Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-25
From the .Naiionai Haickg,tcsr
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDITION. OF
THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

|
The first treaty, which have been able to find,
made with Indians by the United States iii thcr con-
federated character, executed at Fort Pitt the
i1th OF September, IT'S. Ii contains the following
very remarkable article.
"An q Whereas the enemies of the Uned States have
endeavoted hy every ar'ihce in then power, possess
Indians IA general win the opinion, that the design o the
States Aforesaid 10 expate the Indians aud take possession
o,he country to obyia'e such false suggestion the United
states To engage guaranty the aforesaid of Della
aud their heirs, all eir ritLs IA, fullest
Treaties, as long they, the said nation, shall abide
y and hold ti the chain of friendship no~ entered into
Aud further agreed ou between contracting partie
should for the future found conducive the mutual inter
est OF both partias invite other tribes who have been
friends the interest of The United States JOIN the present
confederation and to Of.n State whereof The Da'oire sao
s'1l he nc hen snd have representation IN C9ngrts' pro-
oasive nn;i IT meet, with the APPRECIATION of Congress
That did the appreciation Of Congress manifest
because il is part OF a national treaty
The bare suggestion, that the United States de-
signed to take possession Of tie Iadttn count,y
treated u SANDER aud a caiunny. The territorial
rights of the Indians We're to nc respected, and the
lian tribes generally encouraged with the pro-
posal that they might be represented iii Co,grcss.
The natural implication of this last proposal
have been, that the lnd."Ss not only had territorial
rights, but mis- ht expect 10 retain them permanently,
in the same manner the State of Virginia, Con
ncetcut, and the other coniederaed republics eXpec
tel to retain Aictr territorial rights
Let it be remembered, that this treaty was made
when the United States struggling Ior indepen-
dencc against the whole force OF the British empire,
and when every accession of strength to the Ameri-
can cause, and every subtraction from the power of
the enemy, was matter of great Importance. ,Jor
should be forgotten, that other treaties ,ed with
The Indians, after the peace with Great Sain, were
extremely desirable to the United tcs; ;at the ex-
hausted treasury OF the nation ,,iL III ,ri the ox-
pense of Indian wars; that ~ Indians had tie unI,-
ptod possession OF bout,ess forests, all from
Her that many OF -tem had endured public and pri-
vate INJURIES W!1riI were unuvcnped and uucoinpt.n-
stated; that th- Indian tribes were strong, compared
with tlcr oequcnt decline and their present total
want OF po"cr and that the United States weak
H..
Though the treaties formed III such circunl-
stances, not single article bore hardly, oppres-
sivsly on the United States, the new settlers
Ihe Indians claimed nothing unjust unreasonable.
Tile early negotiations the aspect of mutual
beneht, and appear to have been concluded with de-
SIRE to secure permanent peace to the parties, fouu
den on the acknowledgment of their mutual rights.
Are the People ofthe United States unwilling to
give fair candid, and natural construction to trea
u thus mnde? l might say, are they unwilling TO |
give the only construction Of which il is capable
Are they unwilling to admit meaning which stands
out prominently upon the very face Of the ransaction
and which ingenuity distort, pervert or evade
Ill thef refuse 10 be bound by the planest and
solemn engagements, deliberately formed, ratified
aced upon, confirmed ratified again aud again bythe
highest authority of our republic' How can II for
moment he apprehended, That the coordinate branch
Is OF our Government-our high legislative execu-
tive, and Judicial funcionaries, will manifest to-
tai disregard of every principle OF public morality:
SIXTH COMPACT WITH THE cHEROKEEs.
Tins inst rulnent executed the 20th of DC
tober, 1907, by Return J. Mcigs, Agen; of the Uni
ted States among the Cherokees, and By fourteen
Cherokee Chiefs, beginning with Black Fox, the
principal Chief, and ending with the famous James
VAnn. 1t was witnessed by five officers Of the U. S.
army, and three other persons, OF whom vas !
Charles Hicks, then acting Interpreter. / have !
caled TIA conpact, not tre1fy because it not
scot to the Senate for ratification. But though it be
not technically treaty. it is morally binding upon the
United States for it has been carried into effect and
tie United States particularly the People of 1ennes
gee and Georgia. have derived great benefit from it,
have accurate before
tce5 OF Agreement between the United States and the Che
foSee Nation for opening road from the Tennessee
70 the State Of georgia, through the Cherokee Nation.
"Ihe Cherokee Nation having taken into
request on tneH Father the President Of the United States
giant that road may opened through Nation from the
State OF Tennessee the State of Georgia, being
Father, President good People
OF the United States, their good will and friendly Disposition
eieby agree that road be opened from the State of
Tennessee 70 the State of Georgia, with the
provisions as in the following ARTICLES expressed aud
evince Father, the President that Influenced
~ pecunay motives, we make present Of the ruad to tue
Art l. road granted, sixty feet in width passing through
aoom 10 miles of Cherokee territory, and opening
cainn from Augusta, Georgia Knoxville aud Nashville Ten
ncsee This has usually been called the Federal Road
has been travelled and quantities merchandise
ana oef valuable property have been transported it,
article also provides that when ocned the dec
ton Of il shall chansed that branch or branches
~ be Opened Without the cOassnt Of the Cherokee Nation
an l. The Cherokees themselves the income OF
the ferries aud specify wieIe the ferries shall lie kept
An g. Various regulations respecting houses Of
en which the CheFokees were to esabsh keeping the road
Art a. No cattle from the Southern States sb, be
6Ven through the Cherokee Nation; and taken
through the number OF them shall be ia ssor
OF ownsr The ClerOksss be snsWe1aJle Tor eays
ion among tire animals OF the whites.
Art OiceTs civil and military, Carriers and some
other classes exempted from toll aud fefiage
Art Commissioners 10 BE- appointed each side to survey
and marx the road. - 10y
Al One copy Of this agreement be to the Secre.
y OF W ~ another to be len with the principal Cherokee
'me aud nird win iir Agent Of I've Unci ates aaDna
fic Chefokees 40
The road vas opened the following year, and has
now been travelled lot quarter Of a century; and
curing TINS whole time, has greatly aci atcd inter
cOnrse between different parts Of the Souher States
10 reader OF the foregoing abstract can be so dull
as not t. perceive that the privilege was nrauted To
the United states, at the special instance OF the Pre-
sident; that the Chcrokccs were extremely cautions
iOt to compromit their territorial rights aud that
they made the grant from motives of friendship and
Willingness to afford the desired accommodation !
Ihey guard ~ suitable manner, against vexations
aud l1bIlltIc5' TO which this OF kindness jgh lac
lhOnghl % expOse thgm. and heN rasnrun Ln No..