Cherokee Phoenix

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

Published March, 3, 1832

Page 2 Column 4b

CHEROKEE PHOENIX.

NEW ECHOTA, MARCH 3, 1832

'One of the Cherokee people,' is received and will appear in our next.

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We have not received papers from Washington for the last two weeks; what can be the reason?

One family of Arkansas emigrants passed through this place last Thursday, on their way to the Agency. The place of embarkation.

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THERE ARE TRAITORS ABOUT!!

We perhaps shall be thought by our citizens to have stated things not exactly correct, when we say there are men in the country, who have lately turned their hands against their country's welfare but it is nevertheless so. A few days since, a house of a Cherokee was entered by another Cherokee who was at the head of a Co. of the Ga. Guard, ' the family ordered out of the house. The individual above allured to, is well known to the people of the country, either personally, or by name. The circumstances of the case are as follows:- The house and farm had been sold by the individual above mentioned, to an Arkansas emigrant; and according to a law of Georgia, it was rented, all this without the knowledge and consent of the man thus dispossessed, but this made no difference; the emigrants it appears have more privileges granted them than any other class of people, perhaps in the world;-they have a right to give in places belonging to their neighbors; or if they should purchase an improvement from a person who has no right of conveyance, it makes not the least difference, the contract becomes binding on the third person, the rightful owner; if the man in possession refuses to give up, he is immediately ordered out by the Georgia Guard. This was the case with regard to the man who has been lately dispossessed. By what right the conveyor claimed the privilege of conveying the improvement to an Arkansas emigrant, or to any other person, and use forcible means to effect his purpose, we are not able to say; and we question very much whether he can give satisfactory reasons on this point. The place had formerly been occupied by an old Spaniard, who had been residing in the Nation under a yearly permit, from the Council of the Nation, for some eighteen or twenty years; upon conditions, he should have no right to sell or convey an improvement he would make, in any manner whatever; but after his leaving it, it should be considered in the like manner as the vacant lands are the common property of the Nation. The place was taken possession of by the individual who has been thus dispossessed--he had been in peaceable possession for about one year.

A similar game we believe, is threatened to be played on one of our near neighbors whose houses and farms, we understand have been returned to the agent of the State of Georgia as belonging to a white man, resident in the Nation;-it is not, however, at all surprising that this white man should make such an attempt, as he has entertained great enmity towards our neighbor for six or seven years back. We hope he will be defeated in this attempt, as he has been in all others heretofore made by him, to satiate his vengeance on the person and property of the individual. We have made these statements in order that our citizens may be better prepared to meet the like treatment as it is becoming to be quite a common game, played by emigrants and others who would willingly gain riches on the ruins of our country.

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THE CHEROKEE AND THE IRISHMAN.

An Irishman not less singular for the short manner of his argument of which they are so proverbial, than for the lively recollections, and sceneries of his native country, became employed to a Cherokee, not a whit inferior for his jocular wit, then the eccentricity of his hireling, engaged, after the usual acquaintance, in the following conversation-

Cherokee. I perceive from the peculiarity of your speech that you are not a native of America?

Irish. I am but lately arrived in America, and I am from Ireland Sir; where we have air without fog; fire without smoke; water without mud; ay, innumerable fine things.

Cherokee. It may be surprising that an Irishman would leave so splendid a country, thus described for the dangers and uncertainties of a wilderness life, which would induce me to say that you runaway from Ireland.

Irish. Your suspicion can be quieted, for by J_____'s I only sailed away.

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WIT AND SENTIMENT ORIGINAL.

The modesty of the Cherokee females might be distinguished as an inherent property, however devoid it may be, in numerous instances of scholastic accomplishments, it exhibits the predominant characteristic of the Cherokee ladies. Commanding as this principle is, (for such it must be claimed) of propriety, it does not deprive them of that sentiment which their volition have always in readiness on their tongues end. The following occurrences may serve to illustrate. Not long since a Cherokee lad was on a visit to a brother who had as the Indians say, exceeded his own folly' by driving his wife from home, but had just returned before his sister arrived. He Milton like had yet a spark of struggling for existence like the dying conqueror, when his modest wife appeared, looked up at him with the fire of love, kindled the spark, that consumed the discordant elements forever, and all peace reigned. But his sister on her arrival was gratified to find her brother still married, and observed to him that his judgement and fancy were inseparable; you have married again ' one resembling in every particular your first, therefore you make a virtue of fancy. He replied that great nations go to war, fall, rob, and burn, then find their senses prepared to make peace; but the means which my wife employs is her modesty. It is my conqueror.

Again: As Miss M---- was combing her hair that hung down low, and was black as the raven of cherith (sic) held by a hand, I had almost said just from Eden, which could not escape the sight of mortal man Mr. T. entered the room- Miss M. you are combing up? No sir, the white ladies comb upwards, we Indians downwards.

One more will suffice. As I conversed with Capt. B. of the U. S. Army, on Cherokee politics, we did come to the conclusion that the Indians were sufferers by the present policy of the U. S. But another gentleman was present who very politely adverted to the west as the only place of Indian happiness. The buffalo, bear, and deer, constituted the trade of the Indian and would afford an occupation congenial to him. The lady of the house happily was not absent, and her modesty in the meantime was fully sustained, still the Cherokee ladies are the greatest wits in the world,why sir, Queen Elizabeth is nothing in this comparison. Mrs. T. made a hit and as we thought, said a great deal in a few words. We have said she, comfortable houses, cattle, horses, hogs, 'c, our healthy children finely learning if we look to the west, we leap in the dark.

TWO.