Cherokee Phoenix

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

Published November, 3, 1832

Page 2 Column 3b

CHEROKEE PHOENIX

NEW ECHOTA, Oct. 6 1832

(This is the date on the paper. It should read Nov. 3, 1832)

We find in the proceedings of the Tennessee legislature, presentations of petitions, for the extension of jurisdiction over the Cherokees within the limits of that state. When we saw this,we thought it could not be possible, that the legislature was moved by the old saying, 'that when a man goes down hill, every one give him a kick, Georgia had kicked, until we had bled, while Alabama was thrusting a thorn in our side, Tennessee was about to do the same. But such we fear is the moving principle and we regret to see it. The Petitions referred to in the proceedings, was signed by a white man from Georgia, resident in the nation, within the limits of Tennessee, and cognominal of the intruders on the Cherokee lands.- Now, we had expected, that the magnanimity of the legislative was of that lofty kind, that it occupied a position so high that it was far above the paltry disposition, even for a moment to consider the propriety of becoming a party in the oppression of the much depressed Cherokees. But to the facts, the legislature has been petitioned by a Georgian, an intruder on the Cherokee lands, to extend the jurisdiction of that state over the Cherokees, who are represented, as being anxious to receive the laws of the state, and without any other evidence of the facts, than the statement; the honor of the legislature at a special called session, and in its sovereign capacity have been induced, to consider the grave subject of taking care of the Cherokees, on the wilful misrepresentation of a Georgia intruder. We hope the legislature will yet pause, to preserve its high reputation.

TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE

Sept. 24th 1832.

House of Representatives. Mr. Vernon presented a communication from a citizen of the Cherokee Nation concerning the extension of laws of the State over said Nation, which communication was referred to the select Committee on that subject.

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We perceive by the Southern prints, that the failure of a treaty with the Cherokees by the Gov't last July council at Red Clay is confidently stated to have arisen from the circumstance of a proposition of a company from Tennessee to rent the gold mines of the Cherokee Nation. We are astonished at the credence given to rumors by those prints who ought ever to be the sentinels and heralds of truth to their readers, to propagate a statement to an enlightened public, having not the least foundation in truth. The fact of the propositions of a company, was made to the council, for a term years but it was not the influence of this proposition that induced the Cherokees to reject a treaty. Col. John Williams, and Cox of Knoxville, Tennessee, had previous to Secretary Eaton's leaving the Department of War, obtained from him, a full sanction in writing to work the gold mines of the Cherokees, provided he obtained a permit or grant from the Nation, and upon this basis he solicited of the council a permit to work the mines which was refused, on the ground that the Cherokees had determined never to sell any more lands, and that it was no object to the Nation to let the property to citizens of the United States

The cause of the Cherokees rejecting the proposition of a treaty, was contained in the address of the council to Secretary Cass, published by us sometime ago.

'It is stated to us, and on good authority, that the cause of the late failure to form a Treaty with the Cherokees was the offer, by a large Company from Tennessee, to rent their gold mines. Col. Williams is said to be at the head of this Company.-Georgia Courier.

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The General Council of the Cherokee Nation at Red Clay, closed its session on the 31st ult. We had promised our readers the publication of Mr. Chester's communications to the Principal Chief, renewing the propositions to the Cherokees to enter into a treaty, but they have not come to hand. The council made no reply to his communications, more than a notice to the War Department, through the medium of Col. Montgomery the agent, that a delegation had been appointed, composed of John Ross Principal chief, and Senators R. Taylor, J. Vann, and J. Baldridge, to proceed to Washington, to attend to the interests of the Cherokees. This is the second time Mr. Chester has decidedly failed, in effecting the measures of the Government. Secretary Cass is now enabled to set down his final failure to negotiate a treaty, shut his book, with the conviction of having mistaken the influence of Mr. Chester, over the Cherokees, when he was appointing him to effect the views of the President. As to the appointment of Governor Lumpkin, which the Secretary has already intimated, to hold treaties with the Cherokees, we will not condescend to sell a nation to a man who is now about to rob us. The Cherokees will enter into no treaties at a time when they are proclaimed to be a nullity.