Cherokee Phoenix

Within a few weeks we have seen a sort of a public notice given in some of the Georgia papers, that

Published April, 15, 1829

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Within a few weeks we have seen a sort of a public notice given in some of the Georgia papers, that the government of that state were expected to take measures to get in their possession a large tract of the Cherokee Lands, held by them up to the present time, on the plea of their having belonged to the Creeks, who have emigrated. We give the following brief view of the subject; partly for the purpose of showing how differently a case of the kind may appear, when both parties interested are allowed a hearing, and partly for the purpose of giving the public an opportunity to form a correct opinion in relation to this particular attempt to deprive a feeble, defenceless (sic), and much injured people, of some more of those possessions which, it would seem, it is the determination of our countrymen, they shall never hold in peace.

Georgia now claims all lands south of a line drawn from Suwanna Old Town to Six's on the High Tower, and down that river to the chartered line of Georgia and Alabama, under pretence that it was once the boundary between the Cherokees and Creeks, and that the new boundary has never been acknowledged by the United States.

On their part, the Cherokees allege, as appears in their 'Phoenix' that the line claimed by Georgia was never agreed upon or acknowledged by the two nations of Indians. The Creeks at one time claimed to that line, but the Cherokees also claimed to a line far south of it; and the only boundary ever agreed upon between them was fixed, in a spirit of compromise, half way between the two claims. This line, which extends from the Buzzard Roost to the mouth of Will's Creek, has always since been regarded as the frontier, and has been so regarded by the United States government. It is explicitly acknowledged, and in terms which admit of not mistake or doubt, in the second article of the late treaty of Washington. The surveyor of the United States, Mr. Wright, was also instructed to follow that line in his surveys.

But as the editor of the Phoenix remarks, even supposing that land was owned by the Creeks, Georgia has no claim to it; for the late treaty, which nullifies the Treaty of the Indian Springs, does not yield it to that state. One of the Georgia papers states that a deputation has been sent to Washington, by the Cherokees, to oppose the claim. The Phoenix says, the deputation were gone before the claim was preferred. Now when, with facts like these before us, we hear of white men already beginning to encroach upon those lands, and to endeavor to drive off the inhabitants, we cannot but desire to see a humane interference for the protection of the right but defenceless side. ---N. Y. Adv.