Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-03


advantages of civilization, and were improving
very fast in conformity to the views OF govern
ment Having so recently given up TO the United
States than half of their Inheritance,
| comprizing the best portion of their lanGs-and
that without any other consideration but guardn-
| ~ for the quiet enjoyment of the residue-the
| Creek nation was very reasonably and very decid-
edly averse to listen to any proposals Tor parting
| with more OF their territory They have long been
keeping In view tine further progress OF their I'M
provement IN the arts OF peace, and the hapits OF
rural lie, and the extension of their race bred up IN
those habits. They a people at tins time alive
10 the Improvement of their land by cultivation;
and they pay great attention TO the increase OF their
fiocks and herds. The habits of savages and OF
hunters are fast wearing away among them. With
these acquired notions, sedulously promoted by
| our own government they have become sensible
| OF the value OF property; they disincne to part
with any more of their lands meaning hereafter TO
occupy them as cutiva,oTs of the soil, instead OF
wandering over them as hunters. And who can
blame them for this determination? Can we, the
people OF the United States, who have encouraged
and advised them to il,
The Creek nation was originally formed OF three
or tour tribes, fortuitousy thrown together; but
they have for some centuries composed one politi-
cal body, governed by the same laws and usages.
The population of the Creeks, is contained in "a
bout SO towns representative districts. Each OF
their national councils and assemblies, by CHIEF,
known TO and acknowledged in that capacity b.
the whole nation. To render valid any national
act, or to pass away any part OF the national terri
tory, majority of these confederaed districts
consent by means of their chiefs; by whom The deed
OF transfer must be duly signed. This is the known
and long practised law of this nation OF Indians;
and Gen. NJ Iniosh well knew it
| M lniosh, nearly 4 white man himself. and ra-
| Their an agent OF the white people whose manners
he affected, that Indian, either in his outw ard
department or his propensi,ies, undertook TO OBJ
tain the cesson OF the lands from the Creeks the
United States in favor OF Georgia. But the Creeks
had already passed law according TO their forms,
making 1t death for any Chief to propose al ena-
| uon oil any more of their national lands, as beins
inconsistent with their views OF agricultural settle
nent, and destructive 10 the crest OF their possr-
| ~ Accordingly, when AJ'lnosh proposed this
interchange which 10 drive whole nation OF
men, women, and children from the land aud the
haOtaton OF their ioreiathers and leave the bones
| OF their immediate ancestors to be plough up by
strangers, not more THANH or . out o. the 80 dis
trlcts, were represented the proposed treaty. the
other Chiefs refusing 10 attend. The treaty 50 en-
tered into, which was on the 9th OF Feoruary 1925
instead oi being sisned by majority OF the Chiefs
OF me SIX and thirty towns OF the Creek nation,
was sigrcd by NJ 'Inosh ard Etome ruslunnugeee,
| the Old Cowcaia Chief, and by them alone These
were the only persons entitled 10 be considered
as Chleis, or representatives OF the Creek nation:
thc other signers, were not representative Chiefs
our men OF straw, created The spot, by NJ In
tosh, Tor the express purpose OF eiectng irregular
~ and by fraud, what The Creeks were determined
never 10 consent 10 formally, and according TO
tneir known laws and usages. Nor have they
done it
Under this fraudulent and pretended conveyance
whole nation are TO he forcbly dispossessed of
theT propeEty--oi the lands they inherit from their
ancestors--of the land they looked 10 as the future
inheritance OF children 10 longer bred up in savage
habits, but gradually looking forward 10 the set
ued lie OF aSrculturaiis;s Driven again into
savage life, among savages, on new and distant
lands, and forced into almost inevitable hostility
win the tribes they are compelled TO intrudc on.
MS IS 10 be done after these poor wretches have
Tor series of years been advised pressed, tempted
exhorted, encouraged, and by all manner oil means
induced and persuaded by oar oun goce,nuent
10 quit the hunter-fe, and TO embrace fixed and
agricultural habits. These people, their wives
and infants, are thus to be driven away, against
their manifest and rigbtful claims against their in
'erest, against their Intentions and inclinaiions
and to the utter destruction of all those impro veI
views oil future living which they have adopted
In obedience 10 the advice of then great father
Washington. Having thus persuaded them for
twenty years past, to commence a gradual change
IN their modes and habits OF living Just as we have
succeeded In this benev client design, we destroy In
a moment our twenty years labor, we convert az
rculturaiists into savages friends into enemvs and
set an example of deliberate cold-blooded ia Justice
that is sufficient to make an honest and kind
hearted man shadder on contemplating It's origin,
Its progress, and its consequences.
This treaty may be very advantageous for Geor-
gla. But rejecting will not fail to enquire
Can we as members OF an honest and Hardening
government, justify these doings, Does il comport
with the honorable Character Of the American Co
yeriment, whose proud motto is, " equal and er-
act justice to oil men, 10 become participators
OF this manifest fraud and take advantage of a trea-
ty so obtained? Did moi M'Intosh, belyine his
honorable character of national representative of
his own people, and abusing the confidence re-
posed III him, act, not agent of the Creek nation
but a. the agcn; OF the whites! He might (by bare
possibility have meant well; but did he act yyelI3
lJid he not know that his doings were not sane
toned ny his nation, but in manifest hostility
10 their wishes, and in open derogatiOn of their
rights. lie knew OF the law previously and req
u'aTly passed b. his own people, with their usual
forms: was lie not, therefore, duly tried, convict
ed, and punished for an offence against known
law, and & deliberate fraud on his nation5 AL
though the punishment was reluctantly inflicted
and, therefore, somewhat deayedx it was. never
theles', II IS to be presumed the result of meet
hG convened TO deliberate his case and in CON
ioihlJ WIN previous act OF the nation, well
Known to him, and by which he was bound The
manner oil punishmeD, is nothing: that depends on
the custom of the country. The Indians employ
tie Rifle and the Tomakawk; we use the GIbbei
M in,osh knew the Treaty of 18th February 1925
was fraudulent and invalid
In a former treaty, after the war which was
terminated by General jackson, M'Intosb had ,,,o
cuIel reservation In his own favor Of a tract of
iaIo OF mlie, or a mile and hall square in con-
sheraton OF services rendered during that war.
no aft ia,