Cherokee phoenix, and Indians' advocate. (New Echota [Ga.]) 1829-1834, July 03, 1830, Image 2

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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.