Cherokee Phoenix

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

Published September, 4, 1830

Page 2 Column 1a-2b

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

NEW ECHOTA SEPT. 4, 1830

In this day's paper we present our readers some further accounts of the progress of oppression and usurpation. We had intended ourselves to relate some more facts, but all being of the same nature with those related by our correspondents, we have concluded to be silent.

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The reader will have noticed many typographical errors in Mr. Wirt's opinion published in our last--The editor was absent when it was put to press, and the printers were obliged to use, in many cases, for want of suitable letter, Roman, instead of Italics.

This week we publish a part of another opinion of Mr. Wirt, on a very interesting subject. Such a document needs no recommendation from us, it will speak for itself. We can only say, the reader will be fully paid for the trouble of perusing it.

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It would seem that the Government has entirely failed in its attempts to remove the intruders. There are now as many at the mines as there ever were before. Many of those on the line who have been burnt out declare their intention of remaining and rebuilding. We have, however, another declaration--The intruders will be kept out! [See Mr. Eaton's letter to Col. Montgomery.] And another--the President never speaks with a forked tongue. These two declarations, made in the face of the world ought certainly to make us rest contented and assured of deliverance.

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The following from an absent friend.

July 24th 1830

Mr. EDITOR.- I read with pain and deep interest the contents of the Phoenix of the 10th inst. which arrived here yesterday--especially that part of it, which contained the letter from the War Department. The President, it seems, still thinks it for our good to leave our homes and sacred lands of our forefathers, and steer westward.- There, he tells us, his arm will be sufficiently long ' powerful to afford protection to us; but here, situated as we are, it cannot But Sir, if the President has not the power to protect us where we now are, tell me, where under the sun, is he to obtain power to protect us in the West. The fact is, he has the power now to protect us, but will not; and if we should go West, how would the case be?--a thousand times worse!

He still tells us, he loves and feels for us as a father for does (sic) his children, but is it so? I am inclined to doubt it. For, 'what man is there, whom if his ask bread, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish will he give him a serpent?' We have simply asked of the President, that existing treaties might be regarded, that we might be let alone to peaceably enjoy our rights--and has he as an affectionate, tender, and merciful father hearkened to our request? Yes, he has, by pointing to the West, at the only place where we can become Christian and civilized people. But I ask, why cannot we where we are? According to the reasoning of those who wish us removed we are too far advanced in civilization, we have too much religion among us, we are too much engaged in manufacture--It will not answer, (they say) for if we pursue this course any longer, we shall, without doubt, become extinct for some of us now (because we have turned our attention to farming and manufacturing) are more than half naked, and subsist on birds, fish, and fruit, and not only that, but are growing poorer and poorer every year. If that is really the case, why do they not let us alone; why not wait with patience for the land until we become extinct? Because they know and we know, that what they have said is false.

I say, we are at home, on the land which our Creator gave to us, and here let us remain. And if it is to add honor to this Christian republican and magnanimous people, to exterminate an innocent and defenseless group of human beings, let it be done here, where lie in dust the relics of our forefathers. Let this be our language, 'But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' Yes, if we do this happy are we. What if we should lose our country-can we not say, my all is not there? Yes, I hope we can. And I hope also, we look upon this earth with all its treasures as nothing compared with that inheritance, which is incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away. Although we are troubled on every side, yet we are not distressed; we are perplexed, but not despair, persecuted, but not forsaken cast down, but not destroyed.

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For the Cherokee Phoenix.

A few day ago, the Sheriff of Gwinnett Country arrived at this place, with an old Cherokee Lady in his custody under close guard, whom he was taking to jail for debt. The Officer and his guard had another writ for one of our inhabitants. When they attempted to serve the writ, he made a retreat for some distance and then stopped.--In the meantime the Sheriff got his saddle bags from off his horse, and took from thence a pistol--he ran to get ahead of the criminal (for so it must be considered these republican days) who was then standing. The officer then came within a short distance and presented the pistol, and declared he would shoot him down if he attempted to escape. The next day they took him to jail for the enormous crime of being in debt. The old lady gave security and returned home.

This is as fair a statement of the affair as I can give, being an eye witness to a greater part of the transaction.

I should like Mr. Editor, if you or some of your readers, who are better acquainted with the laws of the State of Georgia than I am, would inform me through the medium of your paper, whether the officer of that state have the right, by law, to present a pistol or gun, and threaten to kill, in serving a civil writ, especially when there is no resistance.

RED BIRD.

We are sorry we cannot satisfactorily answer the question of our correspondent. We know not what are, and what are not the laws of Georgia, having never sworn allegiance to them. We believe in other Governments it would have been unlawful for this Sheriff of Gwinnett County to do as he has done. We should hardly think that an officer was obliged to expose his life by threatening to kill, with a pistol in his hand, in every case of civil process. Be that as it may, everything is lawful with tyranny and despotism.

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CHEROKEE NATION, 24th Aug. 1830

Mr. Boundinot, Editor of the Cherokee Phoenix

Sir- I avail myself of the opportunity informing the public, through the column of the Cherokee Phoenix, of the conduct of the Creek Agent, Col. Crowell, towards the Creek Indians and myself.

At the invitation of the Creek Chief, I attended their Council at Wetumpka on the 1st inst. On the 2d I understood Col. Crowell had arrived with a company of United States Troops. I saw a white man that had been arrested by the troops, by the Agent's order, for opposing emigration, he had been a citizen of the Nation 40 years and carried over the line into Alabama. I also saw Mr. Smith, a half breed Creek, who has also been arrested, as he told me, on a charge of opposing emigration, solely by persuasion, and placed under guard by the United States Troops, from whom, not wishing to be a prisoner, he attempted to escape by flight in which attempt the military fired on him, but fortunately missed him.

In a short time after the arrival of Col. Crowell, received the following unprecedented note.

WETUMPKA 2d. Aug. 1830.

Sir,- I learn since my arrival at this place that you are on the ground and intermeddling in the affairs of this Nation. You were told on a former occasion that such an interference would not in future be suffered under the eyes of the Government Agent. You are therefore hereby notified to leave the encampment by eight o'clock tomorrow, or it will be my painful duty to resort to coercive measures which is not desirable.

I am 'c. 'c.

JOHN CROWELL.

Agent of Id. affir.

Whether these coercive measures, were to be by United States military bullets or bayonets, or otherwise, I did not understand. The pledge, given, on the passage of the Indian Bill, that force was not contemplated, became into my revelation by what I saw and felt. It is possible that Indians are not allowed to visit each other? An Indian Agent of Government is surrounded by 'all the circumstance and pomp of War' to induce poor defenseless Indians to emigrate to unknown regions! If anyone has the courage to speak against it, he is placed in durance vile, and if he runs he is shot at by the troops of a great Republic!! Are these things agreeable to orders from Jackson's Administration? 'Hail Columbia happy land!' Yes, happy to aspiring states, unrestrained by law, and who will have the Indian lands free of cost and at the sacrifice of Indian tears. Where, compulsion is the practice of the day, by those who advocate Indian emigration. We and our people are under the screw, and one turn has already forced tears from our eye. If the Indian Bill is not repealed by next Congress, the second turn will draw from our agonized bodies, life preserving blood. But let us remain still innocent, and pray, the Lord to change the hearts of the Rulers of these United States. Perhaps we may yet be spared the exclamation. 'Who is there to weep for Logan? Not one!'

Yours Respectfully,

DAVID VANN.