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

willing to remove. We are not willing to re-
move, and if ne cosd Re brought TO this Ak.
tremity, il would bs, not by argument, net
because our judgment was satisfied, not be-
cause eur condition VIII he improved; bnt
only because We cannot endure TO be dsprl
we'd of our national and Individual rights and
subjected TO a process Of intoerable opprss-
sion.
We wish to remain in the land Of our IA
theirs. We have perfect and original right
20 remain without interruption or polesta-
ton. The treaties with US, and laws Of the
United States made in pursuance OF trea-
| ties. guaranty our residence, and our privi
| leges, and secure US against intruders. Oar
only request is, that these treaties may DC
| fulfilled, aAd these laws executed.
But if ,ve are compelled to leave our eog1-
| try, we sec nothing BAT ruin before us. The
country west Of the Arkansas territory is un
! lsH0'Tn to us. From what W. can learn OF il
'ye have no prepossessions in its favor All
( the inviting parts Of it, as we believe. are
/ preoccupied by various Indian nations, to
which /, has been assigned. They would re
( gard us az intfuders. and look upon Us with
| M evil eye he far greater part Of that
| region Is, beyond al controversy, badly sun
piled wbh Uood and water: aud no Indian
| tuac en- live as ag-icuiturasts without
| iiiase articles MI our neishbors, in case of
Our removal though crowded iato our near
gifin'ty. would speak a language totally dif-
ierent from oars, and practise different Gus
toms. The original possessors of that ro-
gion arc now wandering saYagss, LURKING for
prey ia the neigh5orhood. They have al
ways beea at war. and would be easily tempt
ed to turn their arms against peaceful emf
grants. Were the coantry to which we are
urged much better than it is represented. 10
Dc, and were 1T free from the objections
which we have made 10 it, still it ia not the
land OF oar birth, nor Of our affections 1t
contains neither the scenes of our childhood
nor the graves Of our fathers
The removal Of families to a new country
oven under the most favorable auspices, and
when the spirits are sustained by pleasing
VISIONS Of the future, is attended With much
depression Of 01ind and shaking of heart
lhis - tie case, when the removal is mat
ter Of decIacd preference. and when the per-
sons concemad are in early youth or vgor-
Gus nia8h00d. Judge then, what rlaast be
ne circumstances OF removal, when a
Tn2ic community, embracing persons Of all
c'asses, and OF every description, fr0m the
niahtto the man Of extreme old aye, the SICK,
the tliad. the lame. the inprcYldcnt, the
reckless tas desperate, as well rs tie prii-
deht,-the consldcrate, the Industrious, are
compelled to remove by odious and intolcra
pc FeAaa2bs and prosecutions. brought mp
on them N the forms of law. when all will A.
gree only ia this, that they have been cruel
iy robbed Of their countrY, in violation Of
the most solemn conlpacts which il is posi-
bic Tor communities to foem with earh other:
fnd that. il they should make themselves
c9-.ileftso.e "a their, residence, they have NO
'hing to expect bel eafier but to be the vie
'iaa OF future iegalizsd robbery!
Snch We deem, aud are Absolutely certain
VIII be the feelings Of the whole Cherokee
people II they are lorcibly compelled by tbs
l'"s OF GepFgia 10 remove; and with these
feelings. how IS tpossihle that we should pur-
sue or present course Of Improvement, or a
Ioid sinking into utter dependency? We
nave been ca!,td poor, ignorant, and degra
dad people. We certainly are, not rich: ner
nave we ever boas;ed Of our knowledge, or
our moral or intellectual elevation, But
there is not a man within our limits so igno-
rant as net to know that he has a right to
i've on the land Of his fathers, in the posses
son Of hs inmcmorlal privileges. and that
'hl9 EiPht has been acknowledged and guar.
aaiasd by the United States, nor Is there
man 50 degraded as not to ieei keen sense
OF INJURY, on being deprived Of this right and
driven into extl5.
1t IS under sense Of the most pun-cnt lre-
lngs thai we make this, perhaps our last an-
peal to tho good people of the United States.
II cannot be that the community NC are adj
dressing. remarkable Tor its intelligence ard
religious sensibilities, aad pre- eminent f9ris
devotion to the rights Of man, viii lay aside
lisis appeal, without considering that we
staAd IA need OF ITS sympathy and commiscr
atom. We know that to the Christian and
the PhIlanthroPist the voice ofouP multiplied
sorrows and fiery trials will not appear as ar
IDLE tale In oar own land. on our own soil.
and IN oaI own dwellings,, which re reard for
oar wives and for our little ones when there
was peace on our mountains and IN cur VAL
legs, we are encountcring troubles which
cannot bat try our very souls But shall we,
on account OF these troubles, forsake our be
loved country? Shall we be compelled by a
civilized and Christian people, wih whom
we have lived IN perfect peace for the last
ioFIY years and for whom we hays willingly
Oicd in war, TO bid final ad.eu 10 our homes.
our farms, our streams and our beautiful TO-
rsS''' No We intend still to cling, with
our "oAtod affection, to ;ho laad which gave
VS. birth, anu which, every day of our lives
brings 10 US new and stronger hes Of attach
ment. " appeal 20 the Judge Of all the
eartH, WAC VIII finally award Us Justice, and
to the good sense Of The American peoplc.
"hsihsf We axe intFadcrs upon the land Of
others Our censcl-aceS bear US witness THAI
we arc the invaders Of no mans rights-we
h. We rakhc1 MAN.