Cherokee Phoenix

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

Published June, 26, 1830

Page 2 Column 4a-Page 3 Column 2a

CHEROKEE PHOENIX.

NEW ECHOTA, JUNE 26, 1830

We have received a short Cherokee communication written by order of a town meeting in Coosewaytee, expressing the feelings entertained by the people of that place in regard to the present state of affairs. They tell us they are still united and firm in their purpose to continue on the land of their fathers. It may be a matter of interest to our friends and foes to know the state of feeling in other parts of the nation, and whether there has been any discernable change in that feeling since the passage of the Indian Bill. We cannot as yet speak definitely. We apprehend, however, that the Cherokees will continue to be pretty stubborn. Those with whom we have conversed and from whom we have heard are determined to stay and see whether there is not a remedy in the judiciary of the United States. When that is ascertained, it will be time enough, they say, to come to some other determination. Those therefore who think that the decision of Congress need only be made known to the Cherokees and they will go, are under a great mistake. We speak of the great body of the nation.

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His Excellency, George R. Gilmer, Governor of Georgia, has lately issued two proclamations. The first relates to the act extending the jurisdiction of the State over the Cherokee country. As it has a particular relation to our readers, we shall publish it.

A PROCLAMATION.

GEORGIA--By His Excellency GEO. R. GILMER, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of this State, and of the Militia thereof.

Whereas the General Assembly of the State of Georgia did, on the 19th December, 1829, pass the following act to wit:

[Here the Governor recites the act.]

And whereas by the above recited act, all the laws of this State, both civil and criminal became extended over the territory described in said act, and in full operation upon all persons residing therein, on the first day of the present month--And whereas by the said act, all the laws, ordinances, orders and regulations which have been hitherto passed by said tribe of Indians or the Chief Men thereof, are rendered null and void, and all persons attempting to enforce the same, subjected to punishment therefor.

And whereas by the said act, it is also made highly penal to prevent or attempt to prevent any Indian residing within said territory from emigrating therefrom, or to use the means therein described to prevent a cession of said territory for the use of this State--And whereas said Cherokee Indians have for sometime past been attempting to establish a government independent of the authority of this State, and have since the passage of said recited act, violated the rights of the citizens of this State under highly aggravating circumstances, under pretence of executing the legal orders of the principal Chiefs of said tribe.

And whereas the rulers and head men of said tribe have continued since the passage of said act, to excite the Indians under their influence against submission to the operation of the laws of this State, and have attempted to prevent the enforcement of the same by appealing to the Congress of the United States to interpose the powers of the Union to protect them therefrom; and having by various other acts evinced a spirit of determined hostility against the government of this State--Now therefore, that the sovereign authority of this State over all the persons within its limits may be duly acknowledged and respected ' the rights of its citizens preserved, and that the Indian people occupying its territory under the protection of its laws, may be relieved from the oppression to which they have been hitherto subjected by the laws and customs of their tribe, or the arbitrary power of their Chiefs, I have thought proper to issue this my Proclamation, giving notice to all persons, that said recited act is now in force, and all Indians and others residing within said territory or elswhere (sic), are warned not to violate its enactments; and every officer, civil and military is hereby required, and every patriotic citizen of the State urged to aid in the enforcement thereof, and especially in causing the penalties for its violation to be certainly inflicted upon each and every Chief, Headman or other Cherokee Indian, or any other person residing in said territory who shall exercise or attempt to exercise any authority, under pretence or by virtue of any Cherokee law, ordinance; order, or regulation whatsoever, or who shall by virtue of any such pretended authority prevent, attempt to prevent any Indian from emigrating from said territory, or enrolling himself for that purpose, or who shall in like manner punish, molest, either the person or property, or abridge the rights or privileges on account of his or her enrolling as an emigrant or intending to emigrant or who shall be virtue of any such pretended authority, or by any arbitrary power prevent or offer to prevent or deter any Indian, Head-man, Chief or, Warrior residing within said territory from selling or ceding to the United States for the use of Georgia the whole or any part of said territory or prevent such persons so residing from meeting in council or treaty any commissioners or commissioners of the United States, for any purpose whatever, or who shall by virtue of any such pretended authority or by any arbitrary force put to death any Indian for enrolling as an emigrant or attempting to emigrate, ceding or attempting to cede, the whole or any part of said territory, or meeting or attempting to meet in council for the purpose.

Given under my hand, and the Great Seal of the State, at the State-house in Milledgeville, this third day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and of American Independence the fifty-fourth.

GEORGE R. GILMER.

By the Governor:

EVERARD HAMILTON, Sec'ry of State.

The 'Cherokee Indians,' says the governor, 'have for some time past been attempting to establish a Government independent of the authority of this State.' This is the common saying. Have they not always been independent? Were they not so before Georgia came into being? Has she not treated with them as such? The phrase implies that the Cherokee have not been independent of the authority of the State, but now they are attempting to be. If this is true, what is the use of extending, for the first time, the act in question? Does not the very act of subjecting them to her jurisdiction imply that they are independent of that jurisdiction? Besides, if the Cherokees are merely a part of the population of Geo. Their attempt must be considered in the light of treason. Is it necessary, therefore, in such a case, that you first subject them to your jurisdiction by a special act, before you can punish them? Why not enforce your old laws?

