Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-08-19

Naiion. IN Genera. Council convened, TO The
people ofihe Uniisd Staies.
Some mu,ths ago delegation was appo,n-
ted by the constituted authorities OF the Chere-
kee nation, % repair TO the City of Washington
and, in behalf of this nation, TO lay before the
Government of the United States such repre-.
sentations, Is should seem most likely 10 secure
10 US asn Ieople that projection, aid, and
good neightorhood which had been SO often
onsea tous, and OF which We stand 10 great
need. Sou, after their arrival in the City
they presented 10 Congress petition from our
National Council, asking Tor the inlerposition
! OF that body in our behalf, especially with re
ference 10 lie laws Of Georgia, " hlch were
| suspended D "A most terrifying manner over a
large part o. our population, and protesting in
the most dellded terms against the operation Of
thsse laws In ene Course of the winter they
presented peiihons TO Congress, signed by
more than four thousand Of our citizens, inclu-
ding, probs bly,, more than nineteen TIVE ntie tbs
and for aughi We eau tell ninety nine hun.
dred,hs. OF the adut males of the nation, (our
whole population beng about sixteen thousand)
pleading with the assembled representatives, OF
the American people, that the solemn engage.
ments between ther fathers may be preserved,
as they have been,,li recently, in foil force
aud continued ope'aten-asking, In word.
for protection against ihrentened usurpation.
and for "A faithful execution OF guaranty,
winch 10 perfectly plain in its meaning has
been repeatedly ami rigldly enforced in our
favor ana has received the sanction Of the
government Of the cuiIed States for nearly Tor.
~ years.
More than yearsgo we we're officially Civ
en- 10 understand by the Secretary Of War,
that the President tpuld not protect ns against
the laws OF Georgia TITUS information was
entirely uneSpecItd--as il went upon the prln.
ciple, that treaIiei made between the United
States and The Cherokee Nadan have no power
TO "lthsterd the legislation oil separate States
! and OF Course, thar they have no efficacy what
ever, but leave our people 10 the mercy OF the
| neighboting whites, whose supposed interests
| would he promoted 10y our expulsion, Or rxler.
mioalien. II wosId be- impossible 10 describe
the sorrow. which affected our minds. on
learning that the Chief Magistrate "iihe United
| States had come 10 this coAcusIon, that all bis
iliusIrlous predecessors had held intercourse
with US ON principles which could not be sus-
tah,nd /; that they had made promises OF VIA
importance 10 ns,whch could not be fuhlled -
promises made hundreds of tunes, 10 almost
| every conceivable manner, --otI1 II in the form
| OF solemn treaties, sometimes IN letters written
| by The Chiel Mag strate with his own hand.
very often III letlers written by The Srcreiary
oil War, under his direction, SOMETIMES orally
by the President aud the Secretary to our
chiefs, and frequently aud always, both orally
and IN writing, by the Agent Of the United
| oia tes residing among as, whose most impur
tanl business II was 10 see the guaranty Of lhs
Z. States faithfully executed.
soon after the war OF the Revolution, ~ We
have learned from our fathers. TIE Cherokee,
| looked upon the promises Of The VT, cs wit
great d'slrust and suspicI 1n--1ut the frhnk and
nhgnanlmoas conduct 81 General W ,shIngtrr
nid much 10 alIay these eii1gs. The pefse
YeIance III successive Presidents aud especial.
y vi Mr.. jefferson. 10 The same course Of polr
cy, aud IN the constant assurance that oar
country should invlol,te except 50 Gr
as we voluntarily cededit, nearly bauishcd snk
leiy IN regard 10 enctoachnents from the
whites. To this result the ard which we icceIv.
ed from the United States IN the attempts OF
our people TO become civilized, aud the KIND
efforts Of benevolent societies, nave greatly cou.
trInuied. OF late years, hover, much soit-
| ciiude whs occasioned among our people by
the claims OF Georgia. Ihis sOliCltude arose
from an apprehension, that by IRENE Inpur-
tunity, threats, and other uudue influence, n
treaty woald be made which should code the
territory and thus compel the inhabitants TO
remove. But IL never occurred 10 us for II no.
ment. thawithout any new treaty. without any
assen. oil dur IN eTs and people, without even a
pielendedcompaci, and against our vehement
and undnl mous proiesiafiou, we should be de-
lvored over 10 the discretion of those, who
had declaled by a legislative act, that they
wanted the Cherokee lands, aud would have
! them
Findingthat relief could not be obtained
from the Chief Magistrate. aud mol doubling
that our chin TO proiesIation MAS Just we made
our application TO Congress. Daring four long
N outh- our delegation waited nj the doors Of
the National Legislature of the United States.
aod the PEOPLE al home, in The most pa ,nful
suspense, 10 learn ia what manner our appll-
cation would be answerrd--and. now that Con
gress has adl ourned, on the very day be fore
the date fixed by Grorgla for the extension of
her oppressive laws over the ereaisr pnrt OF
our country, the distressing intelligence has
been received that we have received no answer
al sil-dnd no department OF the Government
has assured rs, that we are 10 receive the de-
sired protection. Bul just at the close OF the
session, act WAS passed. by which half NIL
lion off dollars was appropriated towards Ell
iecing a removal OF Indians aud we have
great reason to fear that the influence OF this
act will be brought to bear most injnriousy
upon us. lac passage OF ms act Is certainly
understood by the representatives OF Georgia
as abandoning us 10 the oppressive aud cruel
measures OF the state, and as sanclionIg the
opinion that treaties with Indians do not re-
STRAIN SIaie Legislation. We are informed
by those, Who are competent 10 judge, that the
receni act does not admit Of such construction :
but that the passage OF IT, under the actual
circumstances Of the controversy, will tie con.
sidered as sanctloning the pretensions OF neor-
gia, there is too much reason 10 fear.
Thus have we realized with heavy hearts,
that our sugplIcailon has mol been heard that
the protection heretofore experienced is now
to be withheld that the guaranty, in conse-
quence ofwhich our fathers laid aside their
arms and c.ded the best portions OF their coun-
try, means nothing aud that we must either
emlgrale toan unknown region aud leave the
pleasant lafds TO which we have the strongest