1822, November 2

The following data is extracted from Proposals Made by certain Cherokee Indians, for the Cession of their Lands to the United States.

Cherokee Nation, Nov. 2, 1822

DEAR SIR: We, the undersigned Chiefs of the Creek Path town in the said Cherokee nation, bet;. your attention, a short time, to read a few lines addressed to you from your red brethren, the Creek Path people. You are no stranger to the services we rendered you in time of the Creek war, when we were under the command of Gen. Jackson. At that time we had Col. Richard Brown, our beloved Chief for our leaders but he is now no more, and it is us that feels the effects to our sorrow. While he was yet alive, we had a representative in our national councils; but since his death we have none, nor can't be heard, and for no other reason than this: About the summer of 1817, General Jackson being appointed by the United States to hold a conference with the Cherokees, at Turkey town, on Coosa river, for the purpose of extinguishing, part or all of the Cherokee claim of land, but did not, at that time, get his ends accomplished. Some time after this, Governor M'Minn was appointed commissioner, to conclude said treaty at Highwassee, when we fully understood our country was to be given up as a part of said cession, but finally they did not treat with Governor M'Minn, and appointed a delegation, altogether from the upper part of the nation, giving us no chance to be heard at all. These went on to the Federal City, and made a treaty to please themselves, which made them and their friends all rich, by getting money and reservations of 640 acres of the best lands in all the country, in the mean time getting rights in fee simple for all their relations, (a great part boys and women,) that never had been of any service to their country, and leaving men out who has been of essential service to the United States, such as Capt. John Thompson, for one, why you were well acquainted with during the war. True it is, some of us did enroll our names as Arkansas emigrants, not knowing but our lands were sold at the same time; and finding, shortly after, they were not, we sat still on our farms that we had made, thinking no one had a better right than we who made them. Nevertheless, we plainly see there is no peace for us on this side the Mississippi. Therefore, we have sent our long tried friend, Capt. James Reed, to you, for the purpose of getting you to use your influence with the General Government, and your state members in Congress, for us, the Creek Path people, to have privilege to sell our own part of the country, at a reasonable price, to the United States, and for us to reap the benefit of the proceeds of the sales, to enable us to move away in peace, well knowing the United States is not bound to furnish us with any thing, without an equivalent, to defray the expense in removing away. We are not able to move without we can have that privilege. The upper Chiefs are now in Council, as we understand, for the purpose of selling all the Cherokee lands in the chartered limits of the state of Georgia. The next will be ours, if they can. Our request is a reasonable one. We only want from the mouth of Short Creek down, which is only eight miles above site, on Tennessee river; then, to Coffee's bluff; then, with the crooked line that Gen. Coffee run, for the express purpose of favoring the Creek Path people, otherwise it would have been government land before this time. The bearer can give you full information on the subject, having lived among us for several years. In confidence, we conclude, and remain your respectful brothers, so long as we live.,
WASAUCY,
SPEAKER,
GEORGE FIELDS,
TURTLE FIELDS,
GEORGE LESS,
JAMES SPENCER,
YOUNG WOLF,
JOHN THOMPSON, Interpreter.

To His Excellency Wm. CARROLL,
Governor of the State of Tennessee.

Source: Proposals Made by certain Cherokee Indians, for the Cession of their Lands to the United States

  Go Back