New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-22
dppE1J or THE CHEROKEES.

| The story of the Cherokee Nation, freshly
recalled to memory by the appearance at WASH
ington of delegation of its principal ChieIs,
is but single painful chapter of the long rec
ord of the white mans peridy toward tho In
dian tribes. In 1886 this tribe of 10000 souls
owned the magnificent country known as
Cherokee Georgia. extending from the Ten
nessce to the Tombigbee River, and worth
then fully 900. But the Georgians from
the south and the East TennesseanS moving
westward coveted these rich possessions, and
in response to their unjust demands, and in
settlement of the war they had provoked, the
United States Government seized these lands,
gave them up TO white settlers, and with an
army, under command of Gen. Winfield Scott
forcibly removed tie tribe many Of them in
chains. beyond the Mississippi to tract of
land worth, at the Governments own
valuation of II cents an acre, less than
-, 100000. But with rare generosity, the
Government. by treaty, on Dec. 81, 1888,
issued q patent for this tract, deciding IT, to-
"gether with all the rights, privileges, and
appurtcnances thereto belonging, to the said
:" Cherokee Nation forever" That tract has
been known for many years as tho lndlan
Territory.
This Cherokee Nation-the most civilized of
all the Indian tribes Of Amclica--has increased
and grown strong on this lard; 1t has titled
it with care and made it highly productive; 1t
has supplied it with workshops, school-houscs
churches, and court-houscs, and it Is become
wealthy district At least, it is rich enough to
excite the cOvetOus and it seems that the
benignant Government of the United States Is
the first to break the divine rule. Twice al
ready it has violated its own treaty, and
without asking leave, without rendering pay,
it. has on two occasions removed other tribes
TO the lands Of the Cherokees in order that
lbs railroads may find routes. There is now a
demand for railroad directly through the
Cherokee Nation, and preliminary TO its con-
struction, it is proposed To remove the tribe
to barren pastures still further west. or take
possession of their lands along the route, OF
course without their consent and without
Offering to pay, as in times past. Nothing could
be worse than such proposition, and we can
not believe that Congress will seriously con-
template it. But the difficulty is that Congress
does not study the matter ut all, and may
commit this injustice through sheer ignorance
and Incidence. The delegation now protesting
against such action is met on all sides by the
reply which has daInptned the hopes OF thou-
sands of homes. petitioners-"l know nothing
"of all this; it was before came to Congress-
1t is a phrase with which Congressman con-
,tantly stultify themselves, and show their un-
fitness 10 be IN their places. The claims of this
people should not be thus ignored. We have
no more right to violate this treaty than to re-
pndiate the National debt the ignominy OF re-
pudiation would not be greater than that of
such violation. These people do not object 10
the building of q railroad through their country
they have authorized two lines, and are anxious
to secure the ciyilizing influence Of such routes
of travel and traffic but not at the sacrifice of
all their rights and property. These rights we
are bound to respect; and it will be shame if
the just as well rs humane Indian policy of the
Executive is violated by such an act of gross
injustice on the part of the Legislative power
as the seizure of their lands or the removal of
the Cherokees from their present possessions.