Newspaper Page Text
I
..^OTlOTfhv *
» ; *
V:.-»* ... •' • • .
owy
1IDIMS’ ADVOCATE*
vQ&tm
saw assg®^^
I thought Idast. Yet we could not re
cognise the right that the slate of
Mississippi hud assumed, to legislate
for us. Although the Legislature of
the Slate were qualified to make
laws for heir own citizc; , that die
not quality them to become law ms-
: hers to a people that was so unsimii-
nr in manners and customs as the
.vcrV subscription will be considered a? J Choctaws and the Mississippi.ins-—
-inuedunless suhserihciBgive notice to jluil they understood the
(•nntrnrv before the commencementoi a a . , . J .
eontiarv '-cior . , people, could they remove that moun
tain of prejudice tout has over ob
structed ihe streams of justice, and
prevented their salutary influence
from reachio^ my devoted country
men. Wo as Choctaws rather chose
to suffer and lie free, than live'dnder
e A% •”.#.« taj)r* mr 1MOAJ ithe degrading influence o f laws, when
e.un .xwii.i??y kt.'I o,sp &>ojna j our voice could dot be hoard in their
tr.jaor* | formation.
Much as the Stale of Mississippi
has wronged us, I cannot find in my
heart any other sentiment, than an ar
il.mt wish for her prosperity and hap
piness.
I eould cheerfully hope, that those
[(lie whites] of another age and gen
eration urny not feel the < fleet of
ELIAS ISOIJDINOTVEditoh.
PIUNTKO lyK*lll.lf II >
JOEJST 0.&.JJ257ZG
At 02 50 if paid in n;i\: nc 'H $ 3 in six
fths or $3 50 if paid at i he end of tin*
j RhW’rihers who can rerd only (ho
Irokec language the price will be 92,00
It tv ah no, cr 92,50 to he pant it itfain the
■contrary nciorc — . v
I' year, and all arrearages paid.
Iny person procuring six subscribers
[ becoming responsible for the payment,
II receive a scvc'rithgfvaus.
[;JP*Atl «.e Hern addressed to the luditor,
jiaid, wilt receive due attention.
w y J if .0 V 0^.t jJ D h S I 3 E C,. <3 Jt
i.sj.i r cf-z
\/. {>tP TAO-.V TH 1)0 RT
(vejnjt r~*<£-i d?.i»&aez tb yvv
o-yvi u^i" 0*0.111.1
w\yz o>ivk .iiics.n.jsy, t>ssi
ro.i vv.ubj'*, rr.-z tf..«cm 9 d®
{»*..!. RT.IZ D f, !■' Gotyw* OS.IB-
, AoKNTS.
Hr. William R, IlolUaj, Maryville, E.
|n iu'sh?*' .
i. a. Williams, Cohsje, N*nv York.
ie rnocTAu's i am y i n
We copy he.low fri.tr « N d* he*/
an mldrtst to the America.'
>ln, by George W I fa Tics. ;* r
.-sent. Chief t>f ttie Choctaw Na
il. <.aptnin Harkins t!;»* m':phe*v.
3 successor in office of Greenwood
ft ».*o; and is now on his' way wit',
large body of his people, to tin*'-
i'.v residence in the west. Tin? ad-
ess ivm writ u*ti wi'ii a pe.t-
1. on hoard the steamboat Horen, os
w -s passing op the Mississippi.
For keenness of rebuke, admlnis-
;■ ;•,] in. a truly Chrisfljn spirit, this
i’aicwtsll’s ii scarcely surptifist'd by
y tiling vve have ever seen from the
n cf 1* clis-n nr white man We
I* b&U d
s u me feelings with additional fervour,
and although we may be removed to
the destr.t, r.till we shall look with
fond regard, upon those who have
promised us protection. Let that
feeling be reciprocated.
Friends, our attachment to our na
tive land was strong,—that cord is
now broken; and we must go forth os
wanderers in a strange land! We
must go. Lot me entreat you to re
cord us with feelings of kindness; am!
when the hand of oppression is stretch
ed against us, let me hope that a
warning voice may be. heard from ev
ery part of the United States, filling
the mountains and valleys with echo,
and saving ‘slop, you have no power;
we are the sovereign people and our
red fiicnds shall no more be disturb
ed.’ We ask you for nothing that is
incompatible with your other du-
ies.
