Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-04
From the National Htetfgeacer.
To THE EDIToRs.
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDITION OF
THE AMERICAN INDIANS.


No. Nv.
If our Statesmen about to interpret treaties,
the principle of favorng the party which assumed
u superiority, they must take lest there should
be some very unexpected consequences.
In q treaty formed between the United States aud
the Chickasaws, Ill the year 1901, and ratified b.
President Jefferson and the Senate the first article
commences thus 1.-The Ningo principal men, and
Warriors of the Chickasaw Nation of Indians gice
leave and permission to the President Of the United
Statssof America, to lay out, open, and make
uient wagon road through their land" "Afer STATING
that the road shall be highway for the citizens Of
the United States and the Chickusaws" and that
the Chickasaws shall appoint two discreet men as
guides, who shall be paid by the United States for
their services, the article closes thus: Provided al
ways, That the necessary ferries the water
courses, crossed by the said road, shall be held and
Deemed to be the property Of the Chickasuw .Nution.
The second article makes pecuniary compensation
to the Chickasaws for tlier respectful and friendly
attention to the President of the United States Of
America md % the request made to them IN his name
TO ps,Usa the opening Cf the road" "
Who is the superior heree Transate these passa-
ges faithfully, and send them to the Emperor of
China and let him lay The matter before his coun-
selors, who never heard of the United States. They
will saw in moment, that the Mngo Of the Chick
usaws is monarch, who, in his great condensation,
las granted the humble request of the President
The condition that the petitioner shall make pecu-
IarS compensation, and pay tribute, under the name
sf ferrage to the Chckasaws as often any of the
Presidents people pass the territory Of The King of
the CbickasaWs.
According to tho recent code Of national morality,
what is to be the operation Of this Cbcknsaw reuy?
Most nndoubtly, in the first place, the Chickasaws
may close up The road The s1ipuatioDs of the
IT, to the contrary Notwithstanding 4ndeed, they
must have exercised great forbearGnce already, us
they have permitted the road to be open oenty
sears; solely out of regard this treaty; Just
Georgia has waited twenty years before taking
possession Of the Cherokee territory of cunpai-
sance to the engagements ofthe United States Which
are in fact of no validity.
In the second place. Of tue treaties made sub
sequenly by tho ChickAsaws binding upon therh;
ind therefore they may reclaim all the lands which
they have coded to the United States. OF course
the inhabitants Of West Tennessee who now live OF
fertile lands, which coded TO the whites by the
Chckasaws, must Immediately remove, if the Chick
Gsaws require it. The reason is plain. No supctior
can be bound to Interiors but that tic CIickasaws
the supefors, is evident, the Secretary of War
says in the other case, because ''the emphatic Ian
guage' of1he treaty f.cannot be mistaken
But it may be saiddhat there are other Indications
10 the treaty Of Hopewe that the United States as
sumed n superiority, beside the piraseology, in the
instances above cited. The question is not be il,
remembered, whether the United States, at the time
ofthe treaty Of Hopewe., V"ce 6 more powr;fJ