The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-10-28
From the National hteIligencer.
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDITION
OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

l
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDITION
VI THE AMERICAN INDIANS.
( NO. XIII.
There is but single treaty more in this
| long chain of negotiations 1t was executed
on the 29th of February, 1919, by John c. Cal.
houn then Secretary of War, for the United
States, and by twelve Cherokee Commission
ers 1t may be called
THE FOURTH TREATY OF WASHINGTON: OR THE
! 'NTEEKTH AND LAST NATIONAL CONTACT BE.
| TWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE CHERo-
( KEGS.
The preamble states, that 4" the greater part
! OF The Cherokee nation have expressed an
earnest desire to remain on this side of the
Mississippi" and that they are DESTROYS 90 to
commence those measures which they deem
necessary to the civilization and preservation
OF their nation;' they therefore offer to cede
to the United states tract of country at least
as extensive as the United States will be en-
titled to, according to the provisions of the
preceding treaty
Art. ]. The Cherokee nation cedes to the
United States all Its lands, lying North and
East of the following line: [By this boundary
considerable tracts of land were ceded, which
tell under the jurisdiction of Alabama, Tennes.
see, and Georgia. There was a reservation of
ry, for school fund for the Cherokees1
The cession in this article to be in full salts
faction for the lands on the Arkansas piyen
by the United States, in the next preceding
treaty
Art. 2. The United States to pay for i'm
provemerts on the ceded territory; and to
allow reservation of $40 acres to each head
OF family, who wishes to remain, and become
citizen of the United States.
Art. 3. A reservation of GAO acres to each
Of 81 persons nd msatI Fa Sd BY all Of
and eabd6r1h e 81 Managing their property with
discretion"
$40 acres to each of eight other persons de-
slgnated.
Art. 4. The land reserved for u school fund
to be sold, in the same manner as the public
lands of the United states, and the proceeds
vested by the President of the United States,
the annual income to be applied &c to diffuse
the benefits of education among the Cherokee
nation on this side of the Mississippi"
Art 5. Boundaries to be run as prescribed
in former treaties. Intruders from the white
settlements to be removed by the United
States, and proceeded against according to
law of Congress, which was enacted March 80,
1909.
Art 6. Two thirds of the annuties to the
Cherokees on the East, and one third to those
on the West of the Mississippi
Art Z. The citizens of the United States
not to enter upon the ceded lands, before jan
uary |, 1920.
Art. 8. This treaty to be binding when
ratified.
The treaty was ratified by President Monroe
and the Senate.
The preamble of this last treaty admits that
the Cherokees, as a body, wished to remain
49, via to
their national preservation. The treaty was
therefore avowedly made with the same view
This is perfectly manifest from the words OF
the document and | feel warranted in saying,
that the Cherokee chiefs (who consented to the
cessions of the first article with great reluct-
ance,) were positively and solemny assured,
that the Government of the United States did
not intend to ask them to sell any more land
This is implied indeed, in the preamble, which,
after recognizing the desire of the Cherokees
to remain and become civilized, adds, in effect,
that the cession now made was SO extensive, as
not to require any future cession.
To about forty individuals specific reserva-
tons are made by the third article, on the al
! legged ground, that they were persons of IN
dustry, capable Of managing their property
| ,oith dtScrett0n.'
| A very small portion of the Cherokee popu-
! lation resided upon the land coded yet from
this small portion, Excluding, also, those who
wished to emigrate from the ceded district to
the Arkansas,) about forty heads of families
were selected ten years ago, as possessing the
character above described. Ii is incontrovert-
BILE that the Cherokee nation has been improv-
ihg to the present day.
The number of industrious persons has been
greatly increased, as could easily be shown by
an induction of particulars, if my limits would
allow. The words of the treaty are not more
plain, therefore, nor its principles more just,
! than its spirit is humane and benevolent.
! The fourth article looks directly at the per-
manent residence of the Cherokees on the ter
ritory of their fathers. The lands reserved for a
school fund have not yet been sold but, whsn
| the treaty was signed, it was supposed they
would sell for great sum of money. Similar
lands, not far distant, had been sold by the Unit.
ed States at auction, year or two before, al
very great prices. The principal tract reserved
( lies on the Tennessee, and, as was thought
would produce SO large capital, that the inter
est would afford the means of education to all
the children of the Cherokees. What is 10 be
done with this sum ? The treaty says, the Pres.
ident of the United States shall vest it as per
manent fund and that the annual income is tC
be applied "to diffuse the benefits of education
among the Cherokee nation on this side Of tn
Mississippi Hero is a permanent fund for 1
specific object and that object implies the per
manent existence of the Cherokee nation East
! ward of the Mississippi.
But the provision Of the fifth article is NOR
remarkable still. it would seem as if ever,
continuance was used, which ingenuity coul
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