We go forth sorrowful, knowing
that wrong lias been done. Will yon
fyV' ?** A 'f.yj*
iA *fej-*'* hi
es,
—al direct violations of the Consti *iiod of time; three-quarters rf w | ;o
tut ion—and the President lias no right I have been boarded, and half v f ivheui
to interfere! 'Mien what authority have leccired an English education
does be possess? Governor Cass’s i dequatc to the transaction cf t|> e
note in reply to the Memorial, is a common business. In sending »o,th
:>nd supporting tenders and other la-
boms, erecting buildings, making
twills, providing ngrrculturdl inir.ic-
n\Oi in f.r./l L#v 1.1 r •. 1 :
extend to us your sympathising re
gards until oil disag.erabie oppositions
are nbliteiated, ami we again shall
have con fide nee in the professions of
those oppressive mrnnira that have j ,-,ur iv*iite hrnlhrcn. Here is the
’ecu so illiberal!) dealt r -iii to us; ar.d j b od of our progenitors, ?.ud here ate
that peace and happiness may h?
f beir reward. Amid the gloom and
horrors of the present separation, we
are cheered with a hope that ere
! ong ive shail reach imr destined
oanr. and that nothing short c.f i]h:
basest net of (ren * . »y will ever he
d>!;i to wrest it from us, and that we
ony live f ee
their bones. They lett ttiviu as tr,
• red deposit. We vonciate their
trust;—it is dear to us, yet we cannot
stay; — my people are dear to me,
with them 1. most jyr. Could ! stay
•and forget them, and leave them in
: struggle alone unaided unfi ieiulcd,
: mid forgotten by our great Father, I
Although your anev.*- j should th*vi be o|nvo''th , ) ' (lie name c(
> >rs won freedom on the field ot dan-j a Choctaw, am! be a diigiace to my
:er and glory, our ancestors owned it i !>lond 1 most go with them, ray dea
ls their birth-right, and we have j tiny is east among the Choctaw pen-
bad to purchase it r rom you as thv
vilest slaves bv thf-ir freedom.
Yet it is said rur present move*
nents are our own voluntary acts.—•
Phis is out the case. We found ur-
9«.*lvf!s like a benighted sfi auger, fol
lowing falsr guides, until he was
surrounded n.n everv sill.', with
ib'p find or water. The fire- was
a certain destruction, and a feeble
... .hope was left him of escaping by iva-
oul.i lid hr one o. tho Mississippi.ms , ter . A distant view of tho opposite
ho voted to extend their laws over-jsfior«? encourages the hope; to remain
c * Wl,6 1 , * R s ,or 5 ,3 ' vl,0 ' s Ghoctaiv J tvbuit) be inevitable annhillalion. Who
ooulry, il :t we;e all covered wifh j W0l| | f | hesitate, or who would say
IMr .* {his plunging into the water was his
own voluntary act? Painful in the
ilii mires. We. would not
ilpctnvv aiy “The man who said
at lie would plant a stake, and draw
line uruond us that never should he
sseil, was the first to say that he
'ilii net guars the line, and drew up
a stake and wiped-out all traces of
0 line;” we would not ht-nr him
y this, and be compelled to lee.l
at it was true, for oil the glory of
e victory of New Orleans, and ail
e honor of being elevated to the
esidency twice or twenty times.—
e know not how others may feel,
1 to us, this “Faic veH’’ of the In
ti) sounds like the kueli of the re-
bite.— A. Y Ob».
0 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
*t is with considerable diffidence
mt I attempt to address the Amer-
ao people, know and feeling sensi-
y my iocompctency; and believing
lat your highly and well improved
inds could not he well entertained
r the address of a Choctaw. Bu‘
wing deturinincd to emigrate west
‘the Mississippi river this Tall, I
Wft thought proper in bidding you,
rewell, to make a few rem irks ex
reBsive of iny views, and the feel-
gs that actuate ine on the subject
‘our removal. Believing that our
1 is at stake, and knowing that you
indilj sympathise with the distress-
l of every country, I confidently
irow n yself upon your indiilgeanci*
pd ask you toli tun patiently. I do
ot ariogaie to invself the prernga-
ve of deciding upon the expediency
the late treaty, yet I feel bound a*
jCboctaw, to give a distinct expres
on of my feelings on that interesting
md to the Choctaws) all iraportau*
uHjeet. We wcr»» bodged ihbyt’iti
il* y aod we chose lhat. which we
«xtreinc is the mandate of expulsion
Wo regret that it should proceed
from the mouth of onr professed/itend,
and whom our blood was co mingled
with that of his bravest warriors, on
the field of danger and death.
But such is tho instability of pro
fessions. -The man who said he would
plant u stake and draw a line around
us, that never should be passed, was
the first to say that he could guard
the lines, and drew up the stake and
wiped out a!i traces of it. I will not
conceal from you my fears, that the
prcstMit ground may he removed. 1
have my foreboding—who of us can
toll after witnessing what has already
been done, what may he done next..—
I ask you in'the namr? of justice for
"cpose, for myself and for my injured
people. Let us alone—we will not
harm you, ive w.-ut rest. We hope
in the name of jus'ice that another
outrage may never be committed n-
gniost us, and thn*. we nr.ny for the.
future be cared for as children, and
not driven about as beasts, which arc
benefitfed by chaugo of pasture.
