Cherokee Phoenix

PONEY CLUB

Published March, 26, 1831

Page 3 Column 1c

PONEY CLUB

This is the name given to an association of thieves scattered along the frontier in Carroll and other new counties in Georgia. It is this club which Brooks, Commanding the Georgia Guard, said in a circular he would root out of the nation, and not permit to live within the limits of the Cherokee territory. This promise was very good, but like all other promises of the white man lately, it meant exactly the reverse of what it was supposed to mean. The club, instead of being expelled, has been introduced by authority. Some of the leaders and the most abandoned members, and a few who were accessary in the murder of Chuwoyee are authorized to settle in this nation, and are permitted by Georgia to occupy some of the improvements abandoned by emigrants. We understand all the Philpots and others of their connections are thus snugly brought into the nation. It is certainly mortifying to see such people receiving encouragement and protection from laws, when at the same time men of undoubted virtue -- men fit for any Society in the civilized world are dragged about as felons. In what a humiliating position are placed the honor and virtue of a state when such things are permitted.

This 'poney club' has been a great pest to those Cherokees living near the frontier. They have stolen property to large amount from them, we presume not less than five hundred head of cattle and horses. It is said there are not very few left for them to steal. But when they have nothing to steal, they easily find other methods to harass the Cherokees. The following is but an instance among many.

A few days since two of these white men came to a Cherokee house, for the purpose, they pretended, of buying some provisions. There was no person about the house but the woman of whom they inquired for some corn, beans, etc. The woman told them she had nothing to sell. They then went off in the direction of the field belonging to this Cherokee family. They had not been gone but a few minutes when the woman of the house saw a heavy smoke rising from that direction. She immediately hastened to the place and found the villains had set the woods on fire but a few rods from the fence, when she found already in a full blaze. There being a very heavy wind that day the fire spread so fast, that her efforts to extinguish it proved utterly useless. The entire fence was therefore consumed in a short time. It is said that during her efforts to save the fence the men who had done the mischief were within sight, and were laughing heartily at her! To permit all this we are told is honorable.