The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-18


statement from me- The treaty Of 1885, made by
Ridge and his party against the wishes of the great
majority Of their naiion the immediate cause OF the
difficulties in which they have been involved for the
last four or five years The great body Of the Chero-
KEGS, as is well known, refused to leave their homes
and 90 10 the West-haying never been parties TO that
treaty and it was only at the point of the bayonet
that they could at last be forced from Georgia Their
removal to the West followed by the assassi-
nation of the two Ridges and Boudinot the chiefs Of
the treaty making minority The late Secretary of
War (Mr. Poinset) thereupon, without proof or rea-
son, or even probability chose consider John Ross
as an accessory to the murder of the treaty makers
and prescribed him on this groundless charge On
this point, claim to be well qualified witness Du-
ring these exciting times resided in Of the bor
der counties of Arkansas, the very boundary line
of the Cherokee country and had daily intercourse
with them. know that Ross perfectly innocent
of the MURDER but the contrary fearing that under
the strong feeling existing against the treaty makers
some such outbreak might occur, he did all in his pow
er to prevent it. Indeed, / assure your ExceIlency
that SO far from encouraging any such outrages his
powerful influence was continually exerted for the
preservation of peace and order and is to his intel
gence, frmness and good conduct, aided by another
individual of his nation CHOW in this city, that we
owe the preservation of our western frontier from
war far bloody and destructive than any known
in our time. .fsls a@,~ a~ r.--a.@ P&
The abrupt and violent removal Of the Cherokees
from their homes in Georgia and the equally rude and
hasty manner in which they were thrust into the
country which they occupy, have given occasion
to great national and individual losses among them,
which have been entirely arranged or adjudca-
ted. They have never yet been fully compensated for
the spoliations they suffered in Georgia and since
their removal they have not ceased to clamor for a
more complete redress. Many claims arising out of
this treaty still unsettled, though large sums have
been paid in partial accomplishment of that object.
They have never yet received the promised fee-sim
pie of their territory and all their relations to
us as affected by that unfortunate treaty. which they
never were parties, require complete revision and
settlement A new treaty, on the basis of complete
acknowledgment of mutual claims and equal rights,
will furnish the only thorough adjustment of these
complicated difficulties. ...:t ...st... a.....,
For the perfect accomplishment Of this purpose,
would most respectfully recommend to you the APP
pointment of board of two three commissioners 10
visit the Indian territory with full powers for the in
vestigaon and adjustment of all the pending disputes
with the Cherokees and Seminoles. By these means,
the Just intentions of the Government might be
red out with great certainty, and great of imr
portant facts might be collected relative to Indian
policy for the use of the Government for the nfor
nation of the whole country. .v....
This proposed commission mgh also be advanta.
geously extended in its abors and inquiries beyond
the limits of the two tribes hereinbeore specified
presenting eases of primary and Immediately urgent
importance. Our relations with the Greeks, the Choc
taws, the Senecas, and other tribes now compacty
settled in that sngularly circumsanced territory be-
yond Arkansas would all be brought to better I'M
derstanding both sides by such complete, autho-
rized Governmental survey. There multitude
ofgrievances existing and continually arising among
the different tribes and with our frontier settlers and
with Government agents, which, by gradual, unhecd-
ed accumulation may amount at last to potent
| of desolating war among them or with US. There
vast and weghty questions Of national policy, too,
involved in the condition and destiny Of those more
than half-cvilized Indians whom the novel and sin
gular arrangements Of the last twelve years have
placed in formidable array along all our western
borders. The citizens of Arkansas, Missouri and
Iowa. look with doubt if not with alarm, at the pho
nomenon thus presented ON their Western frontier ;
and the peace oftbe nation and the prosperity ofthose
States require that relations to those tribes
| should be permanently fired mutually, satisfac-
tory enduring basis. What is to be the future posi-
ton Of those tribes2 Are they to be driven again
and again still farther West, into the Great Amer
! can Desert,-into the Rocky Mountains-or to the
Pacific ocean-shore2 Or shall they remain where
they now placed solemnly pledged national
faith, and there at last find rest from their wandengs
| secure beneath the shadow Of strength, and on
our sacred housekeeping through long ages the
fruits of their abors from their rich cultivated fields
and forgetting perhaps in future happy generations
the wrongs Of centures2 Are they always to remain
in their present anomalous tuteage, shall they final
", in due me take their place in glorious Confe-
deracy, with our language our religious and our best
institutions and add another of strange and novel
Iustre to bright and increasing national consella
tion2 ...n., llsl .a" .-.t So. ..a...
These are great questions which our country and
rulers must soon decide and to aid and guide that de-
cison is object worthy of the proposed attempt to
collect all needful information Indian affairs.
| In conclusion, may be permitted to point to the
glorious results Of this final adjustment Of our rela
tons the aboignes of this Continent, and to the
lasting honor which will accrue to that Admnistra-
ton which shall justly meet this great emergency
Those Indians have high and peculiar claims upon
you, sir. They are the only people in all our wide
dominions who are literally your subjects, and they
present themselves before you under the ofyour
children. In the established form of their expressive
and beautiful dction they address you their
Father, the President" With peculiar hope during
the long dark years of their recent trials they have
looked forward to that change in our National Adj
mlnistration and policy which ended in your welcome
accession to the supreme direction Of affairs. Let
not their longbafed but faithful hope prove ground
less Let them not, by injustice neglect be driven
back to barbaism, to deeds of blood and hopeless
warfare against our iron might But let the peaceful
and prosperous establishment of their rights and
unite all in the cemmendation of the wisdom and