Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-06-13
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CHERO.
KEGS

+ Message from he President of tie Unitec
States TO both Houses Of Congress.
Transmitting communication addressed by tn,
Secretary of War to tho Cherokee Delegation
To the House Of Representatives. Of the Uni
tel States:
The accompanying copy of communi.
cation addressed by the Secretary Of War
to the Cherokee Delegation, is submitted 10
Congress, in order that such measures may
be adopted as are required to carry into
effect the benevolent intentions of the Goa
vernment towards the Cherokee nation,
and which, il is hoped, will induce them Ia
remove peaceably and contentedly 10 their
new homes in the west.
: M. VAN BUREN,.
Washington, May 81, 1888.
WAR DEPARTMENT., May 81, 1888.
SRI have the honor to submit TO you
the accompanying communication address.
sed to the Cherokee Delegation now in this
city, in order that, If il meet with your an.
probation, it may be laid before Congress.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't. servant,
J. r. POINSETT,
Secretary Of War.
To the President Of the United States
To Messers. John Ross, Edward Gunter.
X. Taylor, James Brown, Samuel Cur.
ter, Sltuawaher, Elijah Hicks, and White
Path, Cherokee Delegation
The undersigned has aticn,ively consid.
cred the project of treaty submitted by
you, and, although equally desrous with
yourselves 10 satisfy that portion or the ma.
ton that still remain east of the Missssip.
pi, and TO offer them every inducement 10
remove peaceably and contentedly to their
new homes in the West, and not unwilling
to grant most of the terms proposed by you,
still, where the rights and just expectations
of sovereign States are involved, it 10 deem.
ed inexpedent, without their consent, TO
give 10 any stipulaiions which affect them,
the form of solemn treaty.
In the first article you desire to stipulate
and agree that "the said Cherokee nation,
party hereto, engages and s,pulates to re.
move from all the lands now occupied by
them eastward of the Mississippi, and here.
by rcnounces and relinquishes to the Uni.
ted States all claim of every description to
.uch lands; such removal TO be common.
ccd at the earliest convenient period, and
TO be fully completed within two years from
this date /; to be effected by tho Cherokees
themselves and by their agents, and the en-
tire expenses Of such removal to be de-
frayed out Of the moneys to be paid by the
United States, as hereinafter provided. -
As has been before observed, the Govern.
ment Of the United States could not agree
to this act without the consent of the States
whose rights are Involved, and whose in.
terests may be effected by this stipulation !:
but the Executive pledges itself to use ito
best efforts to induce them to abstain from
pressing their claims in manner that would
produce loss or Inconvenience to the Cher.
okce people, and would be inconsistent with
their being removed with every reasonable
comfort. From the well known humanity
and generous character Of the States of
Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and North
Carolina, there can be no doubt of their
granting every indulgence which the inter.
ests Of humanity require and if two years
are necessary for the comfortable removal
of the nation, the undersigned will venture
to assure the delegation that their request
will DO granted.
If it be desired by the Cherokee nation
that their own agents should have the charge
of their emigration, their wishes will be
complied with, and Instructions be given to
the commanding general in the Cherokee
country TO enter into arrangements with
them to that effect. With regard to the
expense Of this operation, which you ask
may be betrayed by the United States, in
the opinion Of the undersigned, the request
ought TO be granted, and an application for
such furthur sum as may be required for
this purpose shall be made to Congress.
In the next article of your protest, you
propose that "the United States, on their
part, stipulate and agree, in consideration Of
the premises, to perfect the title of the
| Cherokee nation to the lands westward Of
the Mississippi, described, mentioned and
define in and by the treaty Of 1888, be-
tween the United States and the Cherokees
west of the Mississippi, and the privilege Of
outlet thereto annexed, and TO issue pat.
ent therefor to the Cherokee nation in per-
petuiiy and further pay the said chiefs and
representatives Of the Cherokee nation east
Of the Mississippi, the sum of dol.
lars, in manner and at the time hereinafter
provided"
1t was always the declared intention Of
the Government TO perfect the title TO this
land to the Cherokee nation, and 70 issue 8
puten; therefor, so soon as that portion Of
them row cast Of the Mississippi had emf
grated west, granting the nation the priv.
lcge Of outlet thereto annexed, and all 9th
or privileges secured TO them by former ar
raugcments. Nor will it object to gram
them, in perpetuiiy, if Congress shoulc
think proper to do so on their recomnea
daiion. under certain restrictions to which
the delegation have asscntcd. AS the del
egation expressed their fears that a form o
government might be imposed which they
were neither prepared for nor DESTROYS OF
the assurance is hereby repeated, that NJ
form of government will be imposed upoI
the Cherokces without the consent of III
whole nation, given in council nor shal
, their country be created into Territor.
: without such previous concurrence.
' With regard 10 the pavment of filrthe