Litchfield enquirer., 1830-08-19
From the NeUU- York AmeFican.

OKee Nauon tu OencraI OOuncu C0nVGucu, to the people of the United States. It is written with persPicuity, pathOs and force > and the language is, throughout, mild and re- spectful. Alter giving history of the ques- ton up to the present period, it thus speaks of the lateunsuccessfui application to Congress:
 q During four long months our delegation waited, at the doors Of the National Legisla-> ture Ot the United States, and the whole at home, in the most painful suspense, to learn m what manner our application would be an swered: and now that Congress has adjourn ed, on the very day before the date fixed by Georgia for the extension of her oppressive laws over the greater part of our country, the distressing intelligence has been received that we have received no answer at all {; and no department of the Government has assured US that we are to receive the desired protec- tion." rg@
 The address then dwells with despOndency upon the situation to which the Cherokees are reduced; and after an indignant allusion to those by whom they are thus pressed to extremities, and an expression of grateful ac- Acknowledgement to those who have vindcated their rigbts, it states, in the following terms, what the committee conceive to be the rela tions of tlieir country men with the United States: ais'as4 Iag 4ag ss4 .sr
 After the peace of 178S, the Cherokees were an independent people; absolutely so, as much as any people on earth. They had been allies to Great Britain, and as a faithful ally took a part in the colonial war on her side. They had placed themselves under her protection, aud had they, without cause, declared hostility against their protector, and had the colonies been subducd, what might not have been their fate But her power on the continentwas broken. She acknowledged the independence of the United States, and made peace. The Cherokces therefore stood alone and, in these circumstances, continu- ed the war. They were then under no obli-, gations 10 the United States any more than to Great Britain, France or Spain. The U- nited States never subjugated the Cherokees; on the contrary, our fatheYs remained in pos- session oftheir country ,and with arms in thsir hands. shsea s'f
 The people of the United States soughtsa peace: and, in 1785, the treaty of HopeweIl was formed, by which the Cherokees came under'th protection of the United States, and submitted to such limitations of sove- reisnty us are mentioned in that instrument. None of these Limitations, however, effected, in the slightest degree, their rights of self government and inviolate territory. The cite izeDs of the UDited States had no right of passage through the Cherokee country till the year l79l ,and then only in one direction, and uy ou CAPgGSS tGCuty StlpubdtiUus vVuGu AuG | Federal constitution was adopted, the treaty l Df HopewelI was confirmed, with all other 1 freaties, as the Supreme law of the land. In l l79l, the treaty of Holston was made, by l which the sovereignty of tho Cherokees was | lualided as follows . the CheroEees ack ne.s z edged theu1setvcat to fea- s.rssAoHS'oU of the United States, and of nO other sOye-s reignse They engaged that they would not hold anystFeafy with q foreign power, with any separate state ofthe Union, -Or with indi- viduals. They agreed that the United States should have the exclusive right. of regulating their trade ; that the citizens of the United States should have right of way in one di- rection through thn Cherokee country; and that if an Indian should do injury to d citizen of the United States he should be delivered up to be tried and punished. A cession of lands was also made to the United States.- On the other hand, the United States paid sum of money; offered protection, engaged to punish citizens of the United States, who should do any injury to the Cherokees; aban- done,l white settlers on, Cherokee lands to the discretion of the ~Cherokees: stipulated that the white men should not hunt on these lands, nor even enter the country without a passport; and gave solemn guaranty of all Cherokee lands not ceded. This treaty is the basis ofall subsequent compacts; and in none Of them are the relations of the parties At all changed.
 The .Cherokees have always fulfilled their engagements. They have never reclaimed those portions of sovereignty, which they surrendered by the treaties of Hopewell and Holston. These portions were surrendered for ths purpose of obtaining the guaranty
 which was recommended to them as the great equivalent. Had they refused tO com ply with their engagements, there is no doubt
 the United States would have enforced com
 pliance. Is the duty offulfilling engagements
 on the other side less binding than it would
 be. if the CherOkees had the power ofenforc-
 ing their just claims
 The address concludes with the following
 appeal to the people of the United States -
 It is under q sense of the most pungent
 Feelings that we make this, perhaps our last
 appeal. t0s the good people of the United
 States. Ncannot be that the community we
 are addressing, remarkable for it's intelligence
 and religious sensibilities, and pre- eminent for
 its devotion to the rights of man. will lay aside
 this appeaL without considering that we stand
 in need of its sympathy and commiseration.
 Shall we be compelled by ciyiliz-
 cd and Christian people, with whom we have
 lived in perfect peace for the last forty years, 4 and for whom we have willingly bled in war,
 to bid a final adieu to our homes, our farms.
 our streams, and our beautiful forests to the land which gave us birth, and which, every
 day of our lives, brings to us new and strong CT ties of attachment? We appeal to the IndQn of all the aa rftn &vhn vvsla N.n.n.- u..A