat party was in legislation; and
God forbid he ever should. He went
for the good of the country, and for
that only. What he did as a legisla
tor he did conscientiously He should
love to go with liis colleagues, and
iw ith the-West and the South general
ly, if ho could; but he never would let
party govern him in a question of this
great weight.
He hud many objections to the bill
•«f—s me of them of a very serious char
acter. One w as, that he did not like
to put. a half a million of money into
(In. hands of the Executive, 1o he us
ed i i a manner which nobody could
foresee, & which Congress was not to
control. Another objection \yas, he
tM jot wish to depart from the rule
tv I ich had been observed towards the
Indian nations from the foundation of
the Government. He considered the
present application as the last altern
ative. for these poor remnants of a
Once powerful people. Their only
C'uanee of aid w’as at the hands of Con
gress Should its members turn a
deal 'jar to their cries, misery must
be their fate. That was his candid
opinion.
Mr C. said he was often forcibly
rein n led of the remark made by the
famous Red Jacket, in the rotuudo of
this building, when he was shown the
pannel which represented in sculp
ture the first landing ol the pilgrims,
with an Indian Chief presenting to
them an ear of eorn, in token of
men were to have all. Now, if this
was not oppression with a vengeance
he did not know' what was. It was
the language of (he bill, and of its
friends, that the Indians were not to he
driven off against their will. He
knew’ tbi* Indians were unwilling to
go: and therefore he could not con
sent to place them in a situation
where they would he obliged to go.—
Ho could net stand that. He knew
that he stood alone, having perhaps
none of liis colleagues from liis Stale,
agreeing in sentiment, lie could not
help that. He knew that he should
return to his home glad and light in
heart, if lie voted against (he bill.—
He felt that it was liis wish and pur
pose to serve his constituents honestly,
according to the light of his eon-
science. The moment lie should ex
change his conscience for mere party
views, he hoped his Maker would no
longer sutler him to exist. lie spoke
the truth in saying so. If lie should
stand alone amidst all (!)• people of
United States, he would not vote ctli-
envise: and it would be matter of re
joicing to him til! (lie day lie died,
that he had given tlie vote. He had
been (old that he should he prostrated;
hut if so, he would have the consola
tion of conscience, lie would obey
that power, and uloried ifi the deed.
He eared not for popularity; unless it
could be obtained by upright means.
He had been told that lie did not. un
derstand English Grammar. That
was very true. He had never been
six months at school in his life, he had
raised himself by the labor of his
hands. Rut he did not on that ac
count yield up liis pritloge as the rep
resentative of forty thousand freemen
on this floor. Humble as he w as. lie
mranttoexeici.se his privilege, lie
cion on (he character of our govorn-
inent for J air dealing and integrity in
all its transactions with the Indians.—
It cannot be that li^os are held out
only to delude-thnt pledges are given
only to he broken, without inflicting a
wound of great magnitude on the char-
arlerof our country for honor & good
laith; and it is still more disgraceful
to us that we, a free people, should
perpetrate all the outrages on the
unoffending Aborigines of our country
their faith and habits of conducj.
m a
May
Another Witness.
The Rev. Hugh Caldwell,
letter dated Clarksville, Ten,
I2th, 1830, assures the Editor, that
he has lived among the Choctaws 1U
months; lias travelled 2000 miles a-
mong them; has seen 1000 of them to
get her; has not seen any whiskey in
their possessions; has found them
( „ peaceable and friendly; and tliinks
1 speak now more particularly with they have in their own language no
reference to what I know to be the I expressions ol profane swearing.—Id
fact, so far as the Cherokee Indians
within view of my dwelling are con
cerned, and I dread what is likely to
ho it the remainder of their nation
with the Creeks are forcibly sent
here! The poor Clierokees already
here ask me and others, why the Pres
ident has not placed funds in the
hands of the Agents to pay them as
originally promised; and beg us, earn
estly and moui fully, to let them have
articles of clothing, and other little
necessaries, such as hoes and axes, to
enable them to provide sustenance for
their families, and to keep their little
ones from starvation. 'This, 1 assure j
you, my friend, is no fiction: it is in-1
deed, too true; and would to God, for |
the honor of my country, it were other- j
wise! We have helped these poor;
men along until we are able to help I
them no longer. F have seen an In-:
dian chief apply to the Agent for the !
use of a few dollars, and offer to give !
him ns security, liis certificate fur j
$1500; but the Agent was compelled j
to refuse the money, not having been!
furnished by the Government with a i
cent to pay these certificates!
