Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-09-01

a man sent their memorial TO congress,
deprecating the necessity Of a removal.
This question was distinctly before their
minds when they signed their memorial.
Not an adult person can be found, who
has not All opinion Oh the subject, and If
the people were to understand distinctly,
that they could be protected against the
laws Of the neighboring states, there is
lprobably not an adult person i'll the ma
ton, who would think il best to remove !;
though possibly few might emigrate
individually. There are doubtless many !,
who would flee to an unknown country
however beset with dangers, privations
and sullcrings, rather than be sentenced
to spend six years in Georgia prison for
advising one of their neighbors, not to be-
tray his country. And there are others
who could not think Of living as outlaws
in their native land, exposed to number
less vcxations, and excluded from being
parties or witnesses in a court of Justice.
1t is incredible that Georgia should ever
have enacted the oppressive laws to-
which reference is here made, unless
she had supposed that something extreme
| ly terrific i'll its character was necessary
in order TO make the Cherokces willing
to remove. We are not willing to re-
move; and if we could be brought to this
extremity, it would be not by argument,
not because our judgment was satisfied,
not because our condition will be improv-I
ed; but only because we cannot endure
to be deprived of our national and indi-j
vidual rights and subjected to Il process
of intolcrablc oppression.
We wish to remain on the land of our
fathers. We have perfect and origin
al right to remain without interruption or
molcstation. The treaties with US, and
laws of the United States made in pursli-
ancc of treaties, guaranty our residence,
and our privileges and secure us against
intrudcrs. Our only request is, that
these treaties may be fulfilled, and these
laws executed.
But if we arc compelled to leave our
country, we see nothing but ruin before
us. The country west of the Arkansas
territory is unknown to US. From what
VIC can learn of it, we have no preposses-
sions in its favor. All the inviting parts
lIoi IL, ao VIC pShCNS, uiS W
various Indian nations, to which it has
been assigned. They would regard us
as intruders, and look upon us with an
evil eye. The far greater part of that
region is, beyond all controv crsy, badly
supplied with wood and water; and no
Indian tribe can live as agriculturists
without these articles. All our neigh
bors, in case of our removal, though
crowded into our near vicinity, would
speak language totally different from
ours, and practice different customs.
The original posscssors of that region
are now wandering savages lurking for
prey in the neighborhood. They have
always been at war, and would be easily
tempted to turn their arms against peace
tul emigrants Were the country to
which we are urged much better than it
is represented to be, and were it free
from the objections which we have made
to it, still it is not the land of our birth,
nor of our affections 1t contains neither
the scenes of our childhood, nor the
graves of our fathers.
\ The removal of families to a new coun-
lItry, even under the most favorable aus
pices, and when the spirits are sustained
by pleasing visions of the future, is at
tended with much depression of mind
and sinking of heart. This Is the case,
when removal is a matter of decided
preference, and when the persons con-
ccrncd are in early youth or vigorous
manhood. Judge, then, what must be
| the circumstances Of a removal, when a
whole community, embracing persons of
all classes and every description, from
the infant to the man Of extreme old age,
the sick, the blind, the lame,- i'm
provident, the reckless, the desperate,
as well as the prudent, the considerate,
the industrious, are compelled to remove
by odious and intolerable vexations and
! prosecutions, brought upon them in the
forms of law, when all will agree only in
this, that they have been cruelty robbed
of their country, in violation of the most
solemn com2acts, which it Is possible for
communities to form with each other;
and that, if they should make themselves
comfortable in their new residence, they
j have nothing to expect hereafter but TO
be the victims of future lcgalizcd rob-
berry!
! Such we deem, and are absolutely
certain, will be the feelings of the whole
Cherokee people, if they are iorclbly
, compelled, by the LAWS of Georgia, to re-
move; and with these feelings, how ls It
{ possible that VIC should pursue our pre-
sent course of improvement, or avoid
sinking into utter dcspondcncys We
have been called poor, ignorant, and
! degraded people. We certainly arc not