Litchfield enquirer., 1832-01-19
THE CHocrAw's FAREWELL.

is the nephew, and successor in office of Greenwood
 Lad eur; and is now on his way with large body O
 his people, to their new residence in tho Vest The address was hastily written with pencils board the steamboat Huron, tho day before her arrival al our landing. The time 50 short us to afford Cant
 Harkins no opportunity to send US a revised sheet. To the spectators and land jobbers, whose grasp. ing avarice forced this people from their homes and the graves ohoir rethers the language Of this ad- dress will be unnelIigbe but there are others, who, we presums ara not entirely devoid of shame, and to
 whom aIlusion is made, who will feel the full force of its mild, bu, pointed drehukes-Natcles. TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
 It is with considerable difidence, that I attempt to address the American people, knowing and feeling sensbly my incom- potency: and believing that your highly and well improved minds could not be well entertained by tho address of Choctaw. But having determined to cmigrate West of the Mississippi River this fall, I have thought proper in bidding you farewell, to make few remarks expressive of my views, and the feelings that actuatc me on the subject of our removal. Believing that our all is at stake, and knowing that you readily sympathise with the distressed fevery country, confidently throw my self upon your indulgence and ask you to listen patiently. do not arrogate to my- self the prerogative of deciding upon the expediency of the late treaty, yet I feel bound as Choctaw, to give distinct ex- pression of my feelings on that interesting, aud (to tho Choctaws) all important sub Ject. We were hedged in by two evils, and we chose that which we thought the least. Yet we could not recognise. tho right that the State of Mississippi had as- sumed, to legislate for us. Although tho Legislature of the State were qualified to make laws for their own citizens, that did not qualify them to become lawmakers to a people that was SO dissimlar in manners and customs as the Choctaws are to the Mississippians. Admitting that they un- derstood the people, could they remove that mountain of prejudice that has ever obstructed the streams of justice, and pre- vented their salutary influence from reach- ing my devoted countrymen. We as Choctaws rather chose to suffer and be free, than live under the degrading in6u- ence oflaws, when our voice could not be heard in their formation.
 Much as the State of Mississippi has wronged us, cannot find in my heart any other sentiment, than an ardent wish for her prosperity and happiness.
 [ could cheerfully hope, that those of another age and generation may not feel the effect of those oppressive measures that have been so illiberally dealt out to us; and that peace and happiness may be their reward. Amid the gloom and hor- TOTS of the present separation, we are cheered with hope that ere long we shall reach our destined home, and that nothing short of tho basest acts of treachery will ever be able to wrest it from us, and that we may live free. Although our ances- tors won freedom on the field of danger and glory, our ancestors owned it as their birth-right and we have had to purchase it from you as the vifest slaves buy their free- dom.
 Yet it is said that our present move- ments are our own voluntary acts-such is not the case. We found ourselves like a benighted stranger, following false guides, until he was surrounded on every side, with fire or water. The fire was certain destruction, and a feeble hope was left him of escaping by water. A distant view of the opposite shore encourages the hope to remain would be inevitable annihlation. Who would hesitate, or who would say that his plunging into the water was his own voluntary act Painful in the ex- treme is the mandate of our exclusion.- We regret that it should proceed from the mouth of our profsssed FRIEND, and for whom our blood was co-mingled with that of his bravest warriors, on the field of dan ger and death.
 But such is tho instability of professions. The man who said that he would plant stake and draw line around US, that ncy- CT should be passed, was the first to say that he could not guard the lines; and drew up the stako and wiped out all traces of the line. will not conceal from you my fears, that the present grounds may be re- moved. havc my foreboding-who of us can tell after witnessing what has alrea- dy been done, what inc next force may be. l ask you in the name ofjustice for repose, for myself, and for my injured people, Let US alone-we will not harm you, we want rest. We hope in the name of jus- tice that another outrage may never be committed against us, and that we may in the future be cared for as children, and not be driven about as beasts, which arc benefited by a change of pasture.
 | Taking an examnle from tho American