Who of you Cherokee people did think that you were to be relieved from oppression, by the laws of Georgia? It is even so, for the Governor says so. You are to be stript (sic) of those oppressive laws and native regulations, which allow you all your rights as freemen, your sacred rights of oath and elective franchise, and be introduced into Christian laws, placed before you in a language you cannot understand, and which withhold from you the last particle of right! Indeed you have reason to rejoice, for the day of your emancipation is at hand!

As it is punishable for a chief to exercise authority in the nation, or for any man to attempt to prevent emigration 'c. we apprehand (sic) many will subject themselves to the penalties of the act. The Cherokees reason thus: We have always from time immemorial had a government of Chiefs of our own choosing-the right of those chiefs to assemble in council, to deliberate on the concerns of the nation, has been acknowledged by the United States and the State of Georgia-the right to meet in council to sell the land is acknowledged by Georgia in the very act which now threatens punishment. - We have never, say they, consented to come under any other government, and we acknowledge no right in a State to extend its laws over us-we will therefore, continue in our own regulations, until power shall demolish them. We believe these to be the prevailing sentiments of the nation. We do not wish to resist by force-no, they have no such idea. We request all the good people of Georgia to bear this in mind- that would be rashness-if they had the power they would. But we will resist you with our principles-we will evince to you our love of liberty by suffering freely-we will show you our attachment to our institutions by going to your Penitentiary.

The other proclamation relates to the gold mines. What now becomes of the old plea that force is not meditated? If Georgia can drive the Cherokees from their gold mines, she may with equal propriety drive them from their other possessions. Well, as we have no more a father to protect us, we can but look on and watch the progress of injustice and high-handed oppression.


Cherokee Phoenix

vol. 3, no. 10

Saturday, June 26, 1830

page 3, col. 1A

A PROCLAMATION,

GEORGIA---By His Excellency GEO. R. GILMER, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of this State and of the Militia thereof.

Whereas it has been discovered that the lands in the territory now occupied by the Cherokee Indians within the limits of this, abound with valuable minerals, and especially gold-- And whereas the State of Georgia has the fee simple title to said lands, and the entire and exclusive property in the gold and silver therein: And whereas numerous persons, citizens of this and other States, together with the Indian occupants of said territory, taking advantage of the law of this State, by which its jurisdiction over said territory was not assumed until the first day of June last past, have been engaged in digging for gold in said land, and taking therefrom great amounts in value, thereby appropriating riches to themselves when of right equally belonged to every other citizen of the State, and in violation of the rights of the State, ' to the injury of its public resources--And whereas the absence of legal restraint and the nature of their pursuit, have caused a state of society to exist among said persons, too disorderly to be permitted to continue--And whereas the by the act of the last Legislature to add the territory within the occupancy of the Cherokee Indians, included in the limits of this State, to the counties of Carroll, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Hall and Habersham, and to render void and disannul all Cherokee laws, the jurisdiction of this State is now extended over said territory, and all persons therein made subject thereto:--Now for the purpose of removing all persons from the lands of this State in the territory aforesaid, except such as are permitted by the laws or assent of this State to occupy the same; to secure to the State its property n the minerals therein, and to put an end to the lawless state of society which has hitherto existed among the gold diggers in said territory, I have thought proper to issue this my Proclamation, notifying all persons whom it may concern, that the jurisdiction of this territory in the occupancy of the Cherokees, included within the limits of this State, and which was by an act passed by the last Legislature of this State, made a part of the counties of Carroll, Dekalb, Gwinnett, Hall or Habersham, and that all persons residing therein, are subject to the said jurisdiction; and to warn all persons whether citizens of this or other States, or Indian occupants, from all further trespass upon the property of this State, and especially from taking any gold or silver from the lands included within the territory occupied by the Cherokee Indians, and so as aforesaid added to the counties aforesaid, and to direct all persons to quit possession of said lands and depart from said territory without delay, except such as by law of the assent of the State are permitted to occupy the same, and to require all officers of the State within the counties aforesaid to be vigilant in enforcing the laws for the protection of public property, and especially to prevent any further trespass upon the lands of the State, or the taking any gold or silver therefrom.

Giver under my hand; and the Great Seal of the State-House in Milledgeville, this third day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, and of American Independence the fifty-fourth.

GEORGE R. GILMER.

By the Governor:

Everard Hamilton, Sec'ry of State.

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A young Cherokee of our acquaintance has for sometime been employed to teaching a school in one of the adjoining states, now in part represented in Congress by a gentleman who has, during the late session distinguished himself introducing our character and improvement as a people, and by portraying in lively colors our ignorance and wretchedness. It does seem therefore a novel thing that a Cherokee should be instructing the children of some of his constituents. This young friend of ours writes to us:

'My school will be out about the 15th day of September next,, and I will have about ___dollars for my year's wages. If I should undertake for another year, I shall get___ dollars. In one neighborhood in this county, the people have offered me ___dollars. If better offers are not thrown in my way, I shall accept of that. The people are backward about education here, and that is the reason I come such poor speed in getting subscribers for the Phoenix.'

It may be proper to observe, that the writer of the above was educated in the nation, and at one of the missionary stations.

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A few days ago the United States' troops stationed near the gold mines arrested nine citizens of Georgia who had come over to dig after they had been once removed. They were taken to Savannah, to be prosecuted according to the Intercourse Law of the United States. We are very glad to perceive that the national executive intend to give us some protection. The energy exhibited by the commanding officer in this instance is highly commendable, and cannot fail to gain the approbation of all honest and well meaning persons.