Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-28

compensation. lie had no belief thai any such SUN
! had been ras-d
10 which Mr.. White rose and replcd-Yrs, MIR. Pre-
sideht there was great scuns get subscribers tor
$50 great mat our old acquaintance, Samuel G"ih,
'ne iaha oncer, from mississippi, called into ser
wee, and when procuring subscribers II Gallatn in
April last wrote to MIR. Rchie of the En1nirer, the
celebrated ietrr as to Tennessee politics intended
Justly to influence the Virginia elections and which
donbt had the desired effect. Mr.. President, have
made these disclosures with great pain and the most
deep moEtiEseaior but deemed it my duty to do
The to my resolution will show whether it will
be in my power, and whether it will be my duty 10 at
tempt any thing farther the unpleasant subject.
The following is Mr. Curry's letter alluded to in the
above remarks:
(frcm the Federal Union.)
CHEROKEE Agency Dec. l, 1886.
SIR-I know your anxiety the subject of treaty,
and having ntirnaons ln,&an authority that
treaty will be concluded at oarly period, have
thought fit to give you short sketch of the proceedings
the late council well before and since connected
with the Indian matters.
You via remember, Mr.. Ross and bis coadjutors en-
tered iais written agreement with the Secretary OF
Was lna winter, take for their claims East whatever
SUM the Senate OF the United States might award upon
sNsosniting the question to that body.
TLe question was submitted and the Senate awarded
five millions Of dollars. Mr. Ross and his party acted on
this occasion under power Of attorney from the
rnittse and council of the nation, who claimed all tho
power and authority oil the nation This power OF ator-
ney was 4zaun by skiiiul lawyer, Col Hanse and
signed by all vino claimed authority end power as coun'
scors MIR, Ridge and others, who seeded from Ross
council made arrangement, reduced TO the solemn
form OF treaty, and signed by the representatives. OF
that party on tine basis OF this award.
At the October council, there attended certain Mr..
Payne, and Samuel Mcconnell. Of Tennessee
Payne halls from New York but came through Georgia.
He is Of the Wing party, and makes him abo
htionist He It is said, formed alliance with Mr..
Longstreet of Augusta, and other Editors BY which he
to furnish matter, and they TO print lor pot-
cal effect. Mcdonnell is the who instigated the
arrest of the Gcorg surveyor and had him carried to
Athens, Tennessee, for vocation Of the intercourse
laws three years for marking lines within the
limits of your State lie has large claims for
tons made Indians under the treaties Of lSl1l9, and
has, for some years past, under the procurement OF
Judge White, OF Tennessee, Lcen receiving pay from
the United States Government secret and confden-
tia agent, while all his visible efforts have been to de-
feat the Of the osIcIsbe agents in bringing
about treaty.
Lewis Ross. one Of John Ross executive councillors,
visited Knoxville about the commencement OF this coun-
Gill; and, while absent, much concern was manifested by
John to know where bis brother Lewis could be- Lewis
at length arrived.
Ruuior was put ailoat that Judge White, if made Pre-
sdcnl would do much for this people
Ridge and his party shortly afterwards arrived Nc
Council met him. Ridge told it, and put him on his
guard against the agent aud Mr. Scierncrorn, who he
Intirna,rd was about to sacrifice Ridge ind proposed
that Ridge and his party should ride with him IN the
direction of Governor Carroll :, order 10 that
commissioner before myself and Mr. Schcrncrhorn had
an opportunity give his mind such bias as 1t might
rcc.ivc, provided this precauun was not used. MIR.
Ridge was evidently much prrpcxed, and his conf
denge apparently shaken through some unexpected m
reference
An interview was shortly afterwards brought about
between JOHN Ross and John Ridge, which resulted in
termination never 10 treat the basis of the award OF the
Senate This accordingly submitted to the people,
ubuu, six hundred only being present Coupled
with this however resolution appointing nineteen
dele yates here lat Red Clay elsewhere with
fh.( ,ov nj of he ! fer O.
these resolutions most Of the Indians went home re]oc-
ing that they had got their lands back The committee
thus appointed to treat remained, and raised an objection
To MI Schcrmcr,orn authority and in this, they
sustained by this Mr. Payne for the truth OF this,
refer you to Colonel Hansell While Payne was thus
engaged, Mr. Foreman, Cherokee otrcspcctabllIty, in
forms Mcconnell was using these arguments with
Ridge friends, who had refused go with them:
lou had nothing to expect from the agent and the com.
missioner will have no power. All tile patronage and
money for which your country sold will be at the dis
rosal Of Ross You had better rave them aud join him;
stick to !lem and you are ruined; go with him. and you
are saved.
The suspicious movements Of Mr.. Payne. and the &C.
clct concavcs constantly going on between him and Mr.
Ross united with the strange results of this council, and
the increased insucncc of the Indians. strengthened the
suspicion that these fresh hopes founded upon
tcpa,ed instruction in tic South and West, md
conflict at the time with orc focs during
which the Indians have Opportunity to reinstae
themselves The parties payne and Ross: closeted,
after the adjournment OF the council for at least week,
just back Of the Georgia line, within Tennessee Indians
committing the most atrocious murders III that part had
been arrested and carried before the circuit courts OF Ten
nessec and the laws had BY Judge Keith been declared
unconstitutional leaving the country neither ubec tc
State Federal jurisdiction. From the great variety
of character in that section Of country and the absolute
necessity Of knowing where 10 look for protection
against the incendary as well the assassin, in
srumenal in taking an appeal from his honor Judge
ke,hs decision TO the Supreme Court of Tennessee
the opinion of which had reached the Indian
try in tangible character the time of MIR. Ross and
hlr rayncs temporary aIrcst since which, have seen
il announced that the Supreme Court Of Tennessee had
reversed the decision of Judge Keith against the uncon
,tuonality of the laws But from this high tribunal
nm appeal has been taken the Supreme Court Of the
United Suites Gas AM normecD at the instance Of some
Of those very persons Tennessee who rail out large
y against the Goorga Guard, Tor having stepped few
PAGES the nc into unrgnnzcd territory 10 ex-
anime into the correctness OF alleged conspiracy
against the vital interest Of not only yours but the ad-
joining States.
Abolition tracts have been circulated among the In
dians: and | have seen, i'll the handwriting Of Nj.
Payne, charges that the Government Of the u States
had attempted bride John Ross, by offering him
bride of fifty thousand dollars, and tissue of other
misrc presentations calculated, and doubt intended 70
ALLEVIATE the confidence Of the Indians from Govern
me and excite them against its citizens; which, with
his persuasons to them, that Mr.. Schermerhon not
only duly authorized to treat with tem being calculated
10 delay lis with this tribe fragrant viola
lions Of the intercourse law Of 1881 and had been
of the extent Of this genrmuns offence, and
been here before his recasc his confinement would have
been continued at least until ORDERS and to the proper
10 be pursued could have been received from the
War Department.
The foregoing shows, while the Indians have appoint
cd delegation 70 treat they resolve by the same voice,
moi to treat on tile basis of the FIVE million. The dele
CATION have refused the commissioners at New
Town and they will 20 to Washington CITY, althougn
they have been notified by the Secretary o! War, ana
Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the Department VIII
hold no more communications with them Last winter, al
Ter the award OF the Senate was had the OF wa
requested Mr. Ross and his party TO submit the OF
LII, 70 be- based unon tho Senute award TINS he OBJ