Cherokee Phoenix

CHEROKEE LAWS

Published April, 3, 1828

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CHEROKEE LAWS.

(Continued)

Resolved by the National Committee and Council, That the Cherokee Nation be organized ' laid off into districts, and to be bounded as follows:--

1st. The First District shall be called by the name of CHICKAMAUGEE, and be bounded as follows; beginning at the mouth of Aumuchee creek, on Oostennallah river, thence north in a straight course to a spring branch between The Island and Raccoon Village; thence a straight course over the Lookout Mountain, where the heads of Will's and Lookout creeks oppose against each other on the Blue Ridge, thence a straight course to the main source of Raccoon creek and down the same into the Tennessee river and up said river to the mouth of Ooletewah creek, and up said creek to take the most south eastern fork, thence a southern course to the mouth of Sugar creek, into the Cannasawgee river, and down the said river to its confluence with Oostennallah river, and down the same to the place of beginning.

2d. The SECOND DISTRICT shall be called by the name of CHATTOOGEE, and be bounded as follows; beginning at the mouth of Raccoon creek, in the Tennessee river, and down the said river to the boundary line, commonly called Coffee's line, and along said line where it strikes Will's creek, and down the said creek to its confluence with the Coosa river, and thence embracing the boundary line between the Cherokees ' Creeks, run by Wm. M'Intosh and Cherokee Commissioners appointed by their respective Nations, running south eastwardly to its intersection with Chinibee's Trace, and along said trace leading eastwardly by Avery Vann's place, including his plantation, and thence on said trace to where it crosses the Etowah river at the old ford above the fork, and down said river to its confluence with Oostannallah river, and up said river to the mouth of Aumuchee creek, and to be bounded by the First District.

3d. The THIRD DISTRICT, shall be called by the name of COOSAWATEE, and bounded as follows; beginning at the widow Fool's Ferry on the Oostannallah river, where the Alabama road crosses it, along said wagon road eastwardly; leading towards Etowah town to a large creek above Thomas Pettit's plantation, near to the Sixes, and up said creek, north eastward, to its source; thence a straight course to the head of Talloney creek, up which the Federal road leads, thence a straight course to the head source of Potatoe Mine creek ; thence a straight course to the head of Clapboard creek ; thence a straight course to the most southern head source of Cannasawgee river ; thence a northwestern course to Cannasawgee river and to strike opposite to the mouth of Sugar creek into the Cannasawgee river, and to be bounded by the first and second Districts.

4th The FOURTH DISTRICT, shall be called by the name of AMOAH, and be bounded as follows; beginning at the head source of Cannasawgaee river where the third District strikes the said source; thence eastwardly a straight course to Spring Town above Hiwassee Old Town; thence to the boundary line run by Colonel Houston, where it crosses Sloan creek ; thence westwardly along said line to the Hiwassee river thence down said river into the Tennessee river, and down the same to the mouth of Oolatewah creek, and to be bounded by the first and third Districts.

5th. The FIFTH DISTRICT shall be called by the name of HICKORY LOG, and shall be bounded as follows; beginning at the head of Potatoe Mine creek, on the Blue Ridge, thence to where Cheewostoye path crosses said ridge, and along said path to the head branch of Frog Town creek, and down the same to its confluence with Tahsantee; thence down the same to the Shallow wagon ford on said river above the standing Peach Tree; thence westward along said wagon road leading to ____________ Town, where it crosses Little river a fork of the Etowah river and down the same to its confluence with Etowah river, and down the same in a direct course to a large creek, and up said creek to where the road crosses it to the opposite side, and to be bounded by the third district.

6th. The SIXTH DISTRICT shall be called by the name of ETOWAH, and be bounded as follows; beginning on the Chattahooche river at the shallow wagon ford on said river, and down the same to the Buzzard Roost where the Creek and Cherokee boundary line intersects the said river; thence along said boundary westwardly, to where it intersects Chinibee's trace, and to be bounded by the fifth and third districts, leaving Thomas Pettit's family in Etowah district.

7th. The SEVENTH DISTRICT shall be called by the name of TAUQUOHEE and be bounded as follows; beginning where Col. Houstons' boundary line crosses Slare's creek, thence along said boundary line south eastwardly to the Unicoy turnpike road, and along said road to where it crosses the Hiwassee river, in the Valley Towns; thence a straight course to the head source of Coosa creek, on the Blue Ridge above Cheewostoyeh, and along said Ridge eastwardly, where the Unicoy turnpike road crosses it; and thence a direct course to the head source of Percimmon creek ; thence down the same to the confluence of Tahsantee and the Frog Town creek ; and to be bounded by the third, fourth and fifth districts.

8th. The EIGHTH DISTRICT shall be called by the name of AQUOHEE, and be bounded as follows; beginning where the seventh district intersects the Blue Ridge, where the Unicoy turnpike road crosses the same; thence eastwardly along said Ridge to the Standing Man, to Col. Houston's boundary line, thence along said line to the confluence of Nnateyalee, and Little Tennesse [sic] river ; thence down the same to Tallassee village, thence along said boundary line westwardly, to where it intersects the Unicoy turnpike road; and to be bounded by the seventh district; and that each district shall hold their respective councils or courts, on the following days, viz;

The first Mondays in May and September, for Chickamaugee district; and on the

Second Mondays in May and September, for Chattoogee district; ' on the

First Mondays in May and September for Coosewattee district; and on the

Second Mondays in May and September, for Amoah district; and on the

First Mondays in May and September for Hickory Log district; and on the

Second Mondays in May and September, for Etowah district; and on the

First Mondays in May and September for Aquohee district; and on the Second Mondays in May and September for Taquohee district; and each of the councils or courts shall sit five days for the transaction of business at each term.