Taking an o ample from (he A-
incric.Rn government, and knowing the
happiness which its citizens under the
influence of mild institutions, it is the
intention of our countryman to form a
government assimilated to lhat of our
white brethren in the United States,
as nearlr as their condition will per
mit. We know that in order (0 pro-
'ect the rights and secure the liber
ies of the people, no government ap
proximates so nearly to perfection
is the one to which we have alluded.
\s east of llio Mississippi wo have
been friend?, so we will cherish the
p!-.*. fi’ they suffer; so w ill I; if tin y
prosper, then will I rejoice. Lf-s
im again ask you to regard us with
fcelmgs of kindness.
Y o u r s <i < i h r c t p er.l.
GEORGE \V. HARKINS.
F cm3 the Boston Conner.
CH EKOKEE MISS!OiN AU! ES.
'I’lie ruadev will find below, the
Memorial to (he P.esifiefit. of t!ie U-
nit«• i States, adopted by the Ameri
can B Mi ll of Commissioners for For
eign Missions. It contains a succinct
histOi y of the first establishment of
the Roan! in’ (lie Cherokee country,
uudci the written f*«i!lioi : ly of Mr.
Cranford, then Secretary of War,
and a plain'hut forcible and impres
sive statement of the position now as
sumed by the Board. Military pow
er may be able, os it has been, to
force-tin* Missionaries from IheChei-
ohec Country, or to imprison them in
jails of Georgia; but we assert with
the utmost confidence, tli.it « hile the
government relies upon appeals to the
sense of the community, the position
of the Board is impregnable. It can
not be shaken. Nei»lier the hot head
ed sophistsy of Georgia, nor the cold-
hearled policy of General .Jackson,
and bis side in this nefarious business,
can lake life strength of a single woid
of this memorial. The Board, and
their imprisoned agents make no ap
peal in the sympathies of the public.
They statid upon their tights, as cit
izens ot the United States. Their
proceedings were authorized by tlifc
War Department, when it was under
the direct>n of,a Georgian, and were
sanctioned by President Monroe. A
contract was thus made with tberti as
Missionaries,Acquiring of them certain
services, providing the equivalent they
demanded. This contract annul
led for private purposes, by the
stronger party. The Missionaries
then demanded a trial in the Courts
of the United States, and the Presi
dent replies, that he has “satisfied liim-
se f” that our Indian laics ark inof tra-
the, and that “he H has no authority to
interfere.’* Georgia Ins a light to
require an oith of allegiance from
citizens of another Slate, to quarter
soldier upon them in time of peace,
and to suspend the habeas corpus act
inode; cf a cool official arrogance
Hu has “the honor to Le very” po
lite. lie lakes, by instruction of the
President, <i/I legislative potter in Ike
premises, ar.d all H6 troubles r.rd ic-
sponsibiiities, from Congress!
Co! it is vain to argue this case.—
It is useless to reason with despotic
po’.wu. The refutation of its subtle
ties is degrading to our intelligence
Any fui liter examination of its motives,
or exposutc of ils heartless chicanery,
is disgusting. If a denunciation « '
the men and their measures be i.oi
sufficient l (l overwhelm the cue ami
reform the other, it is in vain to ap
peal to mortal tribunals. It is pre
sumed the Memorial ai d papers will
be extensively circulated.
MEMORIAL.
1\> Ids Excellency Jltvimc Jackson,
President cj ike United States.
The memorial ct the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, rcfcpertfuliy sbowttli,
Tint your Memorialists, as a he .
iH'Voiont Essi;cir.tion, were authorized
by H-lclter hearing dated May ITh,
1817, from the Hon. William H.
Ciawford, ihofi Secretary cf War.
to the Rev. Cytus Kingsbury, the
iigout of your memorialists, a copy of
which is iicroiinto annexed, (A) to
semi teachers and missionaries into
the CT.eroke Nation, agreeably to
stipulations made by the Ftailed States
in treaties with the said Cherokees,
to erect buildings, to establish
schools, enclose lands, ar.d make oth
er improve merits, for their accommo
dation. Ymsr memorialist* have felt
themselves further authorized and
countenanced, to proceed in their l.o-
toi'i for tho welfare of the Cliero-
keos, by the repeated interviews
which their agents nave been permit
ted to have with successive Presidents
of the United Stairs, and the Secre
taries of the War Department: also
by annual reports o r the several Sec-
relarii's of War, and Messages of the
President, made to Congress from
year to year, in which the teachers
and nn&fciouMries have wuifermly been
mentioned os entering and residing in
the Indian country with the npproba
tine, of tho Executive of the United
Slates; as co-operating with the gov
ernment and its agents inn benevolent
and disinterested woik, acci as being
under its patronage. Your memor
ialists have been fui liter encouraged,
by (be fact that portions of the fund
appropriated by Congress for civili
zing the Indians have]; beeh annually
intrusted to them to expend, aud that
the annual reports, which the teach
ers have on this account, been re
quired to make to the War Depart
ment, have been ustiformly approved;
and also by the decided approbation
which *.tas been expressed by officers
and agents of government who have
visited and inspected many of the sta
tions. Your memorialists have been
further assured of the countenance
and approbation of the government,
by communications which they hive
received from th^'Wnr Department,
extracts from which are hereunto an
nexed.
