Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-21
CHEROKEE GOVERNMENT.

In the New Echota Gazette, we ma tui aS-
count Of the o, ganization Of the new Cherokee
Government and the Message of the principal
Chiefs Of the Nation 10 the General Council.
The formation, says the National Journal, by
a people rescued from a state Of barbarism, OF
a government, republican in its foundation, and
having for lis object the extension vi c,vlliza.
ton by the promotion Of system OF moral
aud literary instruction, is, and deserves TO be,
regarded as phenomenon in the political his
tories Of the times. Such is the government
instituted by the Cherokees. Whether, in the
character and capacity Of this people, there is
sufficient guarantee for the continuance OF
this political system, we have not sufficient
know ledge to enable US TO determinr; and as to
the other que ,tion, whether the barriers which
nature, education and habit, have created be-
tween the red race and the white citizens, by
which it is encompassed, may not be So immu-
table and impossible as to prevent the protract-
ed existence Of a government OF this character,
we leave it for time anu circumstances 10 dis.
close.
After the organization OF the two houses, the
National Committee, comprising sixteen men,
bers, and the National Conncil, containing twen-
ty four members, code Of rules was adopted,
evidently framed from The rules which govern
ed the proceeding Of our Congress. The first
business appears TO have been the election OF
officers, under the new Cherokee Constitution.
John Ross and George Lowry were elected
principal Chiefs for the term Of four years.
Their message is certainly quite sound, sensi-
bic, business ike paper, treating Of topics near.
IL allied to the best interests Of the nation, and
creditable to its enlightened authors. In the
early part Of their document, the Chiefs take
occ aston to say, what we wish would be oitener
repeated by the Executive officers Of some OF
our states, that "The public press deserves the
patronage Of the people, and should be cherish
ed as an important vehicle for the diffusion Of
general information, and as no less powerful
auxiliary in asserting and Supporting our poll
tical rights"
Mention is also made Of the Treasury-a
National Academy a, New Echo,a-,he chart
~ schools--the Judiciary system, aud other
topics of minor consideration. The message
also combats the arguments advanced by Geor-
gia to sustain her demand upon the United
States, for Ahe appropriation Of the Cherokee
lands within her territory, and indicates de-
termination not TO surrender the lands, render :
ed dear to them by possession and the reminis-
eences attac he'd to il. Bait. Partok 49,
Iabouriug to en!ighten the ENGLISH ministers.
The following characteristic passage is from
a letter to Lord WELLINGTON, in one OF his la
test registers:
To what Prime Minister Of my Gay have
not had to address my remonstrances! What
pains have hot taken with them all (including
yourselD TEN! How many, many letters have
addressed 10 each! Not less, in whole, thar
three or four hundred! And yet how little I'M
preston have 1 made on them; always except
| ing you, my Lord Duke, who have IN one thing
| at any rate, acted do not presume to say oil
| my advice, but according to the principle!
| that have so long been endeavouring to incnl
cate. All the other nine have been perverse
and obstinate, beyond all description: they have
seemed to have in view, as their principal Oh
iec,, desire 10 thwart me; though from yea
10 year, and almost from month to month, the!
had the fatal evidence of the soundness m!
advice, and Of ,he truth ofmy predictions; ant
during all the twenty-five years, or indeed TWEEN
ty>seven, have had The morti6c alton 10 be
hold them going on in their sad courses, ant
setting at naught all my warnings, until at asst
the concern is brought into a STATE that make
every man, when hr meets another man, ask
with deep sigh and an affeCtionate look, wha
is 10 happen next, just like people in an earth
quake country, when they hear rumbling o
the elements. Yet all this time have beef
l
as bee; all their perverseness, all their obs'i
macy, all their something else, which will no
now mention; all these things have disgusle'
me; or, al least, they have made me cease L
endeavour to make them behave we'll. Tall
Of "plagues," Indeed! where is there man o.
earth who has had TO endure plaques such a
these nine Ministers have been to me. Smok
house, scolding wife, squalling children, foot
men that cannot eat shoulders OF mutton, an
even "femae domestics" who are TOO handsom
to please their mistress, and who, for the SAX
of their master, will do any thing in the world
work only excepted; all these plaques put to
gether are not equal to the plaques tina
my nine Prime Ministers have been to m.
When was little boy, made one of four t
worry my mother, during more than half tn
T time tina, our eyeswere open, for nuts, bread
cheese, or for something or other; and at time
when We were Juggling and Juggling at her a
prom, and ho,hering her in the midst Of he
work, she, though very mild, and patient, an
indulgent mother, used to excaim, "hold you
tongues, do, you plagues,of Egypt" Little di