The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-10-14

subject, by Russia and Prussia, or any two
contiguous nations in Europe.
Further, it appears by the very title, as well
as by the subsequent proceedings, that this
treaty, though made in the immediate neigh
borhood of the Cherokee country, and signed
BY fifteen chiefs, was not considered as binding,
till it should be "approved by the Cherokee
nation" Whom this should have been done,
and the treaty Should have been ratified by the
Government of the United States, it would be
binding upon all parties
1t is humiliatiLg to be obliged to prove, that
parties to treaty are bound by it. To pretend
the contrary is an utter perversion of reason
and common sense There are persons, how
ever, to whom express covenants seem stronger
than unavoidable implications. Such persons
are requested to observe, that Major General
Andrew Jackson and his colleagues did express
ly, in SO many words covenant and agree
that the treaty should "be binding on al par
ties" Why is it not binding, then? Where is
the promised perpetual peace, if the weaker
party is to be out-lawed? Where is the benefit
of definite territorial boundaries, if these boun-
daries are not respected ?
Phe following is brief abstract of the treaty.
ART. l. Peace and friendship established.
ART. 9. The western boundary described.
1t curtailed the Cherokee country on the
southwest, and gave to the United States
ART. g. The Cherokees relinquish and cede
the lands just mentioned, and, in consideration
thereof, the United States agree to pay $1,000
in 90 days, and $4,000 year, for ten success
awe years.
ART. 4. The line to be plainly marked.
Arr. 5. The Cherokee nation to meet the
Commissioners of the United States at Turkey
town, on the 2Sth of the same month, "there
and then to cypress their appreciation, or not,
of rfio Of hut a he
ton did not assemble, it would be considered
" as a tact ratification"
On this treaty l would observe, that there
are several things in it worthy of special com
mendatlon, viz the solicitude to avoid future
olf1cultles, the uncommon care manifest In ar
Gle fourth, (which regard to brevity prevent
ed my citing at large,) to have the,line of ter
ritory made plain and the repeated and ex
plicit acknowledgement, that the Cherokees
were to express their appreciation of the treaty,
before it would be binding. Ofcourse, they
were to be dealt with as intelligent and moral
beings, having rights of their own, and capable
OF judging in regard to the preservation of
those rights.
1t must be presumed that the Commission
ers of the United States were at Turkey-town,
on the 2Sth of September, 1.-The day appointed
for the ratification; but whether the Cherokees
were dllatory in assembling, or whether strong
arguments were necessary to obtain their con-
sent, does not appear. Six days afterwards the
transaction was closed, as is proved by the fol
lowing certificate
q Ratified at Turkey town, by the whole
Cherokee nation in Council assembled In
testimony whereof, the subscribing Commits
sioners of the United States, and the under
signed Chiefs and Warriors of the Cherokee
nation, have here set their hands and seals,
this fourth day of October, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen"
Signed, ANDREW JACKSON,
D. MERIwETHER, and
nine Cherokee Chiefs, in the presence of the
venerable Col. Meigs, two interpreters, and
Major Gadsden, of the United States Army,
who subscribed as witnesses.
The treaty was ratified by President Madi-
son, and the Senate.
close this number by requesting all our
public men to mediate upon the following
words of very sagacious King :-RemOUe not
the old land mark /; and enter not into the fields
Of the fatherless; that is, of the weak and de-
fenceless; for their Redeemey Is mighty He
shGuP their cause lcith thee.
WILLIAM PENN.