Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-06-08
THE CHEROKEES.

okee people by General Scott, we admire
as blending all the requsites-frmness,
mercy, policy, adaptation to the Indian
tastes, ard courtesy to their usagos. 1t
will have q happy effect, undoubtedly, and
is one of the best documents ever issued to
our Indians:
Cherokees The President Of the Uni
ted - ates has sent me, with powerful
army, to cause you, in obedience to the
treaty Of 1885, to join that part Of your PEG.
pie who are already established in prosper.
ity on the other side Of the Mississippi.
Unhappily, the two years which were al.
lowed for the purpose you have suffered to
pass away without following, and without
making any preparation to follow, and now,
or by the time this address shall reach your
distant settlements, the emigration must be
commenced in haste, but, hope, without
disorder. have no power, by granting
further delay, to correct the error that you
have committed. The full moon of May is
already on the wane, and before another
shall have passed away, every Cherokee,
man, woman and child, in tn Sc States,
must be in motion to join their brethren III
the far West.
My Friends. This is no sudden deter.
miLation on the part Of the President,
whom you and must obey BY the treaty,
the emigration was TO have been completed
on or before the ED of this month aud the
President has constantly kept you warned,
during the two years allowed, through all
his officers and agents in this country, that
the treaty would be enforced.
am come to carry out that determine.
ton. My troops already occupy many
positions in the country that you are to
abandon, and thousands and thousands
are approaching. from every quarter, TO
render assistance and escape alike hope
less. All those troops, regular and militia,
are your friends. Receive them and con.
tide in them as such. Obey them when
they tell you that you can remain no longer
IN this country. Soldiers are as kind
hearted as brave, and the desire of every
one Of US is to execute our painful duty in
mercy. We are commanded by the Pfesi.
dent to act towards you in that spirit, and
such is also the wish of the whole people
of America.
Chiefs, head-men and warriors! Will
you, then, by resistance, compel us to re-
sort to arms? God forbid! Or will you,
by fight, seek to hide yourselves in noun.
tains and forests, and thus oblige US to
hunt you DOWN. Remember that, in pur.
suit, it may be impossible to avoid conf cts.
The blood ofthe white man, or the blood
of the red man, may be split. and if split
however accidentally, it may be impossible
for the discreet and humane among you, or
among US. to prevent general war and
carnage. Think Of this, my Cherokee
brethren! am an old warrior, and have
been present at many scene Of slaughter
bu! spare me, besecch you, the horror Of
witnessing the destruction Of the Chero.
KEGS.
Do not, invite you. even wait for the
close approach of the troops; but make
such preparations for emigration as you
can, and hasten to this place, to Ross's
Landing, or to Gunter's Landing. where
you will all be received in kindness by off
GERS selected for the purpose. You will
find food for all, and clothing for the desti,
tute, at either Of these places, and thence
at your ease, and in comfort, be transported |
to your new homes according to the terms
ofthe treaty.
This is the address of a warrior to war.
riors. May his entreaties be kindly receiv.
cd, and may the God of both prosper the
Americans and Cherokecs, and preserve
them long IN peace and friendship with
each other! WINFIELD SCOTT.
CHEROKEE AGENCY, May 10, 1888.