Cherokee Phoenix and Indians' Advocate
Wednesday, February 10, 1830
Vol. II, no. 43
Page 2, col.4c-5b

 Extracts of a letter from a Gentleman in New Jersey to a friend in the Cherokee Nation.

 "You have no doubt seen the celebrated message of the President.- And pray what do you think of the new system of logic lately adopted at Washington!"

 "I am much surprised to find people of some discernment applauding it as containing unanswerable arguments on the Indian question.

 "They will not call to remembrance  that the Cherokees were an independent state when the first white man set his foot on this continent, and that they have never ceased to be an independent state."  "The United States have acknowledged them to be such, and treated with them as a  sovereign people."

 "When the United States formed their Constitution which says that an independent state shall not be formed within another; the Cherokee state was in existence then, as well as the State of Georgia.  Therefore the state of Georgia violates the Constitution in her attempts to form herself on the Territory of another state which is equally free and independent with herself."

 "But say they, the bounds of the state of Georgia extend over a great part of the Indian state."

 "Query.  Who gave Georgia these bounds?  The king of England had no right to it.  He never acquired a right to it: neither by occupation, nor by purchase, nor by conquest, nor by gift.  I cannot conceive of any right he could have unless he could obtain it by looking at a map.  As if the Chief of the Cherokees were to look at the map of Russia and very liberally bestow it on France."

This transcription from the Cherokee Phoenix is presented as part of the historical record, and includes historical materials that may contain negative stereotypes or language reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place including terminology that may not be deemed appropriate today. While an effort has been made to verify the transcription against the original text, complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are urged to match the transcription against the original article to authenticate exact quotes. Issues of the Cherokee Phoenix are available on microfilm. Please check your local library for availability or to inquire about interlibrary loan of a microfilm copy.

Send comments or questions to: George Frizzell
Special Collections . Hunter Library . Western Carolina University . Cullowhee, NC 28723 . 828-227-7474