Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-09-02

pointment has il been received.
But in the midst Of our sorfows wa do moi
forget eur obligations 10 our friends and be
ncfactors. II was with sensations Of inex
/ preSsible JOY, that sc have learned, that the
voice Of thousands in masy part Of the Uni
ted States has been raised in or behalf, and
the numerous memorials offered in our favor
! in both houses Of Congress. To those ma
nerous friends, who have thus sympathizsd
| with us in our low estate, we tender our
| grateful acknowledgement. In pleading ouI
cause, they have pleaded the cause Of thc
| poor and dsfsnceless throughout the world
| Oar special thanks are due, however, TO those
honorads mon, who 80 ably and eiequsntIy
| asserted our rights, in both branches Of the
I national legislature Their efforts viii be ap.
/ prcciated whenever The merits Of this ques-
/ ton shall be knolYa, and we cannot but think
that they have secured for themselves q per
manent' reputation among the disiuterssied
advocates Of humanity, equal rights, justice,
! and good fifth. We even chefish the hope,
! that ldese efforts, seconded aud followed By
| others of a similar character, will yet be a
yailable, so far az to mitigate our suhorings
! ifnot 10 elect cur entire dcliverance.
| Bcfors we close tflis address, pcFait us 10
/ state what we conceive 70 be- our relations
/ with the United States 4 fer t.le peace Of
1888. the Gheruisees WeIe an independent
people: absoglelY 50, IS much as any poo
pie on earth. They had been allie. to Great
Britain, and a faithful ally took a part in
the colonial war on her side. They had pla
eed themselves under her protection and bad
they, without cause, declared hostility against
their protector, and had Tie colonies been
subdued what might have not been their
lateP But her power on this continent was
broken. She acknowledged the Indepen-
dence of the United States and made peace
The Cherokees therefore stood alone; and in
these circumstances, continued tho war
They were then under no Obligations TO the
United States any muG than to Great Brit
ain, France or Spain. The United States
never subjusated the Cherokees; on the con
trary, eur fathers remained in possession Of
thsIr country, aud with arms in their hands.
The people of tho / nted States sought
peace; and, in 1885 the treaty OF Hopewell
was formed by which the Cherokees came
under the protection of the Unitea States.
and Submitted to such limitations Of sovereign
~ as are mentioned in that instrument. Meme
OF these limitations, however, affected in the
slightest degree, their rights of self govern
ment and inviolate territory The citizens
oil the United States he'd no right Of passage
through, The Cherokee country till the year
1871 and then only IN one direction, and by an
express treaty stipulation. When the Fed
cTal Constitution was adopted, the treaty OF
Hopewell was confirmed with all other trea
ties, as the supreme Law of the land. Ia 1891
the treaty OF H9lSton was made, by winch tbs
soFel eighty Of the Cherokees was qua!ilisd
rs follows: The Cheroi,ees acknowledged
themselves TO be under the protection Of Tia
United States, and of no other soysrciga.-
They engaged that they would not hold any
treaty with a foreign power, with any sepa-
rate state OF the Union or with individuals
They agreed that he United States SHOULD
have tho exclusive right of regulating their
trade; that the citizens Of the United States
should have right of way in ono direction
through the Cherokee country; and that If an
Indian should do injury TO a citizen ofUnited
States he should be EclivcTcd up to be tried
aud punished. \ cession cfiands was also
mahe to the United States. On tho other
hand, the United States paid sum Of money;
offered protection; engaged to punish citizens
OF the United States who should do any in
jury totbe Cherokces; abandoned white set
tlcrs on Cherokee lands 10 the discretion Of
the Cherokces; stipulated that white men
should not hunt on these lands, nor even en-
ter the country without passport; and gave
solemn guaranty OF all Cherokee lands not
cedsd. This treaty is the basis Of all subse
qleoi conpacts; and in none of them arc the
relations Of The parties at all changed.
The Cherosees have always fulfilled their
engagements. They have never reclaimed
those portions OF sovereignty, which they sur
rendered by the treaties Of Hopewell and
llolston. These portions were surrendered
for the purpose Of obtaining the guaranty
which was recommended by them as the
great equivalent Had they refused to COM
ply with their engagements, there is no doubt
the United States would have enforced com
plance. Is the duty of fulfilling engage
ments on the other side less binding than it
would be, If the Cherokees had the power OF
enforcing their just clainso
The people OF the United States viii have
the fairness to reflect. that all The treaties be-
tween them and Cherokees were made, at the
solicitation and for the benefit, oil the whites;
that valuable considerations We're given for
every stipulation, on the part OF the United
States; that it is impossible to reinstate tho
parties in their former situation; therc are
nos hundreds Of thousands of citizens OF the
United States residing upon lands czded by
the Cherokees in these very treaties; and that
our people have trusted their country 10 the
guaranty Of the United States II his gaaran-
ty iails them, III what can they trust, and
where can thsy look for protection?
We are aware, that some persons suppose
twill be for our advantage TO remove BEYOND
the Mississippi. Wa think otherHise Oar
people universally think otherwise Ihak
ing that it would be fatal TO their interests