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

mt We tehder our grateful acknowledgment
In pleading our cause. they have pleaded the
cause oil The poor and defsncelcss throughout
the world. Our special thanks are due,
however. 10 those honorable men, who so ably
and eloqhently asserted our rights, in both
branches Of The national legislature. Their ef.
iofts VIII be appreciated wherever the merits
oilhis question shall he known aud we cannot
but ihiak, that they have secured Tor them
selves permanent reputation among the dis /
Interested advocates Of humanity, equal rights,
justice. snd good faith. We even cherish the |
h6pe. that these ehJrls. seconded aud follow.
ed by others ofa siIoilar character, will yet be
avhilable so FAR as to mitigate our snllerinss, II
not toefect our entire deliverance.
Before we close this address, permit US 10 |
state what we conceive TO be our relations with !
the United States. After the peace Of 1888. |
the therokees were an Independent people |
aus "aleiy SO, as much as any people on earth. |
! iheJ had been allies 10 Great Britain, and as
faithful ally took part in the colonial war
ON her side. They had placed themselves nu-
der her protection, aud had they. without cause
declared hostility against their protector. aud
had the colonies been subdued what might not
have been their fate But her power on this
continent was broken. She acknowledged the
independence Of the United StAtes. aud made
peace. The Cherokees therefore stood alone
and. III these circumstances continued the war.
| They we're then under bigntions to the u.
states any mu'e than 10 Great Britain, France
OF Spnin. The United States never subjugn-
ted The Cherokees on the contrary our fathers
renamed IN possession OF their country, 81 with
arms IN their hands.
The people of tho United States sought
peace aud, in 1888, the trenty of llopewsll
WINS formed, by which The Cherokces came
der The protection of tho Unlted States. and
| In lin,i tat, afa f. a
are mentioned in that instrument. None OF
these Limitations, however affected IN the slight
est degree, iheir rights of sei-goyefnmeni aud
in,iplae territory. The citizens ofthe United
ofaifs had no right Of passage through the
Cherokee country I'LL the year 1871 aud then
only IN direction, and by nm express trea-
~ stipulation. When the Federal Constitu-
ton was adopted. the treaty of Hopewcll was
confirmed, with all other treaties, as the 81.
! preme law OF The land In 1871. the treaty OF
liolston was made 10y which The sovereignty
of the Che,okecs was qualified us follows: The
Chetokees Acknowledged themselves TO be UNI
der the protection OF the uni ed States. aud oi
= no other sovereign. They engaged that they
would mol hold any treaty with a foreign power
. with any separate st,te ofthe Union or with
/ individuals. They agreed that The y. States
= sh"ul have the exclusive tight OF regulating
I their trade that The ciilzeus of The u. States
should have n RIGHT OF way IN QUE direction
4 through the Cherokee country and that if an
Indian should do injury 10 eli zen OF the y.
, States he should be delivered up 10 be tried
aud punished, ccssiOn Of lands was also
T made In the United States. On the Other baud
y the United States paid a sum of money Offer
4 I'd protection engaged 10 punish citizens Of the
United States who should do any injury 10
e the thrrokees abandoned white settlers on
Cherokee lands 10 the discretion Of The Choro-
kres, simulated thai white nnn should not bunf
= on these lands, nor even saer the county with
b ba' - passport and gave n SOLEMN guaranty Of
all Cherokee land, not coded. This treaty ~
a The ba,s of all Subsequent compac's; and IN
mons II them are the relations OF the parties at
g all changed
r The Cherokees have always hl6led their
r engagements They have never reclaimed
ihose portions OF sovereignty, which they sur
rendered by the treaties of Hopewell and II OILS
'"n. These portions were surrendered Tor the
purpose OF obtaining The guaranty which was
rec III nended TO them as the great equivalent.
Had they refused 10 comply with their engage
menis there is no doubt the u. States would
have enforced compliance. l. tue duty OF
fulfilling engagements on the other side less
. binding Tina II would be- II the Cberokees
had The power Of enforcing their just claims
TIE people Of he Uuiied States will have the
fairness 10 reflect, that all the treaties between
them aud the Cherokees we're made, at the
solicitation. and for the benefit. oil the whites
that valuable considerations were given for
every stipulation on the part OF The IT, States
II Is impossible to reinsHe the parties in then
former situation that there are now hundre de
of thousands of citizens oil the United States res
siding upon lands coded by the Cherukees IN
these very treaties aud that our people have
trusted their country TO ihe guaranty of the
United States. lfthis guaranty fails them, in
what can they trust, aud where eau they look
for protection
We are aware. that some persons suppose il
will be Tor our advantage 10 remove beyond the
Mississippi We think otherwise. Our pso.
pie universally think otherwise. Thinking
that il would he fatal to their interests, they
nave almost TO a man sent their memorial 10
Congress, deprecatng the necessity Of remo-
val. This question was dlstnctly before their
minds when they signed their memorial Not
AN adult person can he found, who has not an
opinion on the subjeC and if the people we're
TO understand distinctly, that they could be
protected against the laws of the neIghborng
5ihies, there ia probably not an adult person
in the nation, who would think il best TO re.
move though possibly few might omigrsts
Individually. There are doubtless many. who
would fee TO an unknown country, hnweyeT
o'St' WIN hangers pfRaiioos ana snHeiihgs,
rather than be sentenced 10 spend siA years 10
Georgia prison for advising one of their
neighbors not to belray hi, country. Aud
there are others who could moi think Of living
as outlaws Ia their native land, exposed to
pumberiess VACATIONS aud excluded from being
parties or witnesses in court OF Justice. II is
incredible that Georgia should ever have enao-
ted the oppressive laws 10 which reference IS
here made. unless she had supposed that some
hing extremely terrific in its character WAS ne
cessary IN order TO make the Cherokees willing
TO remove. We are not willing TO remove !;
and ii we could be brought 10 this extremity :.
it would be not by argument, not because our
judgment was satisfied not because our con-