"All I want in this creation,
Is a pretty little wife and a big plantation9
Away up yonder in the Cherokee nation,"—
and this song no doubt represented the real feeling behind the whole matter. The big plantation was what was really wanted. At the same time it should not be forgotten that it was for the benefit of the Indians as well as the whites that they should be settled in a section where they would remain undisturbed. This policy has been proven by time to be the true one.
Travelers and romancers have done no end of harm by exalting10 the Indian character, covering up its faults, and exaggerating its merits. Romance has made great heroes of the Indians; but in the whole history of the red men, so far as it has been faithfully chronicled, the names of the Indians of unmixed blood who are worth remembering can be counted on the fingers of two hands.
Sequoia11, or George Guess, who invented the Cherokee alphabet, was the grandson of a white man. This invention, however, was a very remarkable12 achievement, and it is worthy13 of a word here. Sequoia was altogether illiterate14. He could neither write nor speak English, but he saw that the whites could talk with each other by means of pieces of paper. So he set himself to work to examine his own language. He found that sixty monosyllables could be so combined as to represent every word in the Cherokee language, and for each of these syllables15 he formed a character. Many of these characters were taken from an English spelling book which he managed to get hold of. Some are Greek characters, and others are letters of the English alphabet turned upside down; but each character in the Cherokee alphabet stands for a monosyllable. It happened, too, from the structure of the Cherokee language or dialect, that the syllabic alphabet is also in the nature of a grammar; so that those who know the language by ear, and master the alphabet, can at once read and write. Owing to the extreme simplicity16 of this system, it can be acquired in a few days. Some have learned it even in one day. Thus it happened that the Cherokees, who were at the beginning of one year ignorant and illiterate, had become in the course of a few months able to read and write their own language. They accomplished17 this without going to school, and without expense of time or money.
This curious and useful invention is dwelt on here because it stands alone. The Indian grandson of a white man remains18 to-day the only man, in the long history of the aborigines, who has done anything for the real and lasting19 benefit of his race.
When the people of Georgia insisted on the removal of that nation to the Far West, the Cherokees were neither better nor worse than the rest of the Indians. Some of the half-breeds had indeed begun to put on the airs of civilization, and many of them had put off their barbarian20 garbs21; but from time to time they gave evidence that contact with the whites had only whetted22 their savage5 appetites for cruelty. The Indian in Cooper's novels and the Indian in real life are two different creatures. They were tall and straight because they refused to do manual labor23. The drudgery24 was left to the women, who hoed the corn when at home, and carried the burdens when the warriors25 were moving about. They cultivated the passion of revenge. Those who know them best have declared in a thousand ways that they never found in the red men any solid substantial, or agreeable quality. They were brave, but so is a bulldog.
There is no wonder that Georgia wanted to get rid of them as neighbors. The people showed their anxiety in this matter when, in 1802, they conveyed to the United States Government all the valuable lands that now form the States of Alabama and Mississippi; the consideration being that the General Government would secure from the Indians, and open up to settlement, the lands which they then held in the State. In 1808 the Cherokees asked the United States to allow them to examine the public land west of the Mississippi, and, if pleased, to settle on it. Permission was given, and the Cherokees sent a party to explore the lands. The country suited them so well that many of the Indians emigrated at once. The General Government thus had an opportunity to carry out the contract of 1802, but failed to do so. It had another opportunity in 1814, when the conquered Creeks sued for peace. The General Government had the right to demand of them the cession26 of the land they occupied in Georgia. Instead, it took land in Alabama, which it sold for its own benefit.
And so the matter went on from year to year, and the people waited patiently; for they had become aware, from costly27 experience, that one of the prices they have to pay for popular government is the occasional rule of the political demagogue.
In 1827, when the people of Georgia began to grow restive28 under the failure of the government to carry out its contracts, the Cherokees had declared themselves to be an independent state. They had their own printed constitution and code of laws. So that here in the limits of Georgia there were three governments going on at one and the same time. The United States prohibited any person from settling on Indian territory, or trading with any Indian, without a special license29 from the proper authority. In addition to this, the State of Georgia had found it necessary to extend her criminal courts over the Cherokee territory, in order to protect her own citizens.
