Delaware journal., 1828-11-18

lrst, ny discovery secoHuly, ny eohquest, lnio-
ly by compact.
We shall endeavor briefly to elucidate the char
acter of this claim. In the first place. the Europe
ans, by the skill and enterprise of their inventors,
discovered the vast continent and found it inhabited
exclusively by Indians of various Tribes, and by
pacific courtesy and designing stratagems, the abor-
ignal proprietJrs we're induced 10 permit people
from foreign cline TO plant colonies, and, without
the consent knowledge Of the native lords, po-
tentate OF England, whose eyes never saw, whose
purse never purchased and whose sword never con-
quered the soil we nhab, presumed TO issue parch-
ment, called .Charter," to the colony of Georgia,
in which its boundary vas set forth, including great
extent ofcountry inhabited by the Cherokee and 9TH
er Indian Nations.
Secondly, after lapse of many years, when the
population of there colonies had become strong,
they revolted against their sovereign and by success
OF arms, established an independent government, un-
der the name of .the United States" 1t is further
alleged that the Cherokee nation prosecuted war
at the same time against the Colonies.
3dly. Several years after the treaties OF peace,
friendship and protection, which took place between
the United States and the Cherokee Nation, and
by which the faith of the United States solemn
| ly pledged to guarantee to the Cherokee Nation
forever their title to their lands compact was en-
tered into between the United States and the State
of Georgia, by which the United States promised
to purchase for the OF Georgia certain lands
belonging to the Cherokee Nation. SO soon as
! it could be done on reasonable and pedcea0te
terms.
| Thus stands the naked claim of Georgia to por-
ton Of our lands The claim advanced under the
plea of discovery is preposterous. Our ancestors
from time immemoral possessed this country,
not by Charter from the hand of MORTAL
King who had right to grant it but by the y III OF
the King of Kings, who created all things and iiyeth
| forever and ever.
The claim advanced on the second head, on the
ground of conquest, is no less futile than the hrst
even admitting that the Cherokees Waged war
with the Colonies, at the time they fought Tor their
independence. The Cherokees took part 10 the
war only as the allies ofGreat Britain, and not as her
subjects, being an independent nation, over whose
lands she rcised no rights OF jurisdiction there
fore, nothing could be claimed from them IN regard
TO their lands by the conqueror the rights OF
II G reat Britain. At the termination of the war, the
4 United Staes negotiated with the Cherokecs on the
terms of peace an Independent Nation, and since
the close of that war. other wars took place, and
at their termination other treaties were made ; anc
in no one stipulation can there be found single dea
that our title the soil has been forfeited or CLAIM
ed as the terms of peace but to the contrary, We
discover that the United States solanlniy pledged
their faith that our title should be guaranteed to ou
: nation forever.
The third preenson is extremely lame. The
. United States enters into IA compact with Georgi
that they will purchase certain lands, which bclon
J., to US for Georgia. so soon a. they can do 1t o.
/ peuceable and reasonable terms.--Ihs promlse wa
a made on the part ofthe United States without know
}, ing whether this Nation would even consent 70 dis
q pose OF those lands any terms mhatever and N
Ct Cherokees not being part IN the Conipact, tel
title cannot BE- affected in the slightest degree
II appears astonishIngy unreasonable that those mar
Il expressions of denunciaton which we have see
II unsparngly lagishad against our sacred rights
of interested politicians, have arose from no other CT
M cumstance than oue honest refusal 10 sell to the
. States lands tor the lflnent OF their compact Wi
al Georgia Although views and condition may b
III msrepresented, although we may be stgmatzed WI
ID the appe!laon of :. .Nabobs," and should ne re.
ii resented as ruling with an lran rod, and "gr'ndlr
,e down INTO dust the wretched and ahect mass OF on
nd citizens. and although we may be called avario'o,
,o for refusing TO sell our lands, we should not be q
i verted from the path of rectilude. In all our II
s. tercourse with our neighborlng white brethern, "
i. should cndeavour to cultivate the utmost harmon
he and good understanding, by strictly observing tt
d. relations which we sustain to the Y. otales
e. Owing to the various Misrepresentation respe
RS ting we have been frequently called upon TO NAL
a treaty ofcession and under the hope OF succee
ing with rs, treaty has been entered INTO by the
States with that portion OF the Cherokees who ha'
absolyed themselves from all connection with us, |
NO removing west of the Mississippi, and estabish
on themselves there as distinct community. stlpulat
H. that all those Cherokees residing west ofthe Miss
nc sppi who will consent to emigrate west ofthat rlv
,at shall receive bounty consisting ola rifle gua,
by banket, steelrap, brass kettle and ipe pounds
IN Tobacco Such are the temptations offered to influ
m rs TO leave our friends, our relatives, and house
~ our cultivated FARMS our country, and every thl
4 endeared 10 us by the progress of civzatlon-f
~ what To tread the barren wilds and dreary was
~ ~ on the confines fthe Rocky Mountains; with tho
IN necessary accontrements and appendages OF !
~ ~ wild animals With the view ofcarryng this bu
nd esque on our happiness into effect, the y. State
Aren't of this Nation has been instructed by the Sc