New-York daily tribune., 1843-09-29
-. -, ,I,nt yatson-ForInnfion ION of ti,e
soss and treaty Parties-Bitter HOSTILE
-. 4,c No. l.

RoS Il
ties. sc. - =
Correspondence Of Tie New York Tribune.
PITr.suKc. September 10, !s'3
The reccut intelligence from the Cherokee Na-.
ton recalls to mind some things concerning that
people which. as have thought they may prove
interesting to your readers, shall take the pans
TO put on paper. j lived for some time IN that
Nation, and, being somewhat inquisltiyc ano
curious, used nv eyes and ears and occasionaiy
my tongue, to learn what could OF their history.
Since left it, have been surprised at the lgno-
rance prevailing in the Northern States respecting
them. Their present circumstances. advancement
in civilization, &c, seem quite unknown % pe'-
sons otherwise intelligent, and in general way
familiar with the affairs of foreign countries
The contrast bctw tn them and their heigiioois'
tho Crooks. across the Arkansas River, Is so re-
markabIe one cannot help being surprised ana
;,c;,od n learn the causes Of such disslnllarlty
7 do not however, propose in this letter to cntei
into this question.-my intention being to notice
the present crcum Canoes of the people, and more
especially to give more minute detail than have
vet seen OF the causes OF that peculiar state OF iee
ing existing, which manifests itself ever and anon
III outbreakings, murders and assasslnatlons.
intend to add, in two OF three subsequent letters
some particulars relating TO their habits educa-
ton, &c. have no documents near me to aid
in giving dates, and am dependent on memory.
What shall say, have seer, and learned by
personal inquiry Of the parties themselves
The Cherokee nation is divided into two gene
ID. 4 'llo
primitive division of the tribe into Clans, amidst
the general irflpx of knowledge and the advance
of civilization, is well nigh lost. The origin OF
the present division is briefly this: When the
Government proposed to purchase the lands OF
the nation, the proposition was rejected, and ioF
long time stout'y resisted by John Ross ana
those VINO adhered to his views, composing a ma
jority OF The nation. The price considered an
equivalent by Ross for the lands was very far
above any thing of the kind the Government
would ever consent 10 give. 1t was clear that as
long as the majority maintained their ground and
continued to o -ose every thing of the kind un-
less in accordance with their views, no prospect
existedof eftecting purchase and procuring the
removal of the tribe to the West. This had been
the determination for years, and to carry 1t out
new appliances were resorted to to force the sale
Every body is familiar with tho course pursued
by Georgia, and the unrighteous persecution IN
situted by her--how laws were enacted extend
ing over that portion Of the Indian territory within
her boundaries. She even undertook to compel
citizens of the United States living in the nation
to swear allegianceto her, or submit to lmpnson-
ment in penitentiary; most outrageous viola
tion of individual rights-which absurd and un-
lawful imposition was enforced in several instances
witness those Of Worcester and Butler, the lat
ter of whom resided not four miles from where
lived when in the nation, and even then was sui
fering from the fendish brutality with which ne
had been treated These aggresslons on the
rights guaranteed TO the Indians by the United
States became intolerable. A Cherokee could
not get a good horse with any prospect OF keep
ing him from being stolen, nor recover 1T II sto-
len. This is a sample of their treatment through
out by the sovereign States around The object
was, since they could not reduce the Indians to
leave willingly, to vex their lives out by harrass
ment; and it did produce the effect on consld-
cradle portion l. has made my blood boil TO
hear them tell of L :. cruel tyranny to which they
were subjected. This then was the state of af-
fairs A large number would, not consent to sell
on such conditions and the Government wished
10 treat on the other hand the States around,
particularly Georgia, were doing their utmost to
coerce them into SALE A party disaffected and
searied with fruitless suffering, signifed their
disposition to sell. BY some means or other the
Government succeeded in getting delegation
appointed by this party, clofhed, whether honestly
or not, with power to sell and convey their lands
The United States agent concluded a treaty with
,hem and on the strength of that treaty tie whole
nation was compelled to cnligratc TO Arkansas
Territory. The party in whose behalf the treaty
was signed was thenceforth called the Z" Treaty
Party of which the principal men were the
Ridges, Boudinot, the Bells, Watsons, Stand Wa
tie, SC. l never could get at the truth of this
Treaty matter clearly, but of two things am alb
solutely certain lst. That the Government OF
Government agent, as you will, obtained the
Treaty by fraudulent means, clearly in opposition
To the will of considerable majorltyof the ma
ton; and 2ndly. That those comprehended in
the Treaty Party were the most patriotic and
alive to the real interests Of the people, for they
saw and Welded to the force Of circumstances i'm.
possible to be resisted. Had the Rossites carried
out their determination not to SELL the termna.
ton would have been disastrous in the extreme,
especially to the poor, many of whom had suffered
awiutly. | have been assured by prominent mem
hers of the Treaty Party, that the sutferings OF
their poor were intense, and had much influence:
in bringing the treaty about.
Here is the foundation of that distinction o
parties now existing in such bitter hostility. Blu
smother element was added from another source
which has been fuel to the flame. Long beior,
the Treaty was thought of, numbers OF Cherokee
had emigrated to Yves. OF TIE Mississippi; and a