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

transmit To Congress certain papers emu
mtrated IN report from the Secretary of
War, relating TO the compact between the
United States and the State of Georgia. en-.
tered into in 1909, whereby the latter ceded
To the former portion Of the territory then
within ITS limits, on the conditions therein spe-
cilied. BY the 4th article Of that compact, it
was stipulated that the United States should,
al Their own expense, extinguisli. for the use
! OF georgia, the Indian title TO all the lands
wi'hin the state, rs soon as il might be- done
Pedced6ty and on reasonable conditions. These
papers shew the measures adopted by the
Executive Of the United States, in fulfilment
oil the sevcTa: conditions Of the compact from
rs date to the present time, and particularly
the negotiations and treaties with The Indian
tribes for the extinguishment of their title,
with an estimate 0f the number Of acres pur-
chased, and sums paid for the lands they ac-
CURED. They show, also, the state in which
THIS interesting concern now rests with the
Cherokees, one Of the tribes within the state
and the inability of the Executive to make any
further movement with this tribe, without the
special sanction of Congress.
have full confidence that my predecessors
eXerted their best endeavurs to execute this
compact in all its parts, OF which, indeed, the
sums paid, and the lands acquired during their
respective terms, in fulfilmen. of its several
stipulations, are full proof. | have also been
animated, since came into this office, with
The same zeal, from anxious desire TO meet
the wishes of the state, and 10 the hope that,
by the establishment OF these tribes beyond the
| Mississippi, their impro, ement in civilization
their security, and happiness, would be pro.
NOTED. Blythe paper bearing date on the SOth
ofJanuary last, which was communicated to
The Chiefs of the Cherokee nation in this CITY.
who came tn protest against any further ap-
preparations nj money for holding treaties with
Them, the obligation imposed on the United
States, by the compact with Georgia, 10 ex-
ilnsulsh the Indian title to the right of soil
within the STATE, and the incompatibility with
our system, oi their existence as distinct com
nunity withIn any state, were pressed with
the utmost earnestness. II was proposed to
them, at The same time, to procure and con-
vey to them territory, beyond the Mississippi,
IN exchange for that which they hold within
the UNITS OF Georgia, or Ia pay them for It's
value IN money. To this proposal their an
swer, which bears date nth of February fol-
LOWING gives All unqualified refusal. By this,
II ls manifest that, at the present time, and in
Their present temper, they can be removed
only by force, TO which, should it be deemed
proper, the power of the Executive is incom-
petcnt
have no hesitation, however, TO declare i,
fected IN the slightest circumstance by the
compact with Georgia, and that there is no
obligation on the United States To remove the
indians by force. The express stipula-
ti1n OF the compact, that their title should
ne e1tInsulshed at the expense Of the United
States, when il may be done peGceablY and on
reasonable conditions. is full proof that il
was The clear and distinct understanding Of
pom parties To II, that The Indians had right
to the territory, in the disposal Of which they
were to be regarded as free agents An at
tempt To remove them by force would, in nv
opinion, be unjust. In the future measures to
b" adopted in regard To the Indians within our
limits, and, IN consequence, within the limits
oil any State, the United States have duties To
perform, and character to sustain, 10 which
they ought not to be indifferent Al an early
period, their improvement in the arts Of civil
lied life was made an object with the Govern
ment, ard that has since been perseyered in.
rms policy was dictated By motives of hu-
manly to the abOrigincs Ofthe country, and
under firm conviction that the right to adopt
ana Por sue II was equally applicable 10 all the
tribes within our limits
My impression is equally strong that il
would promote essentially the security and
hHpplnpss Ofthe tribes within our limits. If thew
could be prevailed on to retire West and North
oil our states and territories. 90 lands 10 be
procured for them by the United States, in
exchange Tor those on which they now reside
Surrounded as they are, and pressed as thew
will be, on every side, by the white popuIa.
tion, 1t viii be difficult, if not impossible. for
them, with their kind of government, to sus-
TAIN order among them. Their interior will
he exposed TO frequent disturbances, TO RENE
dy winch, The interppstion of The United
States viii be Indispensable and thus their
81 eminent will gradually lose its authority.
uniliit IS annihilated. In this process, the mo-
raj character Of the tribes will also be- los,
since the change will be too rapid te admit
their improvement in civilization, to ena
be them to institute and sustain government
founded on our principles, If such change
were compatible either with the conpact with
Georgia, or with our general system, or to he
come members of state, should any state
be willing 10 adopt them in such numbers. re-
garding the good order peace, and trnnnuiIli
iy OF such state. But all these ~, lis may be
avoided, ifthese tribes will consent to remove
beyond the limits Of our present states and
territories. Lands equally good, and perhaps
more fertile, may be procured for them in
those quarters the relations between The IT,
nted States and such Indians would stu Ie
the same Considerations Of humanity and
bcnevOleDcP, which have now great weight.
would operate, IN that event with an ane
menied fnrce since we should feel scnsibIy
the obligation imposed on US by the arcom
mediation which they thereby afforded US
Placed NJ ease as The United States would
then be, the improvement of those tribes in
civilization, and in Ill the arts and ns,gcs orl
civilized life, would become the part Of 2 gen
eral system, which might be adopted ON great
consideration, and in which every portion of
oar Union would then take an equal interest
These views have steadily been pursued bv
the Executive. and the moneys ybirb han