Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-07-06
Couefa, Greek Marion, June /, 1914.
THE CHEROKEE MEMORIALS

THE CHEROKEE MEMORIALS
The Courier and Enquirer of the 10Th contains
no'ice OF the Cherokee Memorials. in which yerv
'tee structures are made upon the principal chief
VI 'lat 'rloe, winch seem to US unmerittel. As
'he Ch'el referred to Is very remarkable man.
anu Prooaoiy as sincere and earnest lover of
the true interests of the people as ever man was
inc article IN the Courier merits mn extended no.
'lce. various complaints are made against this
gentleman (for If Education, Virtue and In,cIi.
gence constitute gentleman, John Ross is one)
ny the minority of this tribe, which is of course.
uiscohIenled, as mInortes always arc. The Sisi
OF their complaint is that their lands and farms
are invaded by the new Settlers as tho cmiprants
uNuer 'lie last treaty are called, and whom they
"ls'eu 10 exclude from the most valuable portion
vi '"c country, restricting them 10 the narrow
oo''o'i's a"ohS inc Ozark hills, and 10 the desc
late Pralrles north of the Arkansas. near the tr
outarIes OF the Little Usage and other streams.
running north INTO the Usage River claiming that
'hey had acquired an absolute right to the soil by
.ne'' M previous quiet settlement between 1920 and
81, torseItul Of The fact tha, Mey were a mere
abrasion of the great Cherokee Nation, and we're
no more entitled to be considered a separate peo
pie than a hundred or two of their own warriors
VINO, under Hicks and others, had fixed THEMSELVES
withh Inc limits of Texas and that, ripht or
wrong the new emlgrants at least were not in
'e laul', as they had left their homes in Georgia
d. Tue Po'h' OF the bayonet. 1t would be hard if
we should punish them for the result of our perf.
uy ana violence. 1t is not true thev were incor.
PoraIeh Peaceaby with the old Settlers for a, the
"rst election IN lS4l, an attempt was made to OK
n,uue I 'nehh from all share of tho Governments
l ne proportion Of now to old settlers was os 4 Ia
d anu as 10 The former John Ross had been long
known, and had by universal consent nconir,d
Always acquire, or should aC1u rc and as ne Old
settlers we're equniIy attached to their own lead.
ers' 'he Pohcv OF the two parties being opposed
10 each other, they could not long agree, and soon
come.to open rupture.
mo one can appreciate moro highly than we,
inc talent OF Boudlnot and his great exertions for
ms 'rioe' IN the diffusion of the Cherokee Alpha
o''' anu lhc pure patriotism of the two Ridges :
out these three Chefs had violated fundamental
law OF the tribe. mad boen tried. had made 40 Dc.
tencc, were then found guilty and executed
l he Indian did not then proceed To take , f,
'orteit to the law with the ceremonious cruelty of
me White man--an individual sentenced to death
Is Is quietly nade way wl.h.) The fact tha, the old
EhiiSrants received mono, a very small portion,
Oh tho indemnity is ri ght enough, for this indem-
h'ty was paid for personal property and improve
ments in Georgia. For the land they rccelyed in
exchange the soil they live on.
-, however We may lament the sufferings Of the
Western Cherokee, we do not see how the Gov.
ernmcnt can interfere between them and the laws
OF thor land with any shadow of propricty. In
deed, we think such interference ALWAYS wrong
as II the Indian DO left to himself unmoiested and
uiilrameed, like any other man, he will be mos,
able and moSl likely to secure his own happiness
The people of tho Ens. have a very erroneous
IDEA OF the Cherokee and some OF the Western
tribes. They arc civiIised people-if good laws
a SOUND po'ty. industrious habits and due respect
TO tho female sex, who employed in household
Offices, constitute civilization. Moreover, thew
nave press and journal of their own. in their own
character and language. well conducted, and have
a National System of Education. in which, at
least. they are far in advance Of some of their
ne'shbors in the States adjoining ,hoir territory.
They are no longer content with the necessa ries
OF life, but have collected around them many of
Its luxuries. and have every claim to be treated,
so far asrinay be, independent and civilised
haton. We hope the Government will do lis du-
ty and let them alonc.--N. Y. Tribunc