Sanctioned and patronized in the
manner by the Executive or the Uni
ted States, your memorialists have
proceeded in their undertakings, and
during the last fifteen yenr& have e-
rcctcd buildings and made various
other improvements at eight stations,
at. each of which, on the first of May
last, there were schools with teach
ers and other laborers, sent by
your Riomoiialists; and at all but one
of which, there were boarding schools
and agricultural establishments of
greater or less extent. At ihc-Bc
schools more, than four hundred Cher
okee children and youth have been
instructed for a longer or shorter pe-
me.ts, and house hold fu.miture m
boarding and clothing the scholars,
other ways rcr the nccomnid*
oat ion cf the sliools tu.d mission fami
lies jour inrmorialist have experd-
. .' Ilc pm-pose <»f Instructing ai d
nvi iZng the Chcrokf fs [m addition
i<, above $10,000 received from the
government of the United States for
- 3 -c purpose) more than*. £ 110:
i he teachers and other inisaTnai v
bearers continued to prosecute theft*
woik unmolested, until Jacuai\ last,
hen the missionaries at four'tf the
stations under the patronage of your
nc '"'° iol:Sls > received a comniuni-
c I c,, ^" lll! g o l«Wi p.urpoiiing
• ? ' ia '.° Uccn enacted r.t tin* last £( . K i
sion of the legislature cf the State of
Georgia, of which tho iolJowing is £U
• v tract; b
‘‘And be* it Anther enacted Iy tl c
authority aforesaid, that all white
pluscns residing within the limits of
f.ifc Cherokee untiOu, on the fiat ,! ltV
ot March next, or at any tin t* llicrc-
after; without a Jic.use ir permit
‘. r0ni cXrtc!!ci,ty tl/e govciiiot , or
'ri; r i' such tiger,i us his exetih-m V t! e
governor shall authorize i?>
••’uch a pcimit or license, and o.j, n
snail not h«v«* taken the oath herein
after required, shall b<_- g, ii :v bf a
high inifcdwmer-nor, and upon convic*
u,w . f'K'rt'of, shall !e puniM.cd Lv
cotihuerncnt in the penitentinrv, at
bard labor for a term net less than
• ••nr yems.”
Fbe' teachers and missionaries hei-
l.c(Cd this law to br* no ijowurraotE-
ld»> extension of tin* jtlri«<!!rlion of
Georgia over the Che) * kcocoui.» r y*
t( » be central r to the cypress
vision cl the tren'ies er.fucd inio
with tin? Chercket-s, to the xn(e<•
course law ofT603, and .h, (
e*itutIon of tlie Union; ar.d t: ; t ?!>e
enforcement of it would ho a i : u.tu
and oppressive vi ilation til their iTi-hts
as citizens, cf the United States; ;.^ri
knowing that they were dcup-amtig
themselves in a peaceable ai.d o*\i-:-r-
ly manner, they did not feci under
obligations to obey this b«w j oi-
cided to look to the Government of
the United States for protection at
the station which they occupied. p» !t |
in the woik which iley had under
taken and were prosecuting mute.’ its
sanction end patronage.
In regard to the meaning of the
treaties and laws, and lbos-* clause,
of the constitution, on which they re
lied, tlicv were atu fluent, and mur
memorialists are confident, that "they
could not bo mistaken.
In tlm treaty of Hopewell, Nov.
26, 1785. particularly .r, aui. | ( - 9i.| t|
it id expressly stipulated that (..en
gross shall have tli® exclusive ri.-l.t
to regulate trade and iuicrruin
with the Indians. In the iieau of
Hb.'ston, July, 2, 1791, I be &nr;'o '
stipulations are renewed more i tic-
fail; especially in article ?lth, a
marked distinction is made hrtworn
beiug within ibe Gherokee lands and
within the jurisdiction of any state.
In both treaties above named, pro
visions were made with specie* . arc
for preventing all persons intruding
on the Cherokee lands, and for punch
ing criihes and trespasses committed
by citizens of the United States on
the Cherokecs, or by Cheiokces on
citizens of the United States; either
by the authorities of the United States
or b) the Cherokecs, without the
slightest allusion to the right of tho
authorities of any state to interfere in
the case, and af courso to the exclu
sion of ail such right.
In the treaty of Oct.3, 1798, the
former troaliea ‘Tro oeknoivtodged