The half-breeds among the Cherokees were very shrewd and unscrupulous. They had caused some of their tribe to take possession of lands ceded30 to Georgia by the Creeks, and in this way sought to add confusion to the discussion that was then going on. The Indians took possession by force. They were armed and painted, and led by Chief Ridge31. Fourteen or fifteen houses were burned by these savages, and the white women and children were left exposed to the weather, the ground being covered with snow.
The great trouble with the Cherokees then and afterwards was, that the government of their nation had fallen into the hands of half-breeds, whose education only gave them fresh opportunities to gain wealth and power at the expense of the rest of the tribe. They owned trading houses, big plantations32, numbers of slaves, had charge of the ferries, and controlled all the traffic between the whites and the Indians. As these half-breeds became wealthier, the rest of the tribe became poorer. They had forsaken33 their primitive34 habits and customs, and taken up those of the most depraved whites who lived among them. It is worthy of note that the most progressive spirits among the Cherokees were in favor of emigration beyond the Mississippi. The leaders of this party were natives of unmixed blood, who saw that the control of the corrupt35 half-breeds was carrying the nation to ruin. Several of these leaders were waylaid36 and shot down by the agents of those whose policy they were opposing. The alarm in some sections was very great. The citizens met, and adopted resolutions requesting the government to station troops at suitable points, for the protection of the lives and property of the whites and friendly Indians.
Under an act of the Legislature, a body of militia37 had been organized, under the name of the "Georgia Guard." It was the duty of the Guard to protect the citizens of Georgia and the friendly Cherokees. John Howard Payne, the famous author of "Home, Sweet Home," was arrested by this Guard. The poet was traveling among the Cherokees for information, and was no doubt ignorant of the state of feeling then existing. He was finally suspected by the vigilant38 Georgia Guard of writing improper39 papers. He had been seen making notes, and when he was arrested his papers were searched. The commander of the Georgia Guard, Colonel William N. Bishop40, reported to the governor that he had examined some of Mr. Payne's papers, and found some very improper and indiscreet statements about the President, the government, and the State authorities, and many bitter remarks concerning Cherokee matters. Evidently, Colonel Bishop was of the opinion, that, while a politician or a newspaper editor might be allowed to indulge in improper and indiscreet statements about Presidents and other public men, a poet had no such rights. But the colonel finally discharged Mr. Payne from custody41, and the very foolish proceeding42 was condemned43 by a resolution of the General Assembly.
In 1835 two parties had developed in the Cherokee nation. One was in favor of removal to the Western lands, and the other was opposed to removal. John Ridge headed the removal party, and John Ross the opposition44. In February of that year these men went to Washington at the head of deputations, and entered into negotiations45 with the General Government. After a great deal of talk, excitement, confusion, and trouble, the Cherokee people finally concluded to hold a meeting at Red Clay in October, 1835. There was a good deal of angry feeling between those of the Cherokees who were in favor of a treaty of removal and those who were opposed to it. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and David Vann were impeached46 for holding opinions contrary to those held by the Cherokee authorities. On the other hand, many of those in favor of removal met, and passed resolutions, in which they declared that their people could not prosper47 in the midst of a white population, and that, while they loved the lands of their fathers, and would leave the place of their birth with regret, they considered that it would be better to become exiles than to submit to the laws of the State.
At the Red Clay meeting, arrangements were made for discussing with the United States authorities the terms of a treaty of removal. The Ross party was still violently opposed to removal. John Ross, the leader of this party, was only one fourth Indian, the other three fourths being Scotch48 and American. Ross was very shrewd and thrifty49, and had accumulated a great deal of property, with the prospect50 of accumulating more. He had many sympathizers and admirers in all parts of the country. It seems to have been thought a wonderful thing in that day, that a man one quarter Indian should be able to read and write English, and make political speeches. When everything had been arranged for the final treaty, and while negotiations were going forward, Ross and his party put an end to them, and went to Washington, where they hoped to delay matters. But the Ridge party met the United States commissioners51 at New Echota on the 21st of December, 1835, according to appointment, and on the 29th the treaty was concluded. On May 23, 1836, it was ratified52.