It is a curious fact that the success
of the hill for removing the Indian..
beyond the Mississippi, resulted en
tirely fiom that clause of the Consti
tution which recognizes the. Sabbath
or Sunday. A period ef ten days is
allowed to the President by the Con
stitution, in whic h to determine the
question of s.gaing or not signing any
bill which may be presented to him,
'■'•Sundays excepted■” It so happened
that the ten days allowed him for the
consideration of the Maysville Road
bill, included two Sundays; making
twelve days in all. This enabled him
to withhold bis decision until the final
passage of the Indian hill in the House;
whereas; had he retained it but. ton
lays. Sundays inclusive, he would
have been obliged to return it before
the division of the Indian question,
in which ease it is certain the latter
bill would not have passed.
A’. Y. Jour, of Com.
^a^T.'^a^rssvauesr.•. n.z,.- .riKv.fi w, nyrry Tscoauassnsm*
C1IEROK EE PIICBNIX,
In common with all the friends of
NEW ECI1 OTA• JULY 3, 1S30.
In our last we published, the proclama-
the Gorerment, and as a warm friend ; ti<?n ° nh? Governor of Geor g ia > requiring
of the President, l trust, for the Iion-i t ? ,p ,Pmova ' oi ’ a!1 lho Cherouccs from their
or ofthc one and the good n ainc of tjie ! '"hies. We can now-inform the
other, that this instance of mala fines ' ro t : " v ** oW tlia( proclamation was cxecut-
will, ere long, ho re. tilled; ; (K | | pi;.y • f, d. Supposing the State of Georgia pass-
mist dvftutly, w ith an olmfuimt Sen,i-;’ >:1 liivy requiring the removal of the Che-
lor, that ‘the gorgeous ensign of .lie j rokri-i.. from their farms? Will the Unit-
Republic, now known and honored ! cd States’ troops ‘land still? (Perhaps
throughout tile earth, still full bi„di * wc may ask) will they co-operate with Ilia
advanced, its arms and irophies ( Stale authorities in executing the law?
streaming in their original lustre, nut a i To'* l’-esident lias promised to defend the
stripe erased or polluted, nor a single
star obscured,’ may ‘in characters of
living light, blazing on all its ample
1 oltls, ns they float over the sea and
over the, land, and in every wind under
| the whole heavens, bear for its motto,
that other sentiment, dear to every
friendly welcome. The aged Indian H boon charged will, not ioprese.it-
said “llfat was good.” Tho Indian! l,s constituents. jftiie fact uasso,
said, lie knew’ that, they came from
the Great Spirit, and lm was willing
to share the soil with Ins brothers
from over the great water. But
when he turned round to another pan
ne! represi nting Penn’s treaty, he
laid “ah? all’s gone now’.” There
Was a great deal of truth in this short
saying. And the present bill wns a
strong commentary upon it.
Mr. C. said that four counties of
his district bordered on tho Chicka
saw Country. He knew many of
their tribe-rand nothing should ever
ipduce him to vote to drive them
west of the Mississippi. He did not
know what sort of a country if, was in
Which they ivero to he settled. " He
ITauld willingly appropriate nuneyiii
the error, (said Mr. C.) is here,
(touching liis head,) not here, (laying
his hand upon liis heart.) He never
had possessed wealth or education,
but he had ever been animated by an
independent spirit, and be trusted to
prove it on the present occasion.
Wc invite the special attention of the
Cherokee reader to the following letter
which we take from the New York
Spectator: It is from an intelligent
friend of the present executive, and shows
what the protection amounts to, which is
promised to the emigrating Indians.
Extract of a Letter From "Arkansas
Territory, April 20th, 1830.'
“Two years have passed since the
treaty ivas roads with tho emigrating
possessory right of the Clierokees to the
lands, lull how is that promise to be re
deemed according to (lie arrangement of
(I) 1 troops w ith the state officers? Here
are inconsistences through which wc can-
notsec. The attentive reader can now
see the true policy ami intent of the In-
Amcrican heart ’—not alone ‘Liberty i dian b II which has lately passed the Con-
and Union,’ but .Yuliana! Honor'and
National Faith, untainted by meanness
and fraud, ‘now and forever!’ There
is not nu American bosom but must
respond to this glowing language.”
From the Philadelphian.
T11E C111C K A S AIV INI)! A N S.
We have received a letter from
the Rev. Hugh Wilson, under date of
April 17th, 1830, in which he says,
concerning the Chickasaw nation,
“During eight years residence among
them, I have never seen nor heard of
an individual who had not a homo, and
a house sufficient to afford the most
complete sliejter from both cold and
wet, at which they reside eleven
months in the year: and I do not be
lieve that.there is a family in the na
tion which does not derive nine tenths
of their subsistence from tbe eultiva-
gi'fss of the Urytcd Slates. It is indirect
ly designed to co-operate with Georgia.
