The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-09-09

The advice and consent Of the Senate of the
United States and the Cherokee nation, By
the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors represent
ing the said natinn, have agreed TO the follow
ing articles. namely:
] have thought it best 10 cite the whole title
and preamble, that the reader may see IN what
manner the parties to this instrument saw I'll TO
describe themselves or, moro properly IN
what manner the Plenipotentary of tine U. s.,
with the President and Senate, saw fit to de-
scribe these parties for il will not be pretended
that the Chsrokess reduced the treaty to writing
This is the second treaty. which was made
with Indians by the Government of the United
States, after the adoption Of the Federal Con-
s,itution. The fret was made with the Creek
nation and was executed at New York, Au-
gus, 9Th, 1890, BY Henry Knox, then Secretary
Of War as the Commissioner Of the States,
and twenty-four Creek Chiefs. in behalf of their
nation In comparing these two treaties. ii is
found that the title and preamble of the Chern-
kee treaty. are an exAct transcript from the
other except that " Cherokee" is inserted in-
stead Of Creek" and the word kings" be-
fore chiefs and Warriors. is omitted, as are
the words % of Indians" after the words
"Creek Nation" in the title. All the princ-
pal articles of the two treaties are also maiatiS
nutandis the same in substance and expressed
by the same phraseoIogy. As Governor Blount
made the Cherokee treaty after the model of
the Creek treaty, there can be little doubt that
he was directed to do So bv the head Of the
War Department. 1t is morally certain, that
the Creek treaty was drawn up, not only with
great care, but with the concentrated wisdom
of cabinet, which is universally admitted, l
believe, to have been the ablest aud the wisest,
which our nation had yet enjoyed. General
Washington was at its head,--alwRys a cau-
tious man, and eminently in laying the
foundations of our union. and entering into
new relations. This treaty was made under
his own eve, at the seat of Government, and
witnessed by distinguished men. some of whom
added their official stations to their names.
The two first witnesses were Richard Morris.
Chief Justice Of the state of New York" and
Richard Varick, Mayor of the City Of New
York
These treaties were. in due season, ratified
by the Senate of the United States, at that
time composed Of men distinguished for their
ability. Among them was Oliver Ellsworth.
afterwards Chief Justice of the United States ;
William Patterson. afterwards an eminent
Judge of the Supreme Court of the United
States: Rufus King. afterwards Tor many
years Minister of the United Stass at the
British Court ; and William Samuel Johnson,
who did not leave behind him in America
man of equal learning ia the Civil Law aud
the Law of Nations. These four individuals.
and six other Senators. had been I.lembers of
the Convention, which fnrmed the Federal
Constitution, though Mr.. Ellsworth did not
sign that instrument. having hsen called away
before ii was completed He vas q most eff
cient member, however, in the varirus prepar-
atory discussions and dd much in procuring
the adoption of the constitution, by the State
which he had represented
The reader may fairly conclude, that the
docnment in question is not iu.mble of words,
thrown together without a ineSninT hayinu no
object. and easily explained away, Is psmrpnuS
nullity. On the contrary. i; vas compared
with great care, executed with nncammi.ai sol
emnty, and doubtless ratified with ample con.
sideration II has. therefore, solid basis. and
a substantial meaning. That meaning shall
be considered in future number.
WILLIAM PEEK.