The Van Buren press., 1860-11-09

- 1OOOs
Gsssage Of tho Principal Chief Of
ths Cherokse Nation.
70 tie National Committee and CoasseI II
National Cous;R convened
FRrExDs Axr FELLow CrrlzExs Ny long
allowed me since my return, tor the prepa-
apology for its brevity and imperfections.
An omission to refer tn subjects Of public
interest will be supplied. If they soena to
required. by special communication during
your session, if they should not reality oc-
cur to yourselves, who have had recent
means better than my own. of knowing the
Legislative wants Of the various sections Of
the country. The failure OF the crops in
parts Of the Nstion. from the drought and
excessive heat cf the past sH1lrser is .
s6if1aUf I'M H4S tf11E D. loss sasieis-
cd. and che dsstitEtion which cyists; bct il
is hoped and believed that individual re-
sources are sufficient to keep off suffering
for the necessaries of life
In othe. respects ! am grstifel to believe
that general health and prosperity prevail
and which there is no cause that need dis
turb our peace and harmony. The Difficult
ties and excitement alleged to hold sway in
your midst have had their origin in the dis
tempered imaginations. or been greatly ex-
aggersted to our prejudice by designing en-
emies to your tranquil existence AZ dis
tinct community. Reports. are often fabri-
Gated for the purpose Of misleading the
Public abroad. as to our true condition and
for the accomplishment of ends neither
calculated. nor intended to advance our in
terests. The duty We owe to ourselves,
ought. however, to be too plain to be mis-
understood.
Our rights Of person and property are
clearly defined In our own laws. and in the
treaties we have entered into with the Uni
ted States. Those not specially surrender
cd are reserved. and the General Govern.
nent is pledged to protect US in their full
exercise and enjoyment. 1t il cause Of
deep regret that the subject of slavery has
become paramount to all other consiIsra-
tions in opposite sections Of the United
States. and is producing SO much harsh
elimination and re-crimin&tion and aliens.
tion among those bound together by the
glories of an unequalled history and the
sacred ties Of one blood and interest
Slavery has existed among the Cherokees
for many years. is recognised among them
as legal: and they have no wish or pur.
pose to disturb or agitsts it--o;hers
have no excuse to do so. come from
whatever quarter they may. 1t is not an
open question among US. but . settled oae.
Agitation in regard to it of any kind car
be productive Of good to no ono W.
should discountenance every thing of ths
sort. and not neellsssly and uuwisely dis
turb our own peace and compromise ou
, rights by assuming o partizan character il
the contest waged by political aspirants 70,
fame and preferment in the United Stalas
Our locality and institutions ally us to tn,
South, while to the North We are indebtet
for defence of our rights in the past. ane
that enlarged benevolence to which we ow,
chiefly our progress in civilization. Our po.
litical relation are with the government o
the Cnited States, and our rights are pro
| tected by the enforcement of the laws uAde
the constitution. Our duty is to stand BY
our rights-allow no interfe, ence in on. in
ternal affairs from any source. comply will
all our engagements. and rely upon Uniol
for justice and protection.
The correspondents Of the late delegation
to Washington will INFORM you Of The &C
tion they took in sndeavoring to carry ou
the object of their mission. From it yo,
will see that the Delegation asked ,hs
commissioners should be appointed to ne
gotiats . treaty that would embrace al
questions and subjects of interest to tn
Che: okee People. To this communication
no reply was received. A memorial wa
also presented to Congress, praying that tn
Government would either purchase tn
" Neutral Land, :" or strike from the Bill t
admit Kansas into the Union IS State al
that portion of its Territorial limits tha
has been by treaty secured to the Cherokee
Nation. That Bill is still pending-it viii
pass sooner or later. and. perhaps, with tn
boundary of the present Territory, couple.
with provisos as to the operation of tn,
Until the act shall be consulnmated. how
ever, it behoovcs the Cherokees to insist up
on fair and just compliance with Treat,
stipulations. The injury done to the trAc
of land by trespassels is considerable-an
we have an equitable claim on tho Govern
ment for indemnity. Previous to leavin
Washington City. addressed letter {
the Commissioners Of Indian Affairs. ear
nestly calling the attention Of tho Govern
ment to the consideration Of the lst articl
OF the treaty. concluded on the eth day {
February, 1919. stipulating " that the rex
ervations contained in ID article Of tn
treaty of Tellico. signed 18th of Octobe
1905. and tract equal to IL miles squa,
to be located by commencing at the poiE
formed by the intersection of the boundar
line Of Madison county already mentionet
and the north bank OF the Tennessee river
thence along the said line, and the said ri,
J or IL miles ceded to the United States,
trust for the Cherokee Nation. as Scho'
Fund.-" and asking that the provisions
these treaties should be carried into eject
3 and that the Government cause the Nortl
ern boundary of the Cherokee Nation inclr
ding the tract commonly called the Neutr
Land, to bs correctly surveyed and run q,
as defined by treaty stipulation. and th
the corners and lines thereof be 70 plainl
and permAn. ntly established by such lau,
marks as will stand immovable In n 4
ture time. The various othsr subjects
interest entrusted to the DeleeAti6a rsmA
unsettled, and open for farthss estsoA 4,
der moro fsvoraOle circumstsncos. Amo,
Others is to provide Ways snd rnsans d s.