Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-12

py oiSahized TO save property; suggestion which
we peg leave to make to the city.
! Without knowing upon whom to cbarpc tho
neglect individually, feel incumbent upon us n
state, that the whole town was Illuminated before
alarm was given If our memory serves us, this has
Decn the case more than once before
The Cherohces and Georgians.-Wc ri;e below
1ue oipciai statement OF John Ross, the Principal
ohef OF the Cherokee Nation of Indians of the trans
actions winch led to the murder of one of the In
aiah Ohiets, by an armed party of Georgians
:, HEAD of CoosA, Cher. Nat Feb. &c.
"Dr. EAds Bonainoh, Editor Of The Cherokee Phenir.
o'r-Whh the view of preventing erroneous i'm
PLessiohs from growing out of the various repor,s
which will no doubt be circulated respecting the late
occurrences with the intruders, deem it my duty to
make Il true statement of facts.
II Is generally known that there divers intru
uers on Cherokee Snd, the frontiers of the adion
ing States, some of them being men of the most in
famous character, and that the General Council nj it's
iast session, made 1t my duty to remove such ,f
lieh as may be found amidst our citizens in posses
SION or the improvements recently abandoned by tho
Cherokees who have emgrated to the a rlansos. and
having been strongly urged by our good citizens tn
enforce SAID law, with the view of securing TRANQUIL
10y ana the safety OF their property, complied with
the request, without intending disregard or inter
iere In the least degree with the instructions of the
Secretary OF War to the agent. Therefore ON the
attn instant, Major Ridge and other citizens were au-
TO remove those that in
the vicinity OF Vann's settlement and Saunders old
place, and they were specially instructed to extend
toward them all possible lenity and humanity. The
men were prohibited from using ardent spirits whilst
on duty. The lntruders living on the public road
leading to Alabama and at Saunders old place We're
turned out of doors with all their effects The COM
pany were fully persuaded that if the houses were
not DESTROYED the inruders would go away; they
therefore determined on the eXpedicncy of settinG
fire to them There were I3 families of intruders
thus removed, and having executed this duty with
the utmost lenity towards them, and not bavipo in
Jufed any OF their property, the Cberokees felt no
uneasincss or alarm from any quarter, and returned
home In small detached parties. Unfortunately
OF them became intoxicated and renamed nj Samu-
el Rowe's house where there was whiskev In the
course OF the night of the 9Th inst. party of inru-
ders, upwards of twenty men, armed with runs came
and arrested them, that is The Wagon Daniel
Mills, Railing Gourd and Chuwoyes. The first
named was found in strings by the ntrnders the In
dams having tied him to prevent him from doing in
Jury; the second was beaten with gun and stamp-
ed by the intruders, and the third was not hurt: bu
the fourth who was unable to walk (beinc yerv
drunk was tied and put upon horse and moi being
able to sit on, and falling off once or twice he wss
most barbarousy beaten with guns, &c on the head
lace, breast and arms, and then thrown across
the pummel of a saddle a horse and carried hv
the ridcr IN thai sltuatioh about one I:le and then
thrown Gil. The poor unortenate RAM died The
next morning, and his corpse left on the ground
without any person to take care of it. The other
three were sent into Carroll couaty Georgia. under
guard.
As received intelligence of this unhappy
AFFAIR." and understanding that the layless intrudrrs
had threatened to kill Major Ridge and myself and
to burn our dwelling, despatched an express to the
Agent with all possible speed, demanding tho arrest
and punishment of the murdcrers and the restoration
OF the prisoners, and also request ing the immediate
lnterposion oil his authority IN preserving peace and
harmony on the frontier. On the 18th | despntchcd
small wagon after the corpse of the murdered man.
and on the 9Th he was deccnIy buried at his own
house by the side OF the graves of his father and mo-
Their. The corpse was shockngly manrled With
oHt reflection, after the burial platoon of small
arms fired, and heard Il number of miles off
which alarmed the people, and led them to suspect
that the nruders had attacked us: this caused mes
sengers forthwith to run from Turnip Mountain in
various directions In the course of that night and
the following day, number of men came in 10 asccr-
tain the fact In the mean time The Wagon and
Daniel Mills, two of the prisoners who were taken
into Carroll county, returned, having made their cs
cape from the guard when within few miles of Car
rolton The Wagon received a severe stab IN The
breast with butcher knife, and cut across his left
wrist. from the hands of the notorious Old Philpot
The Cherokees who had thus collected here from Tho
false alarm, were advised with the utmost earnest
ness remain peaceably and quietly at their homes
all fears, and not to seek or attempt anv pri
vato revenge for the death of their countrynap as
the intcrposition of the United States arent's au
thority called for and expected
On the evening Of the 10th, the sub-aoent C.ol
Williams, arrived under instructions from The arept
and few hours thereafter, messenger arrived from
Turnip Mountain with intelligence that party of
armed mounted white had made u descent upon
Mr.. Chas Vann, Mr. West, his son Ezekiel Charles
Fields and one or two other Chcrokees who hammer
ed at the same time to be there. When this band
in full sPt ed coming up the lane swearing
and yelling in the most savage manner it was propo7
sed by Mr. Vann to bis friends that they should get
out Of the ways consequently himself and the two
Dir. Werss mounted thelrShorses, (the others en-
tered into adjacent thickc0 and in galoping UP
the road near TaIlys place, Mr.. West was fred up.
I hc tI,cDd utcdh nd al.
fire. fortunately there execution done. AS
soon as this heard at Turnip Mountain messcn-
gers immediately sent from there in various di-
rectlons, prcsumng that Maj. Ridge and would
also be attacked In the course Of that night
raj Cherokees came in, and the next morning Col
Williams determined to pursue the party who had
fred on Mr.. West, with the view of endeavorup to
prevent any farther attempt at disturbing the peace
and harmony OF the Cherokecs. Being convinced
from the expresses which understood had been sent
from Enrnin Mount ain lint c.rcn r,nr, G..