Cherokee Phoenix

Cherokee Phoenix

Published May, 29, 1830

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Cherokee Phoenix

New Echota: May 29, 1830

Before the next number of our paper shall be issued, the first day of June, the day set apart by Georgia, for the extension of her assumed jurisdiction over the Cherokees, and the execution of her laws touching the Indians, will have arrived. The day is now at hand-the Cherokees have looked to it deliberately-they have anticipated its approach, but they are sill here, on the land of their fathers. So conscious are they of their rights as a people they they have thought it not best to avoid the threatened operation of civilized and republican not to at religious laws, by a precipitate flight to the western wilds. They are still here, but not to agree or consent to come under these laws. This they never will do-they have protested against the measure, and will always protest against it.

When the time comes that state laws are to be executed with rigor, as they no doubt will be, backed by the executive of the United States, and the late decision of the Senate, upon the reprobate Cherokees, we are unable to say what the effects will be. To us, the future is but darkness. One thing we know, there will be suffering. The Cherokees will be a prey to the cupidity of white men- every indignity and every oppression will be heaped upon them. They have already undergone much, when the time is merely in anticipation,-how will it be when full license is given to their oppressors?

We have heretofore related instances where this indignity and oppression have been perpetrated on individuals of this nation. Besides those we have mentioned the following may perhaps convey a proper light to the public on the conduct of civilized men towards savages: In the neighborhood of Tarrapin Creek, there lives a Creek man by the name of Hog, who, by his industrious habits, has been enabled to accumulate some property, consisting, chiefly of large stocks of horses and cattle. Living as he does near his white brothers, who are clamorous for the removal of the Indians, that they may not be harassed by savage neighbors, his best horses became the objects of much desire to some of them. By the precaution of the Hog and the constant watch he kept about his stables and lots, he was able to preserve these horses. Finding they could not steal them, we understand another expedient was resorted to lately by these members of the 'Pony Club'. Four whitemen (sic) came to this Indian's house, two of whom were armed with rifles. Finding the Hog alone with his wife, one of the men who was armed, proposed to buy his horse, and offered his gun for compensation. The Creek Indian refused to sell for such a trifle. The white man then proposed to exchange with the Indian. The offer was again rejected, the Indians' (sic) horse being greatly superior in value to the other. At this the white man observed he would have the horse, and proceeded towards the lot with a bridle. Hog's wife discovering the intention of these men followed, and in attempting to prevent them from catching the horse, was knocked down by the other armed man with a gun. She fell senseless to the ground. Hog ran into the horse lit,' by driving off the horses, ' giving the alarm, prevented these robbers from accomplishing their design. The woman lay for some time apparently dead; but finally came to herself. We understand she is better, and is likely to recover.

Comment is unnecessary. We intreat (sic) you, respected reader,-we implore you, to pause after perusing the above facts, and reflect upon the effects of civilized legislation over poor savages. The laws which are the result of this legislation, are framed expressly against us, and not a clause in our favor. We cannot be a party or a witness in any of the courts where a white man is a party. Here is the secret. Full license to our oppressors, and every avenue of justice closed against us. Yes, this is the bitter cup prepared for us by a republican and religious Government-we shall drink it to the very dregs.

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Dreadful Inundation at Vienna. In the 1st of March the Danube, which had been greatly swelled by the channel having been blocked up by the ice, and also by every day's thaw, burst over the banks, breaking down every dam, or wall that opposed its course; and in one hour all the suburbs that lie near the Danube, the chief of which are the Rosau and the Leopoldstadt, each containing 25,000 inhabitants, were in a state of total submersion. Every street was suddenly converted into a canal, where the waters were gushing and foaming, and forcing their way into the houses to the height of 7,8, or 12 feet. It stole upon the unsuspecting sufferers in the night, and advanced with such rapidity, that in many instances only one or two members of large families had time to escape, ' even those who reached a place of safety, were obliged to remain the whole night in a state of nudity, exposed to the inclemency of the air; in some houses whole families have been found drowned in their beds; in others they had climbed up chimneys to the roofs of their houses and many bodies had been found naked in the courtyards, caked in ice, and bearing the appearance of crystalized (sic) corpses.- The number of animals that have perished is enormous. In Rosau, not a little family but has lost its cow, horse, and pigs; and in the horse barracks alone, forty horses have perished. The Austrian observer of the 6th March, states, that the number of persons who have lost their lives in this catastrophe, supposed at first to be 30, was found, on the 5th inst. to be 72. No accounts had been received at Vienna from the country on the left bank of the Danube, but it was feared that many persons had perished in the floods. Private letters carry the number of persons who have perished at 400.