Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-09-08

iueiiCe, tnouSnt MT should read lesson so
hldeous, but-so salutary.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENoER.
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDI.
TON OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.
NO. Nv.
II our Statesman are about to interpret
treaties. on the principle of favouring tile.
party which assumed superiority, they
mast take care lest there should be some
very unexpected consequences.
In treaty formed between the United
States and the Cbcksaws, in the wear
1901 and ratified by President Jefferson
and the Senate, the first article comnen-
ces thus: "The Mingo, principal men,
and warriors of the Chickasaw Nation of
Indians gice leaoe and permission to the
President of the United States of Ameri-
ca, to lay out, open, and make convent
ent wagon road through their land" AZ
ter stating that the road /" shall be a high
way tor the citizens of the United States
and the Chickasaws," and that the Chick
asaws shall appoint two discreet men as
guides, who shall be paid by the United
States for their services, the article closes
thus " Provided always, That the neces-
sary ferries over the water courses, crossed
by the said road, shall be held and deemed
to be the property Of the CAichasaso Ma
ti0n."
The second article makes pecuniary
compensation to the Chickasaws for g their
respectful and friendly attention to the
President of the United States ofAmerica,
and to the reques. made to them in has
name, to permit the opening Of the road"
WHO'S the superiour here 1? Translate
these passages faithfully, and send them
TO the Emperour of China. and let him lay
the matter before his councillors, who new
er heard of the United States. They will
say in moment, that the Mingo of the
Chlckasaws is monarch, who, in his
great condescension, has granted the
humble request of the President, on the
condition that petitioners shall make Pc
cunlary compensation, and pay tribute,
under the name of ferriage to the Chicka-
saws, as often as any of the Presidents
People pass through the territory of the
vi tic OIiChdodWSs
According TO the recent code of naton-
al morality, what is to be the operation of
this Chickasaw treaty? Most undoubt-
eddy, in the first place, the Chickasaws
may close mp the road, the stipulations of
the treaty TO the contrary notwithstanding.
Indeed, they must have exercised great
forbearance already, as they have permit
ted the road to be open tsoenty-seUen gears,
solely out of regard to this treaty !; Just as
Georgia has waited twenty-seven years be-
fore taking possession of the Cherokee ter
ritory, out of complaisance to the engage
ments of the United States, which are in
fact of no validity.
In the second place, none Of the treaties
made subsequently by the Chickasaws are
binding upon them and therefore they
may reclaim all the lands which they have
coded to the United States. Ofcourse the
inhabitants of West Tennessee, who now
live on fertile lands, which were coded
TO the whites by the Chickasaws, must
Immediately remove, if the Chlckasaws
require it. The reason is plain No SUI
peronr can be bound to an inieriour but
that the Chickasaws are the superiours,
is evident, as the Secretary Of War says in
the other case, because 'the emphatick
language" Of the treaty cannot be mis-
taken"
But it may be said that there are other
indications in the treaty of Hopewell
that the United States assumed superb
GRITTY, beside the phraseology, in the in
stances above cited. The question is not.
be it remembered, whether the United
States, at the time of the treaty of Hopes
well, were more powerful nation than
the Cherokees; but whether, being more
powerful nation. they are on that account
exempted from the obligation oftreaties.
Tie Cherokees did, undoubtedly, place
themselves under the protection of the U.
States, in the third article. They had
formerly been under the protection Of the
King of Great-Britain; but his power had
failed them. 1t was natural that they
should accept proffers of protection from
some other quarter. This is not new
thing in the world. From the time of
Abraham to the present day, there have
been alliances, offensive and defensive,
confederacies, and smaller States relying
for protection upon the plighted faith Of
larger ones. But what is implied in TIE
very idea ofprotection 1t is not, that
the party protected is to have all its rights
secure, not only against others, but a.
gainst the protector also? II some rights
are yielded as the price of protection, is it
not that other rights may be preserved
with the greater care and certainty
| 1t is said that the United States were