Litchfield enquirer., 1830-02-25

repeat, then, tho right of inheritance anc
 pcaceable possession, which we claim, we
 have never ceded nor forfeited.
 1 In addition to that first of all rights, the
 right of inheritance and peaceable posses
 sion, we have the faith and pledge of the { United States, repeated over and over a. gain, in treaties nude at various times.- By these treaties our rights us separate people are distinctly acknowledged, and guarantees given that they shall be secu. red aud protected. So we have always understood tho treaties. Tue conduct of the government towards us, from its organ
 zalion until ycry lately, the talks given to our beloved men by tho Presidents of the United States, and the speeches of the A. gents and Commissioners, all concur to show that we a,e not mistaken in our in- torprotation. Some of our beloved men who signed tho treaties are still living, and their testimony tends to the same conclu- sion. We have always supposed that this understanding ofthe treaties was in accor- dance with tho views of the government; 1; nor havo we ever imagined that any body would interpret them otherwise. In what light shall we view the United States and Georgia, in their intercourse with us, in urging us to enter into treaties, and cede lands 1.-Two wore but tenants at will, why was it necessary that our consent must be obtained before these governments could take lawful possession of our lands ! The answer is obvious. These govern- men.s perfectly understand our rights our right to the country, and our right to selt-govornment. Our understanding of the treaties is further supported by the intercourse law of the United States, which prohibits all oncroachments upon our territory. The undersigned memori- alists humbly represent, that if their inter- prc,ation of the treaties has been different from that of tho government, then they have ever been deceived us to how the government regarded them, and what she asked aud promised. Moreover, they have uniformly misunderstood their own acts.
 In view of tho strong ground upon which their rights are founded, your me- morialsts solemnly protest against being considered as tenants at will, or as mere occupants of the soil, without possessing tho sovereignty. We have already stated to your homo, able bodies, that our (ore- fathers were found in possession of this soil in full sovereignty, by the first Euro. pean settlers and us we have never ceded nor forfeited the occupancy of the soil and sovereignty over it, we do solemnly pro- test against being forced to leave it, ei- ther by direct or indirect measures. To the land of which we arc now in posses sion wo are at,ached-it is our fathers gift-it contains their ashes--it is tho land of our nativity, and the land of our in- tcllec,ual birth. We cannot consent to abandon i,, for another, Jar interior, and which holds out Co us no inducements.- We do moreover protest against the ar- bi,rary measures of our ncighbor, the state of Georgia, in her attempt to extend her laws ever us, in surveying our lands with out our consent, and to direct opposition to treaties and the intercourse laws of the United States, and interfering with our municipal regulations in such a manner us to dcrango tho regular operation of our own laws. To deliver and protect them from all these and every encrOachn'ent up- on their rights, tho undersigned memorial ists do most earnestly pray your honor able bodies. Their existence and future happiness are a, s.ake--divest them c' their liberty and country, and you sink them in degradation, and put check. il not final stop, to their present progress in the arts of civilized life, and in the knowledge of tho christian religion.-- Your mcnorialisls humblv conceive, that such an act would be in the highest degree oppressive. From the people of these U' nited States, who perhaps ot all men under heaven. are tho most religious and free i. cannot be expected. Your memorial ists, therefore, cannot anticipate such result. You represent virtuous, 'nteli'-
 gent and christian nation. II" you 'hey
 w;lI;nplv submi, their cause for righteous
 decision.
 Cherokee Nation, Dec. 1929.
 .~O1os..-
 CONFESSIONS OF A VICTIM.