Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-11-28
IIAywooD COUNTY, N. ca
OFT. 10, 1888.

SIR: perceive n yonr speech delivered in
:he uouse of Representatives IN May, 1888,
IN the bill making appropriations for prevent
.ng and supprcssing Indian hostllltles, you
make mention Of Cherokee Indians forming
settlement in the district you represent, as be-
ing temperate, orderly, industrious, and leacea-
Jk. | have been acquainted with those H.
dams since the formation Of the settlement
referred to- and know your statement, as above
mentioned, TO be correct. But as you may
he unacquainted with the circumstances at
tending the formation of that settlement, ard
with the cause of their becoming temperate,
| hope the following statement in relation
thereto may not be unacceptable TO you, as
the Representative OF the district in which they
reside;
So early as the year 1906 two deputations
attended Washington city from the Cherokee
natives: one from the lower towns, to make
known to the Prcsiden! their desire to remove
west the Mississippi, ard pursue the hun
,er's life ; the other depu'ation, representing. IN
part, the Cherokees belonging to the above
settlement, to make known to The President
their desire to remain on tie lands o. their
fathers, and become cu;iyators of the SOIL
The President answered their petitions as fol-
lows: "The United States, my children, arc
the friends of both parties AS far as can be
reasonably asked, they are willing to satisfy
the wishes of both. Those who remain may
he assured Of our patronage, our aid and good
neighborhood" Tie ~calies made between
the United States and the Cherokee nation,
in the years 1917 and 1919, made provision
for those desiring TO remain, agreeably To the
promise of the President and they were made
citizens ofthe United States, and each. h.family
was allowed reservation Of $40 acres of land.
The whites claimed The same lands, under a
purchase made OF the State. Suits were III
stituted in favor OF the Ind!anc, and. by our
Courts, were decided in their favor, and pos
session was surrendered TO them by the whites.
Afterwards they we're induced To sell their
reservations to the Commissioners cflhc State
and to purchase lands in the white settlement!
where they now reside, in the neighhorhood o
the hunting ground reserved TO the Cherokee
hunters BY the treaties concluded with the
Cherokee nation between the years 1870 and
1889; which privilege, as part ofthe Chcro.
kee nation, they continue to enjoy.
Unit! the yea: 1890 they We're as !ntem.
perate as any other Indians on our frontier
About that tune TIC principal Chief OF the
above settlement, By the name Of Drowning
Bear, (or You ma GUS, ka,) becoming convinced
that intemperance would destroy himself ant
people, determined 20 I've temporarily, ant
ers lade his people 10 follow his example
was present when he assembled them. Q,
that occasion he Informed them thar he la
been considering and deyislng ways to pro
mote their happiness in future. lie said h
had become convinced that lHtcmperance Wa
the cause Of the determination OF the Ind
trijcs situated il the reighborhood OF tn
whites; referred them to tie present and pre-
vious situation Of the Catawba Cor lnctah quo
Indians, with whom they were acquainted,
an evidence OF the injurious effects OF ntec
rerance. lie Greeted ns clerk 20 write !
the Indian language, as fellows The Iii
dersigned CacroAecs. belonging 10 the TOW
Qual.a, 3grce 70 abandon the ;iSc OF spirtros
iouors !, ves ;n'e,eG..:c'r s.greh ny =