Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-18
E.ona s!.e Chero!.es Phonir, Jan. 30.

To the III honorable the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentativcs of the United States of America, 10
Congress assembled:
The undersigned memorias,s humby make known
to your honorable bodcs that they free citizens
of the Cherokee nation. Circumstances of late oc-
currcnce have troubled hearts, and induced us at
this time TO appeal 10 you, knowing that you are
generous and just. As weak and poor children are
accustomed to look TO their guardians and patrons
for protection, would come and make our Erev-
ances known. VIII you listen to us? viii you have
pity on us? You arc great and rcnowncd-the nation
which you represent, is like mighty man who stands
| in his strength. But We are small-our name is not
renowned. You are wealthy, and have need of no
thing; but we are poor III c, and have not the orm
and power Of the rich.
BY the will of our Father in Heaven, the Governor
of the whole world, the red man of America has
become small, and the white man great and renown
cd. When the ancestors of the people of these
United States FIRST came to the shores of America
they found the rcd man strong--though he gno-
rant and savage, vet he received them kindly. and
gave them dry land 10 rest their weary feet. They
met III peace, and shook hands 10 token OF friendship
Whatever the white man wanted and asked of the
Indian, the latter willingly gave. At that time the
Indian was the lord, and the white the suppliant
But now the scene has changed. The strength Of the
red man has become weakness. AS his nciuhbors
increased in numbers. his power became less, AM
now, OF the MANY and powerful tribes who once CO
vered these Uucd States, only few arc to be seem
few whom n sweeping pescrcc has left. This
northern tribes, who once so numerous anC
pencd to the rcd man of America. Shall VIC, whc
remnants, share the same fate.
Bro,hcrS-we address you according to usage
adopted he ur torcathcrs, and the great and GOOD
men who have successfully directed the Councils Of
The nation you representative now make known "a
you Our grievances. We are troubled by some o
your own people. Our ncighbor. the State OF Geor.
gin, pressing hard upon us and urging us to relp
gnsh our possessions for her benefit. we arc told
II VIC do not leave the country, which dearly love
and bctakc ourselves TO the western wilis the laws
OF tho State will be extended over us and tic time
LIST OF juno, 1850, Is appointed for the execution OF
the cd'ct When VIC first heard of this we were
sIicved and appealed 10 our father the President
aud begged that protection might &c extended over
us. But We're doubly gricyed when we under.
stood from letter of the Secretary OF War to or
Delegation, dated March Of the present year. that
our father the President had refused us prot
and tint he had decided in favor of the extension O.
! The laws Of the State This decision induce.
US TO aPpea! TO the immediate representatives of the
American people. we love, we dearly love ouI
country, and 1t s due to your honorable bodies ae
we'll Us to us to make known why we think the coun
Try is ours, and why we wish TO remain in peace
where we
! The lard on which stand, we have received as
an inheritance from our fathers who posscssad !,
from time mmemorial, as q gift from our common
\ father IN heaven. We have already said that when
the white man came to the shores of Annoricn. or,
ancestors were found i'll peaceablo possession of this
very land They bcqueGt he'd il To us as tler chill
(
remains or our beloved men This rirht of inherit
ancc We have ncrer ocdcd nor ever Crf.,tcd Pnr,-.
us TO ask, what better right can people have to
country, than the right ofinhcrifuce ard uicuoy;o
Peaeeabfe possession We know il 10 said of lato BIZ
the State OF Georgia, and by the Executive Of th,
United States, that VIC have forfeited this ririt-bu
we think this - said gratuousy. At what time
haYc we made the forfeit? What crime have v.f
comnnttcI, whereby we must forever be Invested o.
/ our country and rights? Was it when we were hos
tic TO The United States and tool; part with the Kinc
OF Great Britain, during the Struggle for inIcncn
dencc5 Iso, why was not this forfeiture Iec, roll :,
The first treaty of peace between the United States
and our beloved mem Why was not such an rticln
ms the following inserted in the United
States give peace TO the Chcroecs, but for the parl
they took IN the late war, declare them TO he b,t
tenants at will, be removed when the convenience
OF the States within whose chartered limits thew live
shall require it."rhis was the proper time to as
sumo such a position. But it was not thouuht of
nor would our forefathcrs have agreed 10 anv freot
Vhnse tendency was TO deprive them Of their rights
and their country. All that they have conceded nnd
renquishcd are inserted in the treaties open TO the
investigation Of all people. We would repeat. then
the right Of inheritance and peaccable possession
"illch we cIalnl VIC have never ccdcG nor forfeited
In addition 10 that first of all rights tho rirrh, n,
inheritance and peaceabe possession, we have tho
faith and pledge cf the United States repeated over
anu over again, IN treaties made various times BY
these treaties rights separate people arc dis
ncty acknowledged, and guarantees oiven thai thev
shall be secured and protected. So we have pl,yovs
understood the treaties. The conduct ofthe goyeln
ment towards Us, from its organization until very
lately, Inc talks given to our beloved mon nv tho
PRESIDENTS OF the United States, and the speeches OF
the agents and commissioners, all concur that we are
not mistaken IN our Interpretation. Some cf our he
loved men who signed the treaties are siill J;vinr
ana their testimony tends to the same conclusion
we have always supposed that this UNDERSTANDING Of
the treaties was IN accordance with the views of Tho
government; nor have VIC ever imagined that any
BODY would interpret them otherwise. In what Irli,
shall VIC view the conduct Of the United States and
Georgia IN their intercourse with u.s. in urriur us ia
enter into treaties, and cedc our lands, 1--we were
but tenants at viii, why was it necessary that our
consent must be obtained before these governments
could take lawful possession of oar ands5 The an
swer IS obvious. These governments perfectly IN
derstand our nghts-our right 10 the country, and
orr rlght 70 seIt-govcrnmont Our UNDERSTANDING of
tic troaies "a still further supported by the inter
course law ct the United Suites, which prohibits all
oncrIachmonts upon our territory ple undersiou.
cd memorIosis humbly represent, that IS their inter
probation Oh the treaties has been different from that
oil The government, then they have ever been deceived