The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-09-30
WHOLE NO. s94S.
From the National htelEigsncer.
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDITION
OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

q "
territory belonging to Indians, was not new,
even at the period of the treaty of Holston
The first treaty, which / have been able to
lind, made with Indians by the United States
IN their confederated character, was executed
at Fort Pitt, on the 18th September, 177e. 1t
contains the following very remarkable arti-
Gle:
"Art. g. Whereas the enemies of the United
States have endeavored, by every artifice in
their power, to possess the Indians in general
with the opinion, that it is the design of the
States aforesaid TO extirpate the Indians and
take possession OF their country; to obviate
such false suggestions, the United States do
engage to guaranty to the aforesaid nation of
Delawares and their heirs, all their territorial
rights in the fullest and most ample manner,
as 1t hath been bounded by former treaties as
long as they, the said Delaware nation, shall
abide by, and hold fast, the chain of friendship
now entered into And it is further agreed on,
between the contracting parties, Should it for
the future be found conducive to the mutual
interest of both parties) to invite any other
tribes, who have been friends to the interest of
the United States, to join the present confed-
Grafton and to form State, whereof the Della
aeare nation shall be the head, and have rep
resentatsOn IN Congress; provided nothing con-
tanned IN this article to be considered as con-
elusive, until it meets with the appreciation of
Congress THAT it did meet with the appro-
baton of Congress is manifest because it is
now part of national treatyl
The bare suggestion, that the United States
designed to take possession of the Indian coun-
try was treated as a SANDER and calumny.
The territorial rights of the Indians were to
be respected, and the Indian tribes generally
were encouraged with the proposal, that they
might De represented in Congress. The nat
ural implication of this last proposal must have
been that the Indians not only had territorial
rights, but might expect to retain them perma-
nentiy In the same manner as the State of Vir-
ginia, or Connecticut, and the other confeder.
ated republics, expected to retain their terrific.
rial rights
Let 1t be remembered, that this treaty was
made when the United States were struggling
Tor independence against the whole force Of the
British empire, and when every accession of
strength to the American cause, and every sub.
traction from the power of the enemy, was
matter of great Importance. Nor should it be-
forgotten, that other treaties formed with the
Indians, after the peace with Great Britain.
were extremely desirable to the United States
that the exhausted treasury of the nation could
III afford the expense of Indian wars; that the
Indians had the undisputed possession of bound
less forests, on all our frontiers; that many of
them had endured publ.c and private injuries,
which were unavenged and uncompensated
that the Indian tribes were strong, compared
with their subsequent decline, and their present
total want OF power; and that the United
States were weak, compared with their present
gigantic strength
Though the treaties were formed in such cir
mot tf sng nfad h.rd
settlers. The Indians claimed nothing unjust
or unreasonable. The early negotiations wear
the aspect of mutual benefit, and appea. to
have been concluded with desire to secure
permanent peace to the parties, founded on the
of their mutual rights.
Are the people of the United States unwil.
ling to give fair, candid, and natural costruc.
ton to treaty thus made might say, are
they unwilling to give it the Onl;, construction
of which it is capable Are they unwilling to
admit meaning which stands out prominently
upon the very face of the transaction, and
which no ingenuity can dstort, pervert, or
evade3 VIII they refuse to be bound BY the
plainest and most solemn engagements, DELHI
erately formed, ratified, acted upon, confirmed,
ratified again and again by the highest authors
ty of our republic? How can it for a moment
be apprehended, that the coordinate branches
of our government-our high legislative, exec.
utive, and judicial functionaries, will manifest
so total disregard Of every principle of public
morality?
SIXTH COMPACT WITH THE CHERoKEEs.
This instrument was executed on the goth of
October, 1903, by Return ]. Meigs, Agent Of
the United 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, one of whom was Charles Hicks, then
acting as interpreter. / have called it a com.
pact, not a treaty. because it was not sent 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 the United States particularly the
people of Tennessee and Georgia, have derived
great benefit from it. have an accurate copy
before me.
"Articles of agreement between the United
States and the Cherokee Nation, for opening
a road from the State of Tennessee to the State
Of Georgia, through the Cherokee Nation.
"The Cherokee Nation, having taken into
consideration the request of their Father the
President of the United States, to grant that
road may be opened through the nation, from
the State of Tennessee TO the State of Geor.
ga, and being DESTROYS to evince to their Fa.
ther, the President, and the good people of the
United States, their good will and friendly dis
position, do hereby agree, that road may be-
opened from the State of Tennessee to the
State of Georgia, with the reservations and
provisions as in the following articles are ex.
pressed; and further to evince to our Father,
the President, that we are not influenced by
pecuniary motives, We make present Of the
road to the United States"
Art. l. A road granted GO feet in width,
passing through about $50 miles of Cherokee
territory, and opening a communication from
Augusta, Georgia, to Knoxville and Nashville,
Tennessee. This has usually been called the
Federal Road 1t has been much travelled;
and great quantities of merchandise, and other
valuable property have been transported over
it, 1t was to be made solely at the expense
of the United States. The article also pro-
vdes that when the road is opencd the direc-
ton of it shall not be changed and that no