Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-31

and his pllable Delegation now mere. HE oPPo'i'e 49, |
dams, now, are ignorant and uniformed, and these
would long since have cheerfuly yielded and have emil
grated but for the wicked and mischevous
Of this man John Ross, and his immediate associates.
Since the ratification Of the treaty, presume luis
Ross has spent than oneluif OF MS tinie III
and about this place. under the pretence OF dong
Thing which would abrogate change THIS treaty oh'
fortunately, he has been permitted 10 hold 700
respondence with the Executive officers OF 'h'S
ment and received loo much countennnce from nemoes
OF Congress- which has been calculated TO Keep up 'e G
fusion that the treaty would not be executed without MS
consent or approba,ion Sir have been intimately con
neced with this subject have been 10 postum" u.
connection with the execution Of this treaty. when en-
ables me to understand things they actually EXIST ana
but for This man Ross and his ders and abettors these
unfortunate Cherokees would now have been quietly en-.
toying the benefits Of this most liberal ana oenencent
treaty at their settled homes in the West HunofeGs
and thousands of these people are this day passVe
waiting 10 receive the permission OF loss 10 leave te
present abode and 90 West. Whole neghoorhoods OF
the Cherokees have repeatedly made up Their minus 10
Weld to the treaty, and commenced making their
rations accordingly, when news would 60 from John
Rrss and his associates here, that Ross was
a new treaty; and the present treaty was undergoing
modification or change, and the Indians urged not 10
Weld TO the present treaty the advice OF the agents
of The Government engaged in its eIecutlon ana mus
repeated stops have been put TO emigration
The counlenance given to this deluslon by Congress
men and those high in authority, is iraught WIN Tue
most serious evils. II threatens destruction anu e1ter
ryen,y.third of May next, now less than two months
hence and these people, far Georgia IS concelneo
must 90, and go quickly. The citizens OF Georgia hoa
grants for the lands which these Indians now res'ae
in HAT Stale and the grantees legally authorized oy
The laws Of the State as we'll the treaty. to take pos.
session of their lands and after the twenty hfa OF
MAY next; and sir possession they will lake, ana the
Indians will then truly be forced out OF house ana nome
Georgia and the Georgians have long since oeen ac'
cused of having uken possession Of all The Indian lands
houses and homes But, sir, this was not true; IL was
one Of the many ISLANDERS which have been Propaga'eo
10 disparnge The State which have the honor 10 repre-
sent We have treated the Indians with all the kindness
and forbearance which their interest required But s'r
whatever conflict may arise inter the Odd OF May Geor
gia and will be speedily relieved from This long
standing and vexatous perpexy. il The execution ol
this treaty is longer resisted, whatever evil may ensue
the just responsibility is chargeable TO this man. Ross
and his associates and nc TO my constituents or the au
thorilies Of the State which represent SO Tar from
avoiding, would desire the most thorough investigation
of this treaty lis execution, and every other ansaco"
connected with the subject But, Sir, will never con-
sent 70 any investigation which shall re.ard The execu
lion Of the treaty. far the removal at the Indians Is
concerned. They mus 90, or evil will come Of It,.
haye in my possession various communications from
officers aud agents of the Government, as well as other
citizens all gung 10 sustain the fact that The Indians
will not emgrate SO long as this man, Ross, continues
communicate Tor it TO be donc that he IS 10
ing expects 10 do something here to change the pro-
visions Of The treaty From the beg inning, nothing but
the allacious hope that this treaty would not be strictly
executed has prevented the Cherokee people IRON
yielding TO il with great unanimy This subject is mol
within the jurisdiction Of Congress; II belongs TO
the Executive Government; and if this treaty falls oil
execution, 10 that branch Of the Government shall
charge the failure and shall my best exerlions to
prevent the interference Of the Legislaure-that
branch Of the Government TO which happen 10 he at
tached But all The combined powers Of The Federal
Government cannot abrogate or change this treaty,
without the consent Of the States interested and that
consent will never be obtained Honesty is said to be
the best pocy at any rate honesty is duty Then let
not deceive but save these people, ny assuring thcm
that the treaty will be executed.
will forbear rs before inti,nated 10 make the motion
10 lay this memorial the table, 10 offer TO other gen.
emen the privilege which huve exercised myself OF
submitting any remarks which they may have 10 make
on this subject | shall not, however, consent to give
other direction this subject than that which have
suggested
stand fully the merits OF the memorial presented by the
Senator from New jersey, lie would lay before the Sc
nate and ask The reading Of certain documents which
had por,ant bearing the subject before them
The first was letter from General Smith, the supet!n.
endent of Cherokee emigration, received at the War
Department. and dated the Ssh March, by which the Sc
to be read, aTiet'tHt tiIre'une
MIR. Southland snid he would also ask for The reading
Of the papers he had presented in order That the whole
subject, in relation to this matter might be fully under.
stood 1t was not his wish, when he presented the
morul 10 excite debate but rather his desire that the
motion should have pursued very different course
As merely 10 have printed the memorial and accompany.
ing documents and TO have referred the whole 10 the
Committee Indian Affairs, which would, no doubt,
have reported on the subject and put the matter at
10 rest.
Mr. Clay of Alabama replied, that under all the cir
cumsances, he could not suffer himself TO be diverted
from asking the reading OF these documents Tor
which would be apparent 10 the Senate, when they be-
came acquainted with the contents Having under.
stood, on Saturday last that The Senator om New Jer
sey intended 10 offer this memorial, which amounted to
little more than turning loUse the onahawk md scapng
knife portion Of the people he represented, lie went
on that morning 10 the War Department. for the pur.
pose Of obtaining information this subject, and was
furnished with these documents, which he was under
on obligation 10 return IN the course OF the day. The
Senate would therefore his object in requesting that
they might lie Immediately read. He should then make
motion TO lay the whole subject the table, in order
10 prevent any excitement, and put end 10 any de-
lusive hopes Of setting inside the treaty which would in
evtaby lead to the most dangerous consequences.
Mr. King could no, but regret that his honorable col
league was not prepared TO accede to the suggestion
made and suffer this matter 10 rest without discussion.
He knew, and every Senator knew full WELL that if any
discussion had here the treated Off this
memorial they would create hopes in the minds of these
people, which never could he realised, while the false
hopes thus created would probably result in the most
serious disturbances They all knew the care the labor,
subject, and The difficulties they had to encounter when
the treaty was ratified. II ratified by the solemn
vote of twords of this body, and concurred in by the
House Of representatives by the passage of appro
pration bill To carry il into EFFECT If then, said Mr. K.
when this treaty about be carried into effect we
in the minds of these people, the hopes and fears
that must result from discussion Of the subjects en-
braeed in their memorial, you greatly inure them as
we'll as endanger The peace and tranquility Of peo
ple The Cherokees ought to be made to understand
that this thing settled forever that the treaty was
lrrevocnbe; that the Government bound 10 carry il
into effect and that they not deude themselves
with The false hope of setting i, aside
He. feit for this unfortunate people as much as any
man lie knew that they weEe deluded and deceived by
those Of tHeir own nutioa who fully aware that
there was not The remoest possibility of dverlng the
Government from its solemn obligations carry The
provisions of this treaty He had received much nfor.
nation on This subject from individuals of the Cherokee
tribe, who every way equal if not SUPERIOR to these