Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-08-21


Arber vi Nations never fails TO take c6gnzancc of
NATIONAL %elinqucncies. No soPhIstry can eudc his
scrutiny no array OF plausible arguments, or OF
smooth, but hollow professions can bias his Judgment;
and nc has at his disposal most abundant means @,
cNecning hls decisions. lie has, in many forms ana
wth awful solc'ui,y, declared his a5horrcnce OF OPP
preston IN every shape; and especai'y Oh nuus,ce
pcrpctrdtcd against the weak by the strong, Wlteh
strength IS IN Gui made me only rule Of acton Inc
people of the United States are not a'toge'her Sul
less in regard their treatment OF the anorgnes OF
this continent; but they cannot as yet ne charged
with any systematic ieSikItipn on this SUBJECT, incon
cnt with the plaines principles oi moral honesty
At least am not OF any proof by which such
charge could be sustained Nor do |, in these pre-
inary remarks, attempt so 10 characterize measures
row i'm CONCENTRATIONS But II is very clear that
Government aud our people should he extremely eau
tOus, lest, IN Judging between ourselves and the Ia
dams aud carrying our own Judgment into effect with
strong hand, We incur the diSpleasurs OF the Most
High Some very iudic.ous and considcrate men in
our country think that public tunctonaries should
stop where they arc; that, in the first place, we
should humble ourselves before God and the world,
That We have done so much 10 destroy the Indians,
and 50 little to them and that, before another
step Is taken, there should be tho most thorough de-
liberation. on hc part of all our constituted auhOri
ties, les, we act in such manner to expose our
, selves 10 the judgments OF Heaven.
would have omitted this topic, i'll could suppose
that majority ot readers would regard It's mtrndnc-
ton as asat Ter OF course as an acctatlon OF rhc
t'liCul embellishments. In my deliberate opinion /,
all other con-idcra IONS relating 10 the sublcct ait
the people of The United States will find il So ii they
should unhappiIy think themselves above the OGlga
ton 10 no justly, .yss mercy, and teGGt humidity tei
Their Ciad.
/ close this introductory number, ~ stating What
seems tn he the present controversy between IN,
whites and thc Indian Tribes OF the Southwestern
StGtCS | say the lckiteS, THAT Is country gen
Government of the United States, anu certain claim
made by the State OF Georgia, and cCrGin O,hcl
! claims by tn" States Of Alabama ana Mis- is,ippi-
The Indians 10 not admit the validity of any OF dies.
positions claims; anu If they have perfect orlg
nal title to the lands they occupy, which title they
nave forfeited a!iena ed, heir rights
not be affected b. the ChlrteTs of Kings by the
1csot provincial Legislatures. nor 10y the COmpacts
at ncighbourIng States. nor by the mandates OF the
Executive branch ofour National Government.
! The simple question L. Hire he indtn Tribes re-
siding us separate c0uHhHie> an the stL0rhood u
the ,Sti',. permanent TIE to he territory, tehich
tier inherited from their J!erS ichich Hcy hare nei-
,Fcr Iori 'ed nor sod and ,rhjch they orcWPy'
/ For the examination of this question, let the case
Of a single tribe or nation be consdcred for nearly
The same principles involved II the claims Ui a.
he indians Nations.
The Chcrotocs contend that their milton has bccr
IN possession of their present territory from time I'M
mcnorId; that neither the King OF Great ..ain
nor Tie early settlers of Georgia, the State OF
Georgia. at n the Revolution, the United States
since the adoption OF their Constitution, have acqui
red any title The soil. any sovereignty he
" the Territory have been repeatedly ,,tayai-
ted 81 tie Cterufees .Nition, by the L. States,
IN trea;i's which binding both parties
-rhe Government OF the United States alleges,
rs appears by letter from the Secretary Of War,
dated April is. 1929, that Great Bdtan, prcvi-
ous 90 the Revolution "ciluned entire sovereign
,ty within the limits OF what constituted ,ne 'hr-
teen I. States; that al. the rights OF sovereignty
which Great Britain had within said STATES be-
cause vested in id States respectively, as conse
quence OF the Dccaration Of independence, and the
Treaty Of l733;' that the Chcrokecs merely
"pern.ttci 10 reside their lands by the United
States; that this permission Is not to be construed
80 o deny . Georgia The exercise Of sovereignty;
md that the United statet has powcr to guaran.
tee any thing more than right Of possession, TIL
the State of Georgia should lit to legslate for
The Cherokees, and dispose Of them ms she should
Judge cypedieHt. without any control from the Gen
cral Government
This is summary OF the positions t.kcn by the
Secretary of War; aud, though not all of them ex.
pressed IN his own language, they are in strict &C
cordancc with the tenor of his letter.
In INV next number, I shall proceed TO inquire
IVtot right kGre The Caer1tees 10 tie LIlds cajch
they orttj,,r
In the mean TING, permit me 20 use the sigma
ture Of hat upright legislator aud distinguished nhi-
.an'hrnp'st WILLIAM PENN