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CHEROKEE PHOENIX
AND INDIANS' ADVOCATE
Wednesday May 27, 1829
Vol. II, no. 8
Page 2, col. 2a
The Indians appear to be in trouble. Yesterday we gave an account of a letter which had been addressed by the Agent among the Cherokees, warning a white man to hold his peace, and not dissuade them from emigration, or else he might incur the sentence of expulsion from the nation. To day, we have to lay before our reader s the substance of an article in the Savannah Georgian, touching the Creeks. It appears that Capt. Walker, an officer of the United States, had brought back with him from the Arkansas, a Chief of the Orange tribe, who was desired to attend a Talk in the Creek Nation, relative to the proposition of the government about the removal of the Indians to the West of the Mississippi.- One of their Headmen, Opothle Yokolo, well known as the friend of Gen. Gaines during the progress of the Georgia controversy, upon being asked whether the Osage could be admitted to the Conference, made this striking reply:
"If he comes as a friend, desirous of becoming acquainted with him and his people, he was welcome; but for the purpose of inducing the Creeks to emigrate, they wanted nothing to do with him; that a great man, Tecumsch, once came among them, and the Creeks ever since have been suspicious of strangers."
The Creek Chief had, however, another experiment made upon his feelings. Alabama has passed a law extending the jurisdiction of the State over its Indian Territory. A law to the same effect, we believe, has been recently passed by the Legislature of Georgia. With a view of testing its efficacy, a writ was served upon Opothle Yokolo and other Chiefs-but, as they laughed at the process, he was subsequently arrested; and the Sheriff, not being able to prevail upon him to give bail or take him to Montgomery, compromised with the Chief-taking his word that he would attend the Court. And here ends the first chapter. Rich. Compiler.
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The Creek Indians.- Colonel John Crowell, the late Agent in the Creek
Nation, we are authorized to say, has been directed to remove his Agency west
of the Mississippi to the country allotted to the emigrating Indians.- He is
very lately returned from Washington City, and has, we understand, a talk from
the Executive to the Creeks. The President tells them that an Agent will
no longer be retained in their present nation; that it is his wish they should
remove, and his determination to have their lands surveyed; that inasmuch as
the State of Alabama has extended her jurisdiction over them, they will be thrown
without the protection of the General Government, and that the only course to
be pursued is for them to remove. He also informs them, that such as are
disposed to remain, shall have a strip of land set apart for them, but that
they will be subject to the jurisdiction of that State in which the land may
lie; but that such as remove will have continued to them the protection of the
Government. Capt. Walker, from whom we derive this information, further
informs us, that a meeting of the Indians is to be held on the 28th of April,
for the purpose of deciding on the President's instructions. Capt. W.
thinks that they will emigrate en masse, and that they will never plant another
crop in their present country. He further states, that the extension of
jurisdiction over them has had a most salutary effect, and that previous to
the arrival of Col. Crowell 1000 had enlisted. Thus we are in a fair way
of speedily acquiring the Indian country; the acquisition of which promises
the greatest advantages to Montgomery.- Alabama Journal.
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5-27-89
Page 2 Col. 4b
CREEKS
If the statement copied from the Alabama Journal, in regard to the Creeks
is true, our readers will easily infer what course of conduct which the present
administration intends to pursue relative to Indian affairs. We hope such
a talk has not been sent by General Jackson. We pity the Creek- they afford
an example of the effects of the emigrating scheme.