Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-08
THEINDIAN QUESTION.

Bosros, JAN. 23-On Thursday evening
meer,,g was held in the Chamber of the House
Of Repre- sen, s,ives, Tor the purpose OF oOnsi'
drring the 2rrsen, relations sub.isting between
tn United States and the S,u'h Western In
dians. Hon. SAMUEL C.. ALLEN, OF Fraukiin
county, was called 10 the Chair, and Henry
n II and DIR. Edward Reynolds we're appointed
Secretaries.
The following resolutions were Offered by
Mr.. S Hoar, Of Concord, aud, after addresses
by several g.nrlemen, were unanimously ad"p'-
ed, viz:
l. RESOLVED, That the presen, crisis in the re-
lations subsisting between he Geserumen' oil
the Unite States AMI he Indian tribes wirhin
our national limits, is such as To J"s''i and
d, mand public expression Of heir felings,
on The part Of al friends Of humaniy justice,
and heir country
2 Resolved That, in the opinion Of his meet
ing, there is political subject whatever, IN
which the ciiz-ns VI this republic have mor-
yi,aI interest, than the preservation OF our ma
tional character unsullied by any just impu,a-
lion of bad faith; and that quick sensibi'i'y
on his subject should be cherished, especially
Al u time whtnseIieus appIehensions are enter
tame thai our nation is about 20 incur The DIS
honor and gull of violating treaties.
}. Resoiued, Tha, we consider I"disn Ma
lions, residing upon lands derived from their
ancestors by immemoIial occupancy, and never
fortified nor ali-naed, as having perfec: right,
aniecedently TO any &C acknowledgement or gusran-
" on The prr, Of The whites To retain posse
OF those lands, and 10 exclude all other persons;
excrp, so far as this nsrfsc, RICH, has brsn mo
difed by compacts 10 which tae Indians were
party
4 Sesolued, Thst, as his right Of Indians TO
the continued posse sion Of their country has
besn impliCi'ly acknowledged in treaties made
between the whites and ,hr Indians, from the
arrival Of the 6r,, English Col"niss in this
country to ne present Gay; and that, as treaties
ratified BY the President and Senate of the U
States expressly granted 10 The Cher, KEGS for
ever all ,hrir lands not previously coded 20 he
Unred Suaes, i, is evident that the lands now
in the pr aceful occupancy OF he Cherokees,
cannot be aiken from them wi hou' their con
sent, unless by a violation &c good FL h.
Resolved That rs The Indian Dations were
originally Independent communities, md exrr-
cissd full sovereignty over their country. by
have right 10 retain their ancirn, form of go
yernmeni, OF TO alter il according 10 heir plea.
sure. and TO exercise entire sovereignty over
their counry; excep, so far as they have con.
sen,rd to qu,Ii6ed dependence, by treaties
wi the Uni ed States.
s. Resoired, That, as the United States haze,
in very numerous Instances, acknowledged The
nationsl character Of he Cherokees aud thrir
righro Of self government, the extension of the
lews If the United States, or OF the several
Safes, over The Cherokee s without their own
cousrut, would involve the double criminaliiy
Ct osurpalion and disregard Of treaties.
hesolped, That We should regard il as a
graf ca!am,ty, IL, in plain as, he Govern
ment &C he United STATES should fort, il the SO.
Tenn pledges, which have been so rften given
to . We Ak and dep ndent ally; inasmuch as such
a course would probably bring upon US he re-
D caches al mankind, and would certainly eI.
pose u 10 he judgmen' OF Heaven.
8. Resided. That a committee OF eight BE-
nomns ed by The Chair, 1rspsrs memorial
10 Congress, iu accordance with The principles
OF the preceding resolutions; which m. morisl
will be reported by thrp, as soon as convenient,
al an a journed meeting.
Resolved rha, the same committee be re
pues,ed to act as csmmi tee of correspond
ence with a view to Call the immediate at,-n.
ton OF the people in all parts Of he Common
wealth, to this Immensely important subject.
The following gentlemen were appointed to
constitute the committee men Tuned in the 8
resolution, viz: Mrssrs. w. B Calhoun, L.,
veret Ssltons,aIl, CHARLES G Loring, Rufus
Choate, Samuel NJ Worcester, Edward Rty-
nold,, Samuel Hoar and jeremiah Evarls.
Ressirsd. Tha, this mer ting adjourn NEE
., FaReuIi Hall, al SUI time a. may be desig
mated by the foregoing committee.
Mr.. JEFFERSON AND THE INDIANS
resnectab,r prpte IN of This ri % h,d