Cherokee Phoenix and Indians' Advocate
Wednesday, December  30, 1829
Vol. II, no. 38
Page 2, col. 5a- Page 3, col. 1b

Our readers probably wish to know what the chivalric legislature of Georgia have been about respecting the Cherokees-whether they have already doomed them to destruction.  The following, which we copy from the Savannah Georgian, is the latest account we have received.  It is well the treaty making power is in the United States.  If Georgia had the power to treat with Indians, she would negotiate with every villain among us for cession of lands, and then protect them from just and deserved punishment.  Such would be perfectly consistent with her other kindred proceedings.

 The bill to extend the laws of the State over the territory in the occupancy of the Cherokees, and to add it to certain counties being the special order of the day, was taken up in Committee of the whole.  An amendment was offered to the 6th section, postponing the extension of the laws until the 1st of June next, and lost on a division.  A good deal of debate was elicited.  Mr. Shorter offered an amendment, which was adopted, of some length, going to meet the late harsh ordinances of the Cherokee Council, and to protect such Indians as may wish to emigrate, to sell or to treat, and to punish those exercising arbitrary power.- Any person or persons preventing Indians from exercising their right of selling, emigrating or treating for cession of lands to be guilty of high misdemeanor, and punished in the penitentiary.   Those Indians punishing Indians by death for any of these acts, to suffer death.-- That part of the 8th section, taxing full-blooded Indians, was stricken out.  After a long debate on the lst section, the bill was reported to the House with the amendments, and was then taken up by sections.  An amendment was again offered, to postpone the operation until the 1st of June, and carried, yeas 70, nays 48.  The bill was then passed without any dissenting voice.

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Send comments or questions to: George Frizzell
Special Collections . Hunter Library . Western Carolina University . Cullowhee, NC 28723 . 828-227-7474