WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1839
335
It was this spirit which had formed and fostered the opposition of the Cherokee and driven them almost to desperation. They saw they had been the dupes of the white man, and that a nation's pledge solemnly made was not to be ratified. The pledge had been written on parchment, and forwarded to the Bowl, as a guarantee for his rights. They entered into a treaty which was returned to the senate for ratification. But the pledge needed no ratification, it was as full a guarantee of their rights as the nation could give. When the treaty came up for discussion before the Senate, the Bowl and several of his principal men were there. Some of them understood the English language- they went into the lobby and heard the discusion. When they heard the individual abuse heaped upon the individual to whom they had principally looked for a ratification of their rights, and the wanton disregard of a sacred pledge made in the hour of peril-that now they had passed through the dangers of the revolution- they were dis- posed to make a Poland of the little patrimony of the Indian and parcel it our among the crowned heads of which they bore a conspicuous place. Sir, ( said Mr. H.) this was enough to drive them mad, and they could not have been blamed if they returned to their homes, flew to arms and appealed to the last resort. But they bore their patience, still hoping that there was some truth in the pledge of white men and that they would eventually be in possession of their rights. Vain hope! unnatural delusion! When did the white man ever respect the rights of the Indian- or avarice loose its grasp? When the Indian sat upon th~ rock at Plymouth, and saw the first sail upon the deep, though white, could he have removed the veil of futurity, he would have seen it crinisoned with their gore. The vessel came into port, and the white man stepped upon the land. He received a joyous welcome from the Indian and the simple child of nature furnished him with such provisions as he had for himself. Too soon he found he had nursed a viper in his bosom, and gloomy and dark has been the history of the Red man since that unfortunate day. When the Indian first saw the white man upon the shore at Jamestown, he was just enough to reverence his Creator - let us not disregard a solemn pledge in the sight of God. How can we turn a sacrilegious face to Heaven and ask a blessing from Providei:ice, if we violate a pledge so sacred.
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