Cherokee Phoenix

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

Published December, 17, 1831

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CHEROKEE PHOENIX.

NEW ECHOTA, DEC. 17, 1831

In giving an account a few weeks since in our paper of the treatment of a certain Cherokee in Pine-log, we took occasion to say that we made no reflection on the conduct of the enrolling agents, who are now travelling through a Country for the purpose of persuading the Cherokees to emigrate to the west of the Mississippi.--We stated further, that we believed them to be honorable men, and that their desire was to do what was right, and to satisfy their consciences. We do not wish to recall what we have said. But it is our duty, notwithstanding, to relate to the public what is currently reported and believed in relation to the treatment of the Cherokee above alluded to. It appears a certain fellow, by the name of John Clark, enrolled. Soon after he met Tesattaski, a member of the General Council from Coosewaytee District, and the same alluded to above, at a tippling shop kept by one Boman. An altercation took place between them, in which the former was worsted. About the same time Tesattaski had a quarrel with Moses Parris, interpreter for Curry, one of the enrolling agents. It is said Tesattaski was pretty plain with Parris-told him he was once a member of the Council, but now, from selfish motives, he had turned against the interest of his country. Soon after this Major Curry arrived in Pine-log, and met the Georgia Guard at the tippling shop. To him John Clark made his complaint, and the major had nothing to do but to apply to the Guard to have Tesattaski arrested and punished according to the laws of Georgia. The man was accordingly arrested. Mr. James A. Thompson, a very respectable white man, believing that he was taken at the instance of Clark, and having some acquaintance with this fellows, character, went to Mr Boman's where the prisoner was kept, and informed the Guard that he believed Clark had told lies about Tesattaski. For this kindness towards the prisoner, Mr Thompson was very near being put under Guard, and probably would have been taken prisoner himself, if one Jesse Raper, an emigrant a white man of no great estimation, had not corroborated his statement, touching the character of Clark. The Guard believed the testimony of Raper, while they disregarded that of Mr. Thompson's. Tesattaski was allowed to go home for that time. In a few days, however, he was again taken, as it is supposed at the instance of Parris. He was immediately taken to the station of the Guard at Hightower, formerly occupied as a Missionary station. Here he was kept in confinement for some time, and the treatment he experienced in that situation is correctly stated by us former occasion.

No one doubts, we believe, that efforts were unceasingly made to work upon the fears of the prisoner-no one doubts that two alternatives were placed before him; either to emigrate or to suffer the penalty of the law, and many are apprehensive from the circumstance that Tesattaski has been discharged, and from various incidents that have since taken place, that those efforts have been successful in this individual case.