Litchfield enquirer., 1830-02-25
From the Cherokee Pkcnir, Jan. 20.

ct America, in Congfess assembled: , Tho undersigned memorials,s, hunbly
 make known to your honorable bodies, ! that they are free citizens ofihe Cherokee
 nation. Circumstances of late occurrence
 have troubled our hearts, and induced us
 at this time to appeal L" you, knowing
 that you are generous and just. As weak
 and poor children are accustomed to look
 to their guardians and patrons for pro,ec- tion, so we would como and make our grievances known. Will you listen to us ! Will you have pity on us! You are great and renowned-the nation which you rep resent, is like mighty man who stands in his strength. But wo are small-our name is not renowned. You are wealthy, and mood nothing; but wo arc poor in life, and havo not the arm and power of the rich.
 By the will of our Father in heaven, tho Governor. .ofthe whole world, tho red man of America has become small, and tho white man great and renowned. When the ancestors ofthe people ofthese United States first came to the shores of America, they found the red mana nastrong-,hough he was ignorant and savage, yet he receiv- cd them mtkindly, and gave.,hem dry land to rest their weary feet. NThoy mot in peace, and shook hands in token of friend ship. Whatever the white man wanted and asked of the Indian, the latter will lingly gavO. At that time the Indian was the lord, and the white man tho Sup- pliaMt. But now the scene has changed. The Stcngth of tho rcd man has become weakness. As his neighbors increased in numbers, hisspower became less, and now, of,hc many and powerful tribes who once covered thesc United States, only few nre to be scen-a few whom sweeping pes,ilcncc has left. The northern tribes, who were once so numerous aud power ful, arc now nearly extinct. Thus it has happened to the rcd man of America.- Shall we, who arc remnants, share tho same fate?
 Bro.hers-wc address you according to usage adopted by our forcfa,hcrs, and the great and good men who have successfully directed tho Councils of the nation you represent--we now make known to you our grievances. We are troubled by some of your own people. Our ncighb"r, the State of Georgia, is pressing hard upon us, to relinquish our possessions for their ben eft. We are told, if we do not leave tho country, which We dearly love, and betake ourselves to the western wilds, the laws of tho state will be extended over us, and the timo lst of June. 1880, is appointed for tho execution of tho edict. When wo first heard of this we were grieved, and appealed to our father the President, and begged that protection might be extended over US. But we were doubly grievcd when we understood, from letter of tho Secretary of War to our Delegation, da- ted March of tho present year, that our iaiher the President had refused us pro- tection, and that he had decided in favor of the extension of tho laws Of tho State over us. This decision induces us to ap- pcal 10 tho immediate representatives of the American people. We lovo, we dear ly love our country, and it is due to your honorable bodies, as well as to us, to make known why we think the country is ours, aud why we wish to remain in peace where wc are.
 The land on which wo stand, we have received Us an inheritance from our ta- tllcrs, who possessed from time immcmor'- al, as gift from our common father in heaven. We have slready said, that when the white man came to the shores of A merica, our ancestors were found peace ablo possession of this very land. They bequeathed it to us as their children, and we have sacredly kept it as containing the remains of our beloved men. This right of inheritance we have neUer ccded, nor ever forfeiied. Permit us to ask, what better right can people have to country, than the right of inheritance aud .mmemor!- al peaceable possessiOnr We know it is said of late by the State of Georgia, aud by the Executive of the United States that we have forfeited this right-bnt we think this is said gratuiiously. At what time have we made tho forfeit What crime have we ! committed, whereby we must forever Oe divested of our country and rights Was it when we were hostile to tho United
 States, and took part with the King oi Great Britain, during the struggle for Iil'
 dependence! If so, why was not this
 forfeiture declared in the first treaty 0 peace between the United States aud out
 beloved men2 Why was not such an ar- ticle as the following inserted in ,he irea'
 ty :-" The United States give peace ie
 the Cherokees, but, for the part they took ! in the late var, declare them to be but 1, tenants at will. Co be removed when the