Cherokee Phoenix

Mr. Clay and Mr. Mardis, of the Alabama delegation in Congress, in letters published to correct an e

Published February, 22, 1834

Page 2 Column 5b

Mr. Clay and Mr. Mardis, of the Alabama delegation in Congress, in letters published to correct an error in relation to other points, both intimate their belief, that the sales of the Creek lands, which, we presume, are now going on, and which have elicited such unbounded abuse of the President, will redound more to the advantage of the settlers than otherwise. These pioneers of the forest should have the preference, and having a knowledge of the tracts which they wish to purchase, have the advantage of the mere speculator. Besides, the early sale of these lands will enable those, who do not purchase the tracts on which they now reside, to make other provisions for the year's crop. Some dissatisfaction has been expressed and the short period which these sales have been advertised; but it would seem from Messrs. Clay's and Mardis' letters, that the sales have been directed early in the year with one of the objects above expressed, and that they believe speculators will be defeated in their design of running to a high price the improvements of the poor settler. The treaty, too, forbids the longer delay of this matter. The President had already delayed it one year, at the request of the delegation, and many of the inhabitants of the ceded territory. But the short time of advertising will not prevent speculations to a great extent, if this had anything to do with it. The Montgomery Advertiser states, that Montgomery is full of speculators, and in noticing Seaborn Jones' remarks on Lewis' motion, asserts, a great proportion of them are his strikers. That speculation, and that too of the bassist kind, has had much to do in fomenting the difficulties which have grown out of this subject few will be disposed to doubt; and we understand one family in this State has control of nearly two thirds of the valuable tracts in the whole Creek territory. The wisdom of the President's precautions to prevent the ignorant Indian from being cheated out of his all, will be more manifest than is at present.

We perceive that the Globe assigns another reason for the early sale of these lands.- A great portion of the Creeks are in great distress and wish to remove as soon as they can sell their located reservations. But it will require 1,500,000 dollars to effect that removal, and support them one year, furnishing what the treaty requires.- From the sales of these lands, this sum was expected to be raised, and the lands are so pledged on the treaty.

'The Creek census shows 22,254 Indians. These Creeks are considerable further from the country to which they are to be removed than the Choctaws, and it is estimated by General Gibson, Commissary General of Subsistence, who superintends this business, that their removal will cost $18 each. The whole sum for removal will be $100,752.

These Indians are entitled to one year's subsistence after they arrive west of the Mississippi. The ratio is estimated at 7 3-4 cents.

The year's subsistence will therefore cost $629,792.

The incidental expenses of removal and subsistence, including the compensation of officers, interpreters, and other persons, incidental transportation, erection of necessary buildings, $50,000.

These Indians are entitled to a rifle, molds, wipers, and ammunition, to each warrior, and a blanket for each family. The cost of these several articles is $119,841.

These and some other items of expense will make the whole nearly, $1,500,000, as the amount of expenditure which the Creek Treaty requires to be made.' Augusta Courier.