John A. Bell and Stand Watie to Editor of Arkansas Gazette, 1839 · Retracing the Bell Route: An Archive of Cherokee Removal · Retracing the Bell Route: An Archive of Cherokee Removal

Transcription

“THE CHEROKEES, from the Arkansas Gazette.

We are unwilling that the history of the recent transactions in the Cherokee nation should go forth to the world, upon the partial and somewhat contradictory statements which have been given to the public, by those who have only gleaned from thousand tongued rumor.
The causes which led to the New Echota treaty, in December, 1835, and the consequent emigration of the whole of the Cherokee
nation east, are too well Known to the American public to need recapitulation in an article of newspaper length. The history of our calamities is written upon hundreds of imperishable American state papers, and will be handed down to the rising generations, upon the pages of the decisions of the most enlightened judiciaries that ever decided the great principles of natural and constitutional liberty in any country.
Of the merits of the New Echota treaty, suffice it to say, that it was made in good faith, by the contracting parties…The people immediately commenced improving their farms, and purchasing stock, and every thing bade fair for peace and happiness. But the people were suddenly disturbed in their tranquillity by a call from John Ross, who immediately arrogated to himself the title of ‘principal chief of the Cherokee nation,’ for a general council, to be held….
On Saturday of the same week, it being the 22d of June, a party of 20 or 25 Indians proceeded to the house of John Ridge, on Honey creek, in the north part of the Cherokee nation, and having surrounded the house with their rifles, three of them forced his doors, drew him from his bed amidst the screams of his wife and children, and having given him 25 stabs in his body, left him dead in his yard. Maj. Ridge had started on the previous day, to Vineyard, in Washington county, Arkansas…. He was waylaid about 10 o’clock on the same morning, by a party of Indians, five miles west of Cane-hill, and shot from a high precipice which commanded the road. It is reported that about 10 or 12 guns were fired at him; only five rifle balls, however, penetrated him body and head. Thus was this aged chief murdered from an ambush, without knowing the dastardly hands who sought his life. This murder occurred in Washington county. About the same hour, four Indians came to Mr. Boudinot, and after a friendly salutation, asked Mr. Boudinot to walk from where his hands were at work, and give them some medicine. Mr. B. who was ever found foremost in acts of charity, obeyed the summons. Shortly after he left the workmen he was struck by these Indians in the back and head, and brought to the earth, with tomahawks, and then stabbed several times in the back with a bowie knife. His head was cleft with the tomahawk in five or six places. These are the circumstances attending the deaths of these individuals.

It is notorious… that a strong guard were collected around Ross and Gunter on the same morning; and Ross has kept a guard of from 200 to 600 persons about his person ever since….At the same time that these papers were drawn up, a resolution was passed, freely pardoning the murderers of Messrs. Ridges and Boudinot; and all this, too, after Mr. Ross’s denial of any knowledge or participation in the matter, and his promise to aid in securing the murderers. Of the documents every one will judge for himself; but to us they sound very much like the language of an usurper, who first seizes upon the throne, and then requires all the people who have rightly opposed him to swear allegiance to his pretensions. How far the Cherokees west united with the assumptions of Ross and his faction, they will in due time disclose for themselves. If Mr. Ross expects us to purchase our lives by swearing to the infamous oath which he would put in our mouths, he very much mistakes the blood which runs in our veins. Sooner let us fall by the hand of the midnight assassin, than have our names loaded with infamy, and handed down to posterity as traitors, who had ‘saved their country from total destruction, by making the best treaty ever made for any Indians!’ — The historian will do justice to the memories of the fallen. We will never cause their blood to rise in judgment against us, by casting obloquy on their characters. Eight of our friends have abandoned us. Be the matter with them and their God. We are conscious that we have gained many where we have lost one. The threatened denunciation still hangs over us. Well, if the impending vengeance must fall, let it come upon us with clear consciences.
JOHN A. BELL,
STAND WATIE.”

Niles’ National Register, October 5, 1839

Title

John A. Bell and Stand Watie to Editor of Arkansas Gazette, 1839

Name of Writer

John A. Bell and Stand Watie