Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-05-31
THE CHEROKEES.


man, recently among the Cherokee In.
dams, that at least ninrteen-,wepticths
otthat people are firmly resolved never
TO abandon their homes; but will rather
be starved to death, or cut to pieces, i'm
the wild and almost impenetrabIe fast
nesses OF their own mountains, whittier
1t IS their intention finally to betake
themselves, and calmly await the ap,
proach of the army, now sent out by the
General Government 10 butcher them in
case OF their refusal to emigrate. They
have planted their crops, which are rep
resented 10 be in an unusual state of for>
wardness, and in all other respects are
pursuing "the even tenor of their way"
as il unaPPrised of the gathering storm,
which IL SO soon TO burst in all its lury
upon their devoted heads. They openly
avow their Intention. It's their pur-
pose to act altogether upon the defensive.
When forced by the Soldiery, to abandon
their rich and finely cultivated farms.
their schools. their temples Of religion,
their homes and their fresides, they will
betake themselves TO those wild and al
most inaccessible retreats, which nature
has provided for them, in their noun.
tains. When pursued here, and shot
down, IKE dogs or wolves, by the hire.
ing pale faces' which Government has
sent against them. then, and not till then,
rs 1t their intention to repel force ly
force. Here, nerved by the energy Of
despair, and goaded into madness by the
remembrance OF the wrongs they have
suffered ct the hands OF the white man.
they will sell their lives as dearly as
possible. Before they can be dislodged
from their mountain retreats the proba-
bility is. that the Indian rife will Law low
in the dust, many ofthoss, who, for a
paitFy Pittance, have volunteered them
selves as the agents ofthe General Gov.
ernment to carry into effect, the mos. in
famous measure OF this Or ony other civ.
lilzed nation. If fraud and treachery,
inJus'ice and avariee, could provoke tie
vengeance OF Heaven upon the heads of
the guilty; ifPowerless right and injured
innocence could plead the cause of the
oppressed. and make their supplicaticns
heard by Him whose arm lie omnipotent
and whose mercy "tenpers the wind 10
!he shorn lamb, the white man would
have fearful account TO settle, and "the
poor Indian" would 10 longer be hunted
GOWN like beast of the field, and driv.
en- from ms o1cn abundant apd peaceful
possessions, into the wilderness, because
the accuIsed and iDsatiate avarice Of his
opPressors, covets his fields, his houses
and bis cattle. But this little remnant
OF once mighty and noble race are
helpless. They are possessed Of a fine
tract OF country, which they have cult
Va'ed and improved. They have made
RAPID strides towards civilization, and
when after years oftoii, they had placed
themselves III condition 70 be- happy
aad coDtented, self.cous.ituted and un-
accredited Chief John Ridgey in con,
hectinn with worthless fellow of the
name of Schermerhorn "a Minister ofthe
Gospel formed treaty by which their
country was sold to the General Govern
Ineht for mere song. The Schermer.
horn treaty was, from It's very inception,
protested against, and has ever slice
been repudiated, by an oyerw helming
majority of the Cherokees. A memo
nal, protesting against this treaty, was
lately presented TO Congress, signed by
serenteen thousand Of the nation. Yet it
is under colour of this repudiated and
infamous treaty, that Government has
resolved to effect the removal of this
people, even at the point of the bayonet.
Who would not rather die i'll Gefence Of
his just rights, than submit TO such gross
injustice
The course Of our Government TO-
wards this Inflated people, opens wide
field for reflection. aad black indeed
will be the page which contains lis his
tory Should this people be ex!ermina-
ted by the 5000 troops now sent against
them, the pen Of the future historian,
while recording the finale of tic tragedy,
must also record the deep and indelible
stain inflicted upon his country's honor.
! The spectacle of nation numbering