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Cherokee Indian
Removal Letter
Cherokee Removal
Head of Coosa, Nov. 18, 1834
To His Excellency Wilson Lumpkin:
Sir—I am now at John Ridge's, where a council is to be held on the 27th instant, in order to organize a party favorazbly
disposed to Cherokee removal.
An election of chiefs, in favor of transplanting the tribe, will be held at the meeting; and a delegation is to
be appointed to go to the city of Washington to memorialize Congress and do every thing else in their power
to ensure the ratification of A. Ross' treaty, and defeat John Ross' plan of citizenizing the remnant tribe by
which the poor ignorant Indians would be left, after spending their substance, vagabonds in the land.
John Ross has runners out, at a pay of two dollars per day, procuring names, from the infant babe up to an old
age. The question put is, "Do you love your land?" if they answer in the affirmative, their names
are put to a long memorial, protesting against A. Ross' treaty. By these agents we expect double the
number returned against said treaty that reside (of that tribe) east of the Mississippi.
In the efforts to bring about a revolution in the minds of the Indians, some members of the treaty party have already
been slain, while the lives of others are every day threatened.
Last spring whilst Major Ridge and his friends were on their way to Washington City, an ambuscade was formed
by a party of Indians, whose purpose was to stop them; they were armed with all the implements of war; but the
Major and his friends having taken a road quite different from that anticipated by the opposite party, passed in
safety.
Sleeping Rabbit headed this party in ambush. One of the party being a member of the church was
called to answer before that body; whereupon he declared they acted under instructions from New Town, where Lewis
Ross and the brother-in-law of John were, at the time the instructions must have been given.
Every day's experience confirms me in the opinion that these are not by any means the result of idle conversation;
there is danger, and those who threaten most danger to Ross' plan, are in the greatest peril; for the Indians,
by long custom and usage, have acted upon the suggestions of their principal chiefs, as implicitly as if
they were direct revelations from Heaven.
Not lone since, a traveler passing near Dirt Town, in Floyd County, was murdered. His bones,
and the bones of his horse, have been found. Indian rumor says upwards of a thousand dollars was taken
from him at the time of the murder.
Smith, a Cherokee, was arrested, but discharged for the want of proof, as, though Indian talk had given all
the details of the transaction before, when called to swear, their repugnance at the idea of swearing before a
white man against one of their own people, was so great, that none would swear to the facts, and all pleaded
ignorance.
A few days ago the dead body of another traveler was found on the road through the Alabama part of the nation,
on the Racoon Mountain.
A few days ago a Cherokee killed his fellow traveler, and on being arrested and carried before the Council, was
dismissed; he was acquitted because there was no proof of malice. This murder is said to
have occurred in Georgia.
This same Council had also two men arrested and brought before it on a charge of having murdered Baker, a
white man, and McPherson; and although this honorable body insinuates, the offence was committed
by the Indians, arrested by their own order, they were dismissed for the want of evidence.
Hog Smith, a Cherokee, is now under sentence of death by the circuit court of Walker County, Georgia, for the same
outrage, where it is presumed the most ample proof was adduced of his guilt.
When the leaves again put out, Indian rumor says there is to be more killing.
In this state of things the interposition of the Legislature, in affording protection to a party yet in its
infancy, contending against that supremacy which custom has given their nominal leader, John Ross, over the minds
of the multitude seems to be called for; where reserves and descendents are in the opinion of the commander
of the guards heartily engaged in furthering the cause of this patriotic band, headed by John Ridge, would
it not be well to give them time to persuade their friends, as well as to settle up their affairs before they are
rejected?
A guard should be forthwith organized, to keep peace, and aid the civil authorities in the execution of the law;
without an energetic commander, hut little good could be expected to result from their appointment.
I have the honor to be.
[Signed] BENJ. F. CURREY.
Georgia Telegraph - December 18, 1834
Transcribed and Contributed by: Frances Cooley
©2007 Genealogy Trails
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