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Those who strenuously advocate the removal of the Cherokees to the west
of the Mississippi, Col. M'Kenney and other agents of the Government in particular,
have often repeated the unfounded assertion, as our readers very well know,
that the full Cherokees are desirous of emigrating, but are kept back by the
influence of the Chiefs, half-breeds and white men, whose interest it is to
keep them where they are. Col. M'Kenney in his last report told the public
that the government had sent off upwards of 600 Cherokees-this is a fine
come-off indeed. Six hundred Cherokees! We know this to be intended
as a blind-we knew there were some whites, some blacks, and many half-breeds,
and so informed the public. But as an Indian cannot be a competent witness,
we have probably not been believed. We now bring in a white man to testify.
From the Arkansas Gazette of Feb. 2d
The Steamboat Industry, Capt. Johnson arrived at this place, about noon,
on Wednesday last having on board about 100 cabin and deck passengers principally
emigrants to the Territory, and about 200 emigrating Cherokee Indians from the
old nation who are on their way to the Cherokee country up the Arkansas.
A few of these Cherokees have a little of the appearance of the Indian, but
the principal part of them show no signs of retaining in their veins any portion
of the aboriginal blood.
The Steamboat Waverly, Capt. Pennywit arrived here on Thursday morning
last, from New Orleans, and departs in the afternoon of the same day, for Cantonment
Gibson. She had nearly 100 cabin and deck passengers, mostly emigrants
to the Territory, besides near 200 emigrating Cherokee Indians who are removing
to the Cherokee country up the Arkansas. These people are called Cherokees,
in consequence of their residing among and being intermarried with that nation,
but we say very few among them who bore any resemblance to the Indian.
The Rev. E. S. Ely, D. D. editor of the Philadelphian, after copying
from the Arkansas Gazette on Dec. 30, an account of a commencement of hostility
between the Choctaws and the Osages, residing west of the Mississippi, occupies
a column and a half of his paper, in advocating the policy, expediency, justice,
and humanity of removing, colonizing and concentrating the different tribes
of Indians west of Missouri and the Territory of Arkansas.- Whether any argument
favorable to the removal of the Indians can be drawn from the circumstances
narrated in the Gazette, is at least, a doubtful question, for it is well known
that we have not Indian wars east of the Mississippi, but west of it they have
plenty. Be that as it may, we give below another text for the Dr. to preach
Indian emigration.
From the Arkansas Gazette.
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