The Arkansas advocate., 1832-04-18
For the .adyocajc.

MT. BERTRAND--In the last number of the Gazette, the editor of that print has given Us his opinion in relation to a cession ofthe western part of this Territory to tic Cherokee Indians, cast of the Mississip- pi. The editor may be correct; but when 1t Is recolIected what the policy of this administration Is, in regard to the { Indians within the limits of the States, and that the Executive will probably be sup ported by a majority of Congress, there is certainly ground for serious apprehension. 1 Those who are now at the head of this Go- vernment, n pursuance of a relentless l policy, which has hitherto eharaeterized their progress while in power, will not be { scrnpulous in ceding away ythis country, especially while the end in view IS one which the administration has so much at heart. Those " ho iiave shown 50 little re- gard to the rights of the Indians, and view ed tho most solemn treaties of the Federal Government as Q dead letter; in short, those who have refused to execute the laws of titis Union for the protection of an unfortunate race, will not be very punc- tilious in regard 10 the rights or wishes of the people of Arkansas. But would not such a cession be in violation of the fre- quent and express stipulations of those in power, and would not Congress be acting III =pttu Idlti1 u pdSS d ldV dttiHOTiLIHEF Ftuc President to cede away this country. after having expressly denied him the power by
 the act of 1928, and thereby held out in ducements to emigration, by impressing
 them with belief that the estern boun- dary of the Territory was permanently es- tablished! Such course would, in my humble opinion, be highly derogatory to | tho character of the Government and
 could not fail in exciting the general in-
 dignation of the people in the western part
 of the Territory. For several years past,
 the tide of emigration 10 this section of
 country, has Howe ed with a steady current. ] The emigrants regard cd the western boun- dary as permanent. Here they have set | tied and made valuable improvements j; here they wish to remain, and if by the impolitic legislation of Congress they are driven from the country of their adoption, il will be in violation of the most solemn guaranties, in which they have hitherto placed implicit confidence. Let the Gen eral Government cede away Crawford and
 Washington counties, and the most valu-
 able part of our country is gone; nay, the
 only part that IS susceptible of a dense
 population, and consequently the enly part
 where we can expect highly improved
 state of society. Let this section of coun-.
 try go, and our infant 1scFr;tory may ex-
 claim, in tine language of Cardinal " Woi- sey, sFareioeU, long .fdreaoeH 10 dH my
 greatness" Our Territory will finger out
 feeble and dependent existence, shorn
 of the means of becoming great State
 she will be doomed to perpetual inferiori- l ty, without ever being able to acquire that
 importance, in a political point of view,
 which will make her respectable among
 her sisters of the confederacy. Already
 she has suffered too much from Indian en-
 croachmcnt, and now if she loses this
 country, her fate Is sealed and oas fondest
 hopes arc blighted.
 T Toice from, he West.
 C-d c. H. April lst, 1892.