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

-.fsGrss Of hs "Con~iiies and CovtcI o. the
Cherokee fation IN General Council esnccn-
II, 10 Ire rleopls NJ Ma LnAed Sialss

TeOntsu Dy the constituted ahtnOrlHeA OF Tue
Cherokee natIoa, to repair to the City Of
lvashisgtoa, and, in behalf OF this nation IL
lay before the Government OF the Ualtsd
States such representations, as should seem
most likely to secure to ms a people that pro-
testson, aid, aud good neighboriiood. which
had been so often promised 20 as, and of which
we stand ia great need. Soon after their ar
rival ia the City they prssested to Congress
petition from our National Council, asking
for the InlerpoSition Of that body IN our be-
bali, especially with reference to the laws Of
Georgia, which were suspended in most fer
.Tllu1g manner over large part Of oar po-
puisdon, and protesting IN the most decided
terms against the operation OF these laws. 10
tAe course ofths wiater they presented Peti
tioDs 10 Congress, signed by more than four
thousand of our citizens, including probably
more than nineteen tyentieths, and for ought
ue eaa tell, ninsty nine hundredths, OF The
stiuli males OF the nsii3p (our whole popula-
non being about sixteen thousead,1 pleading
VITA tho assembled representatives Of the
sHerican people. that the solemn engagements
between their fsthers and orr fathers may b.
preserved, M they have been li recently, in
force aud continued ope,aiiop; asking. "a "a
word, for protection against threatened "sur
patton. and for faithful execution Of \ guar
arly, which is perfectly plain in It's meaning,
has been repeatedly aud rightly enforced III
our favor and has received the sanction Of
Tire government Of the United States for
nearly forty years.
More than a year ago we were officially
given 10 understand by the Secretary Of " ar,
thatthe President could not protect us against
the laws Of Georgia. Thin information was
entirely unexpected; as it went upon the pfin-
eipIe, that treaties made between the United
States and the Cherokee Nation have no
power 10 Withstand the legislation OF separate
States, and Of course, that they have no etii
cacy whatever, but leave our people TO the
mercy Of the neighbering whites, whose sup
,,0ssd interests would be promoted by our
expulsion, or determination. Ii would be
srdrossible to describe the sorrow which af-
fecied our minds. on learning that the chief
magistrate Of the United States had come to
this conclusion, that al! his illustrious prede-
ccssors had ii intercourse with Us on prn-
ciples which could not ba sustained; that they
had made promises OF vital importance TO US,
which could not be iuflled-promses made
hundreds OF times, 10 almost every conceiva-
hle n1anser,--ottan IN the form oil solemn
sereefies, sometimes in letters written by the
Chief magistrate with bis own hand, We
~ often in letters written by the Secretary
of War under his direction, sometimes orally
by the President and the Secretary to our
chiefs, and frequently and always beth oral
~ and IN writing, by the Agent ofthc United
-States residing among ", whose most am
portani business II was 10 see the guaranty oil
.she United States faithfully executed.
Soon after the war OF the revolution, as we
ksvs learned from our fathers, the Cherokees
looked upon the promises OF the whites with
great distrust aud suspicion; but the frank
and nlagnanimous conduct OF General Wash
ington did much to allay these leelings The
perseverance of successive Presidents, and
especially of Mr. Jefferson, in The same
course OF policy, and in the constant assur-
ance that our country should remain invio
late, except so far as we voluntarily eeded it,
nearly bsnished anxiety in regard to en-
croachments from the whites. To this result
the aid which we received from the u. States
IN the attempt OF our people to become civil
iZed, and the kind efforts Of benevolent socie-
Ties, have greatly contributed OF late years,
however, much soiioitude was oecasisned a
mong our people by the claims of Georgia.
This solcitude arose from an apprehension,
that by extreme importantly threats and 9th.
sr undue influence. a treaty would be made,
which should ccde the territory and thus com
pei the inhabitants to remove. But it never
occurred TO us Tor momant, that without any
new treaty, without any assent Of cur rulers
and people, without even a pretended com
pact, and against our vehement and uaani
nous protestatlons, we should be delivered
over to the discretion of these who had decla-
red by legislative act, that they wanted the
Cherokee apds and would have them.
Finding thnt relief could not be obtained
from the Chief Magistrate, and not doubling
that our claim to protection was Just, we
made our application to Congress. During
four long months our delegation waited at the
doors ef the National Legislature of the Uni
ted States, and the people at home. in the
most painful suspense, 10 learn in what man
ner our application would be answered; and
now, that Congress hes adjourned, on the
very day before the date fixed by Georgia for
the extension her oppressive laws over the
greater part of oar country, the distressing
Intelligence has been received that we haze
received no answer at all; and no department
Of the Government has assured US, that We
are to receive the desired protection. Bot
just at the close of Ihe session, an act was
passed by which halfa million OF dollars was
appropriated towards efleeting removal Of
Indians; ard we have great reason to fear
that the influence Of this ACT, uil! be brought
so bear most injuriously dpou us The pas
sage OF this act IS certainly understood by the
representatives OF Georgia as abandoning US
to the oppressive and cruel measures Of the
State, and as sanctioning the opinion that
treaties with Indians 10 not restrain state Le-
gisia;ion. We are informed by those who