By order of the council and committee,

CH. R. HICKS.

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New Town, Oct. 27, 1821

Resolved by the National Committee and Council. That any person or persons, whatsoever, who shall choose to emigrate to the Arkansas country, and shall sell the improvements he or they may be in possession of, to any person or persons whatsoever, he or they, so disposing of their improvements, shall forfeit and pay unto the Cherokee nation the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars; and be it further resolved, that any person or persons whatsoever, who shall purchase any improvement from person or persons so emigrating, he or they so offending shall also forfeit and pay a fine of one hundred and fifty dollars to the nation, to be collected by the marshal of the district.

By order.

JNO. ROSS, Pres't N. Com.

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CHARLES HICKS.

A. M'COY, Clerk.

New Town Oct. 27, 1821.

Resolved by the National Committee and Council, That it shall be the duty of the district and circuit judges, to inquire particularly into the circumstances of all stray horses that may be taker up in their respective districts; ' all horses which shall evidently appear to have been stolen away from citizens of the United S. by citizens of this action shall be surrendered up to the United States' Agent for this nation, agreeably to the treaty existing between the United States and this nation.

By order of the National Committee,

JNO. ROSS, Pres't N. Com.

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CHARLES HICKS.

A. M'Coy, Clerk.

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New Town, Oct. 27, 1821

Resolved by the national committee and council, That is any person or persons whatsoever, shall resist and kill any of the marshals or light-horsemen in their official duties, it shall be the duty of the marshals to lead the light-horse to apprehend, or kill the person or persons so transgressing.

By order of the N. Committee,

JNO. ROSS. Pres't N. Com.

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CHARLES HICKS.

A. M'COY, Clerk.

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New Town, October 27, 1821.

Resolved by the National Committee and Council, That any person or persons who have been citizens of this nation and now have reservations and living on the same, or under the laws of the United States, and has a public ferry croossing [sic] opposite his or their reservations, such person or persons shall not be permitted to keep a white ferryman on the lands belonging to the Nation, neither shall he be permitted to tend any land thereon, for the use of his ferryman; but nothing shall be so construed in the above resolution, as to affect the rights and privileges of such citizens as may have moved off the ceded lands and now living in the Nation.

By order of the National Committee,

JNO. ROSS, Pres't N. Commmittee [sic].

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CHARLES HICKS.

A. M'COY, Sec'y to the Council.

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New Town, November 8, 1821

Resolved by the National Committee, That all prommissory [sic] notes, payable after date, shall be entitled to bear on interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, after the date, payable until such notes are paid; this resolution to take effect and be in force from and after this date.

By order of the National Com.

JNO ROSS, Pres't N. Com.

EHNAUTAUNAUEH

Speaker of Council

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CHARLES R. HICKS.

A. M'COY, Clerk N. Committee.

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New Town, November 2, 1821

Resolved by the National Committee and Council, That the circuit judges be allowed fifty-five dollars, and the district judges twenty-five dollars each per annum for their services.

By order of the N. Committee,

JNO. ROSS, Pres't Nat. Com.

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A.M'COY, Clerk N. Com.

ELIJAH HICKS, Clerk of N. Council.

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New Town, November 2, 1822

Resolved by the National Committee and Council. That the salary of the circuit judges be, and the same is hereby raised from fifty-five dollars to eighty dollars per annum, commencing from the date hereof.

By order of the National Committee.

JNO. ROSS, Pres't N. Com.

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A. M'COY, Clerk N. Com.

ELIJAH HICKS, Clerk N. Council,

New Town, C. N. Oct. 23, 1822.

IN COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL.

WHEREAS, it appears in the prints of the public newspapers, that

in consequence of the earnest solicitations of the Governor and legislature of the State of Georgia, the Congress of the United States did appropriate a sum of money last session, with a view of holding a treaty with the Cherokees for the purpose of extinguishing their title to lands within the chartered limits, claimed by the State of Georgia, and it also appearing in the public prints that the President of the United States has appointed Commissioners in conformity to the views of said appropriation, and anticipating a call by the commissioners; the head chiefs of the Cherokee nation requested the judges to ascertain the sentiments and disposition of the citizens of their respective districts on the subject, and to report the same to them, which reports having been accordingly made and now laid before the national committee and council, declaring, unanimously,

with one voice and determination, to hold no treaties with any commissioners of the United States to make any cession of lands being resolved not to dispose of even one foot of ground:

BE IT THEREFORE KNOWN AND REMEMBERED, That we the undersigned members of the national committee and council, after maturely deliberating on the subject,

Resolved, That the chiefs of the Cherokee nation, will not meet any commissioners of the United States to hold a treaty with them on the subject of making cession of lands, the property of the Cherokee nation, as we are determined hereafter never to make any cession of lands, having not more than sufficient for our nation and posterity. But on any other business not relating to making a treaty of cession, we will, at all times during the cession of the national council, at New Town, receive the United States' commissioners or agents, and with friendship and cordiality, and will ever keep bright the chain of peace and friendship which links the Cherokee nation, and the government of the United States.

By order of the National Committee,

JNO. ROSS, Pres't N. Committee.

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CHARLES HICKS.

A. M'COY, Clerk.

The above is signed by upwards of fifty-four members of both branches of the legislative council and committee.