While force is applied on the one part,
money ami other inducements are held out
on the other, for we understand upon good
authority, that the President has sent a
notification to the Clierokees, to meet him
at Nashville, Tennessee, next month, then
an 1 therr to enter into a treaty. Query.
Where are all the former treaties? We
should like to know first, whether they are
good for any thing.
AV e need not enlarge on this subject.
We invite the reader to peruse the follow
ing extracts oflettcrs, and let him mak<
what comments he pleases. One observa
tion, however, we cannot for hoar to make.
Th e arms of the Union are to be employed
in subjecting us to the jurisdiction of Geoyu
gialf Did you know this, Christian read
er, did .you know that the arms xf the re
public of llic United Stales were to co-op-
cratg with om oppressors? O tell it not
in Gath, publish it not in the streets of As-,
ktdon!
Gold Minu9, June 24th, 1830.
j\Ir. Houdinott:
SiR-'-Wheii I left New Ecliotu for
the purpose of working the gold
mines, 1 expected no interrupliort
from any source whatever. But I
have been painfully disappointed, as
well as the Clierokees at this place in
search for gold. A detachment of
the United Stales troops have been
stationed at this place. They a few
days ago arrested nine gold digger.*,
citizens of Georgia, and delivered
them over to the civil authority of
Georgia, charged' with the violation
of the laws of the United Stalest,
prohibiting intrusions on Indian lands 4 .
But as the principles of abstract jus,-
liee have been superceded by political
expediency, these men have been dis
charged w ithout any punishment.
Outlie 22d. the authorities of Geor
gia, consisting of a Colonel, a Captain
and a Sliei ilf, and about thirty or for
ty men, made a charge on us, and
made us nearly all prisoners under lho
law s of the Slate, for taking the gold
of Georgia, and marched us over gold
pits, logs and brushes, in a stile call
ed Indian file, tube committed to gaol,
and to he dealt with according to law
and Georgia justice. As wo march
ed with a guard before and behind I
indulged in contrasting past scenes
with my present condition, now in the
custody of tlie Georgians, for no other
cause than working the lands of my
forefathers. But as the march was
now hurried on, yet slow at that, for
I had hurt both of my feet, and could
not walk fast, our conquerors came
in contact with the troops of the Uni
ted Slates, by whom they were all
arrested, taken prisoners, their fire
arms taken from tin in, and they tak
en to the commander's quarters,
twenty five miles from this place,
w hore the two eontlic ting powers set
tled (he. controversy, viz: That the
stole of Georgia had the right to en
force her laws over tho Clierokees.
Upon this decision qf the two parlies
| at collision, the Clierokees have been
I n< lilii il by the Commander of the U*
I nited Stales’troops, that he cannot
j aflbrd us any more protection in eon-
j sequence of the Georgia laws being
(breed over us. We are also notified
by tho officers of Georgia that they
will arrest us all in the course of two
nr llir^e days, for taking the gold of
Georgia — hut wc are not jet intimid
ated. Being very conscious that wc
are not trespassers oh state rights,
we expect all to he taken to gaol ac
cording to notice.
From another Inter dated June 27tli
jvc make tlie following extract'
On the 24 Inst, another military
force of about one hundred Georgians
made ils appearance. They march
ed upon ns w hen digging for gold, and
and peremptorily ordered us to desist..
The charge of a warlike forgo upon
ns, in time of profound peace, and on
a collection of defenceless Clierokees,
effected a shock that lias completely
parnlized our operations. They com
mitted some depredations that are
common with lawless and unprinci
pled men. After parading their
troops among the numerous pits dug
up for gold, they commenced de*-
stroying machines. During the ex
position of their hostile disposition,
they fired a platoon at a milk strain
er of tin, on a spring house, belonging
to a poor Cherokee woman. This is
the manner in which the uncontrolled
movements of the Georgians have east
an indexible, blot on the American
character.
I inclose you an order of Lieut*.
Plainer Commanding United States
troops, which places us in the most
exlraordinaiy situation. These
troops have made arrangements to
assist the Georgians in forcing tho
laws of the state over us.
Today there will he another imlila#
ry movement.
To.the foregoing, tho following post
script was added:
ORDER.
An arrangement has been entered
into, by.which there will he mutual
assistance between the United SlatcB
Troops and the civil authority of
Georgia in all. civil processes the
jurisdiction of tho State of Georgia
having been extended over the char
tered limits, and all the natives are
lierby advised to return to their homes
and submit to the proclamation-of the
State authority. E. FRAINER.
P. S. They cannot be supported■
any longer in- any thing inconsistent!
with the Laws of the State.