By the terms of this treaty, the Cherokees, in consideration of the sum of five million dollars, relinquished53 all claims to lands east of the Mississippi. In addition to the money to be paid, they were to receive seven million acres of land west of the Mississippi. Should this territory be found to be insufficient54, the United States, in consideration of five hundred thousand dollars, was to convey to them an additional body of land. The land thus granted was not to be included within the limits of any State at any future time. The Cherokees were guaranteed protection against domestic strife55 and foreign enemies, and it was provided that the tribe should be entitled to a delegate in the House of Representatives whenever Congress passed a law to that effect. The United States authorities were to remove the Cherokees to their new homes, and to provide for their support for one year after they were settled. There were other provisions, all in favor of the Cherokees. The Indians were to be removed within two years after the ratification56 of the treaty.
Ross, and other leaders opposed to removal, had gone to Washington. While there they were informed, by Major Ridge and others, of the treaty at New Echota. Ross refused to make any reply to the communication, but tried to make a new treaty. He was told that he could not be received to make a new treaty. The attitude of the Ross party, together with certain threats that had been made by their followers57, led many citizens of Georgia to believe that the Indians opposed to removal would, in accordance with their character and history, revenge themselves by making night attacks on the unprotected people. Consequently those most likely to be the victims of such attacks petitioned the governor for arms, ammunition58, and troops; and these petitions were granted. A battalion59 of militia was raised, and placed at Lashley's Ferry on the Coosa River, with orders to keep the Cherokees in check, and also to prevent the Creeks from coming into Georgia. Many of the Cherokees were disarmed60; and five hundred muskets61, with ammunition, were sent into Cherokee County, for the use of the people in the event of any hostile movement on the part of the Indians.
The State of Georgia was to take possession of the territory ceded by the treaty on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1838, and the military were got in readiness for removing the Indians. General Scott, of the United States army, called on the governor of Georgia for two regiments62, and to this call there was a prompt response. By the 18th of May enough men had arrived at New Echota, where the troops were to assemble, to organize a regiment63; and on the morning of the 24th the troops took up the line of march for the purpose of collecting the Indians. This continued until the 3d of June, when the troops and the Indians started for Ross's Landing on the Tennessee River. About fifteen hundred Indians had been collected by the Georgia troops, and these troops were then dismissed from the service of the United States.
The rest of the work was done by the regular army, which, being divided into small detachments, went about the Cherokee country, making prisoners of family after family, and carrying them to the camps. The most careful arrangements had been made to prevent cruelty or disorder64, and there has never been any complaint as to the manner in which the troops performed their duty. Nearly the whole nation had been gathered into camps by the end of June. At that time some of the Indians began their march to the West; but the great body of the tribe, fourteen thousand in number, did not begin their westward65 journey until September, owing to the hot weather. Every arrangement that could be suggested was made for the comfort of the Indians in their march; but from May, when the removal began, to the time when the last company had completed its journey, more than four thousand persons died.
One year afterwards, on the 22d of June, 1839, Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot, all of whom had taken an active part in negotiating the treaty of removal, were assassinated66.
Since their removal the Cherokees have prospered67 to a greater extent than any other Indian tribe. They have a government of their own, flourishing schools, and books and newspapers printed in their own language. It is the only tribe of American Indians that has shown any desire or ability to share in the benefits of civilization.
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1
creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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thrift
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| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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5
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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7
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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8
civilize
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| vt.使文明，使开化 (=civilise) | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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10
exalting
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| a.令人激动的，令人喜悦的 | |
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sequoia
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| n.红杉 | |
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12
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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14
illiterate
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| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
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15
syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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16
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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17
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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18
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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20
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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21
garbs
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| vt.装扮（garb的第三人称单数形式） | |
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22
whetted
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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23
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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25
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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26
cession
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| n.割让，转让 | |
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27
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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29
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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30
ceded
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| v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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32
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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33
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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34
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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35
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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36
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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38
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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39
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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40
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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41
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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42
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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43
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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44
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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45
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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46
impeached
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| v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议 | |
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47
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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48
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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49
thrifty
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| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
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50
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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51
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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52
ratified
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| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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54
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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55
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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56
ratification
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| n.批准，认可 | |
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57
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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58
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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59
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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60
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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61
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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62
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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63
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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64
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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65
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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66
assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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