Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-20

u y.
gard its strict import, and to make no sacri
flee Of their interest not called for by the com
pact, nor contemplated by either of tn,
parties, when it was entered into, nor 10 com
mi any breach of right or of humanity in re-
gard to the Indians, repugnant TO the .indg
ment. and revolving to tn. feelings, of tn,
whole American people. submit the subj.c
TO your consideration in full confidence thai
you will duly weigh the obligations the com
pact with Georgia, its import i'm all its parts
and the extent to which the United States ar,
bound tn go, under it. Isnbmt it with equa
confidence, that you will also weigh the natur,
of the Indian title to territory within the limit,
of any state, with the stipuaions in the
several treaties with this tribe, respecting terri
tory held by it within the state of Georgia
and decide whether any measure, on the part
of Congress, is called for al the present time
and what such measure shall be, if auy is
deemed expedient.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, SOM March, 1924.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
March 60 1924.
SIR Ia obedience to your order, directing
me To furnish statement of the facts and cir
cumstances connected with the execution of
the 4th article ofthe cony ention between the
United States and Georgia, of the ed of 4 pril,
1902, 10 which the former stipulates "to ex-
tlngulsh, at their own expense, for the use of
Georgia, as early as the same can he peaceabIy
obtained. upon reasonable terms, the Indian
title to the lands lying within the limits of that
state" have the honor to make the following
report:
BY the convention above referred to, Georgia
coded TO the United States all the lands lying
south Of the state Of Tennessee, and west OF
the Chatahouche river, and a line drawn from
the mouth of Uchee creek direct 10 tn.
NIeolak, on the Tennessee river. In consi-
deratIon of this cessinn, the United States
stipulated To pay the state of Georgia
$3.50 900, and obligated themselves, in the
manner above stated, To extinguish the Indian
title within the limits Of the state. The con-
veniion also provides for the adjustment oftbe
Yazoo claims, which were aft-rward. provi
d, d for by the act of Congress, approved
March 81 1914.
At the date of the convention, the Indians
owned, within the limits of Georgia, %, $50 600
acres. of \. hich 1855, $50 acres belonged TO
the Greeks, and 7i52,1IO acres 10 the
Cherokees, which tribes owned, besides,
considerable extent of coustry in the states of
Alabama. Tennessee, and North Carolina
Detween both Of those tribes and the United
States there were subsisting treaties, at the
time OF the date of the convention which,
among other things, fixed the limits Of their
respective territories, and guaranteed 10 them
he lands within those limits. (See LIST vol
U. >. Laws treaty with the Greek Indians.
=. SCI, art. 5. Treaty with The Greeks, rati
fed 9Th August, 1890. Same, page 327, treaty
OF Holsion. 1891, art. 2. Same, page 33@.
treaty of 1888, near Tellico, articles / and .
Ia fu'flmrpt of the stipulation of the 4th
article with Georgia, there has been held seven
treaties with the Greeks and Cherokees of
which five were with the former two of
which were previous TO the late war with Great
Britain. in 1919, and three since. By the two
preceding the declaration of war, there were
coded tn Georgia s,7i3.390 acres. and by the
three latter, Il 73J $50 acres, making together
l4748,690 acres. With the Cherokees. there
nave heeD held two treaties, both since the
late war, by which Georgia has acquired
99J,SlO acres, which, added TO that acquired
by treaties with the Creek nation, make
l5,744,000 acres, that have been ceded 10
Georgia since the date OF the convention, i'm
fultiiment of its stipulations
In acquiring these crssiens for the state Of
Georgia, the United States have expended
S938,954 30; to which should be added, the
value of 995.S1O acres, which were given in
river, for similar quantity coded by the
Cherokees TO Georgia, by the treaties Of 1917
and 1919, which lands, estimated at the
minimum price Of The public lands, would
make Sl,244,157 80. Ifto these we add the
sum OF 81 100000. paid to Georgia under the
convention, and S4,282,lJI 12J, paid to the
Yazoo claimants, it will be found that the
United States have already paid. under the
convention, S7,7S5, 243 50 / Q, which does not
include any portion Of the expense of the
Creek war, Ivy which upwards sf seven mil
IONS OF acres were acquired to the state Of
Georgia
The United States have ever been soIicitous
10 liIh', AT the earliest period, the obligation
OF The contention, by the Pxtingnishment of
the Indian titles within the limits Of Georgia (:
a most satisfactory proof Of which may be
found IN the number Of treaties which have
been held for that purpose. the ouantitv of
lands which have been acquired. and the price
paid. In fact, such has been the solicitude of
the government, that but little regard has been
had 10 the price. whenever it has been found
possible to obtain = cessi0n II lands 10 the
state. The price given has far exceeded that
which has ever been given in other purchases
from the Indiane.
feel satisfied that it may be asserted. with
conhd"nc" that 70 opportunity Of extingush-
ing the Indian titles, " ON reasonable terms"
has been neglected to I've embraced by the u.
States
u may be proper 10 notice. more narticn-
lary. The treaty Fort Jackson, Of iGI4. with
the Creek Indians ard those Of 1917 and
1919, with The Cherokees. as, under those
treaties. lands were coded, mot only within the
limits Of Georgia, hut also 10 the neighhorinp
states NJ Alabama. Tennessee. aud North CARO-
Ina, which may require sorne explanation.
may be proper ~ premise, That. pre, ions
10 the late war the four most powerful and
numerous tribes oflndians, the Greeks. Che