The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-14


have printing press 10 the nation where
they have their laws and public documents
printed both in English and the Cherokee
language
We arrived at The council ground at q
time when their National Council was in
session. Their government is divided in
to three departments, viz. the Executive
Legislative and Judicial. They style the
head o! the executive department., principal
chief. Their legislative department is dlvi'
ded into committee and council. The
Judiciary is composed of Superior Court
and Inferior or Circuit Court. John
Ross is now and has been for many years
the head chief of The nation. Their COM
mttee and council consists of fifteen MEM
bers each elected by The people All laws
are enacted BY the legislature and signed
by the principal chief. Their Supreme
Court is composed OF five judges. Atthe
head ofthis COURTS Jesse Bushey head, an
interesting and intelligent man, a half
blood Indian and Baptist preacher.
We were introduced to all the mem.
bers Of the several departments ef govern
ment, from whom we received many kind
attentions; and had an opportunity Of wit.
Messing their manner Of transacting busi>
ness, which. although simple and plain,
was very much 10 the point. The whole
nation, or at least as many as wished to
assemble, were one day while we were
there, collected together, to hear the annu-
al message of the principal chief and
the report of the delegation that were sent
to Washington the last winter to transact
some business with the general govern.
ment. The report embraced all their
correspondence with the President and
Secretary of War; and that and the mess
age were drawn up with ability.
We witnessed nothing like spirit of
hostility on the part Of these Indians to.
wards the government of the United
States; andyet they have not forgotten the
wrongs that have been practiced upon
them by the whites. 1t affords them
some relief when they can meet with per-
sons who are willing to sympathize with
them in the sad tale of their suf1er;ngs and
miseries. By accounts from persons of
unimpeachable veracity who were eye.
witnesses of some Of the horrid scenes
which occurred before and at the time of
their removal, we were led to think the
half had never met the public eye,-
They treated US with kindness and much
attention while we were in the nat ion and
although they have not had much acqualnt
ance with members of our own religious
society until recently, yet they looked up
on them as their friends and spake with
grateful hearts of the benevolent and
christian interposi,ion of Friends in a
great many instances on behalfo(the red
man. Much might be said respecting the
advancement Of this tribe in civilization
&c., but we will conclude by saying that
our hearts were made to feel deeply for
them, and to put up our feeble petitions
TO the Father OF all our sure mercies that
he might yet smile upon this stripped and
peeled people, and awaken them under a
sense extended 10 them to feeling of their
own obligation 10 deal justly and show
mercy and kindness to those poor decend>
ants of the African race who are held in
bondage among them.
A band OF the Seminole Indians, lately
from Florida were temporarily settled ups
on the Cherokees' land, near the council
ground, at the head of which were two
chiefs by the names of Wildcat and Allie
gator, who were noted men in the late |
Florida war. We held two councils
with these chiefs. at one of which came
about twenty of their principal men,
Wildcat and Alligator made many bitter
complains OF the ill-treatment of the white |
men. both before and since their removal.
We feared there might be an out break by
Wheat and his party in their present exci>
ted state. 1t was expected that the agents
would soon remove item from the Chero.
kee country to lands provided for them by
the general government. in the Creek ma
ton; at which Wildcat and Alligator ap>
peared much offended. We conversed
with several of the agents and officers OF
the general government and desired them
10 consider their peculiar dispositions, and
use all conclia;ory means in their power
in the removal of these unhappy beings.
We also endeavored TO persuade these H.
dams to live peaceably with their neigh>
bors. aud to break off from their old hab-
Its and become farmers. like the Cherokees
and other Indians around them. They
are much given to drunkenness, stealing,
and other vices, and live like wild In.
dams. They formerly belonged to the
Creek nation. and now speak the Creek
language. Some of them hold slaves,
who serve for interpreters and servants to
them.
We next visited the Creek nation.-
They are situated south of the Cherokees,
on lands borderingon the Verdigris river,
& number about 5000 Indians& or 1000
slaves. We had an interview with Benz
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