Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-09-01

world. Our special thanks are due,
however, to those honorable men, who
SO ably and eloquently asserted our rights,
in both branches Of the national lcgisla-
ture. Their efforts will be appreciated
wherever the merits ofthis question shall
be known; and we cannot but think, that
they have secured for themselves per-
manent reputation among the disinterest-
ed advocates Of humanity, equal rights,
justice, and good faith. We even cher
ish the hope, that these efforts, seconded
and followed by others of similar cha
racter, will yet be available, so far as to
mitigate our suficrings, if not to effect
our entire dcliverance.
Before we close this address, permit
us to state what we conceive to be our
relations with the United States. After
the peace of 1888, the Chcrokccs were
an Independent people; absolutely so, as
much as any people Oh earth. They
had been allies to Great Britain, and as
IL faithful ally took part in the colonial
war on her side. They had placed them
sclvcsundcr her protection, ,and had they,
without cause, declared hostility against
their protector, and had the colonies been
subdued, what might not have been their
iatc' But her power on this continent
was brokcn. She acknowledged the in
dependence Of the United States, and
made peace. The Cherokccs therefore
stood alone; and, i'll these circumstances,
continued the war. They were then un-
der no obligations to the United States
any more than to Great Britain, France
or Spain. The United States never sub
jugated the Cherokccs; on the contrary,
our fathers remained in possession ofthcir
country, and with arms in their hands.
The people ofthe United States sought
peace; and, in 1875, the treaty of Hope
well was formed, by which the Chero-
KEGS came under the protection ofthe u
nitcd States, and admitted to such limi-
.tations of sovereignty as arc mentioned
in that instrument. None of these lmi-
tations, however, affected, in the slight
est degree, their rights of scli-govcrn-
ment and inviolatc territory. The citi-
zcns of the United States had no right of
passage through the Cherokee country
till the year 1871, and then only in one
direction, and by an express treaty stipu-
lation. When the federal constitution
was adopted, the treaty of Hopcwcll was
confirmed, with all other treaties, as the
supreme law of the land. In 1871, the
treaty of Holston was made, by which
the sovereignty of the Chcrokces was
qualified as follows: The Chcrokccs ac-
knowlcdged themselves to be under the
protection of the United States, and of
no other sovcreign-Thcy engaged that
they would not hold any treaty with Il
foreign power, with any separate state of
the union, or with individuals. They a
greed that the United States should have
the exclusive right of regulating their
radc; that the citizens of the United
States should have a ight of way in one
direction through the Cherokee country ;
and that if an Indian should do injury to
a citizen of the United States he should
be delivered up to be tried and punished.
A ccssion of lands was also made to the
United States. On the other hand, the
United States paid a sum of moneys Of
fcred protection; engaged to punish citi-
zens of the United States who should do
any injury to the Cherokces; abandoned
white settlers on Cherokee lands to the
discretion of the Cherokces; stipulated
that white men should not hunt on these
lands, nor even enter the country with
out passport; and gave solemn guar
anty of all Cherokee lands not cedeh-
This treaty is the basis Of all subsequent
compacts; and in none of fthem are the re-
lations of the parties at all changed.
The Chcrokccs have always fulfilled
their engagements. They have never re-
claimed those portions Of sovereignty
which they surrendered by the treaties
of Hopewell and lIolston. These por-
tons were surrendered for the purpose
of obtaining the guaranty which was re-
commended to them as the great equiv
alcnt. Had they refused to comply with
their engagement, there is no doubt the
u. States would have enforced a com
pliancc. Is the duty ofiullilling engage
mcnts on the other side less binding thar
it would be, if the Chcrokces had the
power of enforcing their just claims'
| The people of the United States vii
have the fairness to reflect, that all th,
treaties between them and the Chcro
KEGS wcic made, at the solicitation, an'
for the benefit, of the whites; that valua
bic considerations were given for every
stipulation, on the part of the Unltc'
States; that it is impossible to rcinstat'
the parties in their former situation, tina
there arc now hundreds of thousands o
citizens of the United States residing
upon the lands ccdcd by the Cherokee
in these very treaties; and that our pco
pie have trusted their country to the qua