The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-11-11
From III" Mi: GU Republican.
The Cherokee Misunderstanding. Of the Council
Mcssa4e of the President.


John Ross. President OF the Cherokee Nation,
sent TO the National Council. on the I'd Octo-
Der. his annual message. lie refers, in the
opening paragraph. To the nccessit, Of seeking
the guidance of that Bcin" who holds the des-
TIMES OF nations and of individuals under his
supreme control and then directs attention TO
the fact that during the past season. rain in ma
ny portions of the country has been withheld,
the crops have been cut short and it is serious
ly unprecedented that among portions of the
people there VIII be great dcstitution. and it
may become necessary to devise some means for
their relief He congratulatcs them, howe.
yer. that in scmc locations the crops have been
very abundant. afording the hope that sup
plies for the relief Of the destitute may be found
within their own borders.
Inc message then pays proper tribute TO
the memory of Thomas Foreman and Walter
Adair, two distinguished Cherokecs, who have
departed this life within the past year, and
sketches their public services. At the time Of
their death. they were professors Of the Christ
ian religion.
The condition ofthe National Finances is ad-
verified to, and they are represented as being in
il depressed state.
The public schools are in very prosperous
condition. aud their value is every becoming
more and more duly appreciated. The Super
lntcndent reports the attendance much larger
than during the preceding year, and that in
most of the schools there is a laudablc ambition
to make such advances as will secure their adj
mission into the seminarics. Much Of the mes
sage is devoted to this subject, and this obser-
walton will meet with general assent.
''on these institutions rest the future hone
OF the nation. Intelligence, industry, and
sound moral principle. are the great elements
OF prosperity and stability in nations and indi-
Niduals and it is by carrying out with yipor
our educational SYSTEM and cultivating these
estimahle qualities in our youth that they can
he lifted to stanG on equal footing with tho
members ofother enlightened communities, and
that our poop can be prepared to share in tho
advantages of the great improvements OF the
age
he message closes with those para graphs in
reference to the course of TIE United States to-
wards the Chcrokecs and other Indian tribes:
IN my last annual message. reference was
maze 10 the danger Of rncroacllmeut being
made upon our rights by the legislation of Con-
SrcsS. on the subject of organizing the Terrific
ry OF Nebraska. The protest entered bv the
National Council against any such cncroach-
lncnt, was forwarded in due time. The letter
OF the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. herewith
transmitted. acknowledges its reccption. nv
an act OF last Congress, the territories of Ne
braska and Kansas were organized, and the
boundaries OF the latter made to include that
portion OF our territory called the .ncntral
land"
There arc, moreover, indications of further lc.
CESSATION 10 embrace the whole country and
.nat OF our nelghbors, the Choctaws and Creeks
wltnih organized territories of the United
states, on principles which must produce es-
sen,lal changes in the relations of the
several tribes and effect their condition and in.
tcrcsts through all future time This irregu-
rarity and insecurity OF efccting changes of
such vast Importance by legislation, demands
inc utmost care and vigilance to guard our
rights ana interests from being compromised or
impaired, by giving assent to any such change
ofrclatons as may be detrimental to the pre.
sent welfare OF our people, or which may cx.
pose Them to the hazard Of injurious cOnse.
qucnccs hereafter