grows cotton for its own consumption.  Agricultural pursuits engage the chief attention of the nation—­different branches of mechanics are pursued.  Schools are increasing every year, and education is encouraged and rewarded.”  To quote David Brown verbatim, on the population,—­“In the year 1819, an estimate was made of the Cherokees.  Those on the west were estimated at 5,000, and those on the east of the Mississippi, at 10,000 souls.  The census of this division of the Cherokees has again been taken within the current year (1825), and the returns are thus made:  native citizens, 13,563; white men married in the nation, 147; white women ditto, 73; African slaves, 1177.  If this summary of the Cherokee population, from the census, is correct, to say nothing of those of foreign extract, we find that in six years the increase has been 3,563 souls.  National pride, patriotism, and a spirit of independence, mark the Cherokee character.”  He further states, “the system of government is founded on republican principles, and secures the respect of the people.”  An alphabet has been invented by an Indian, named George Guess, the Cherokee Cadmus, and a printing press has been established at New Echota, the seat of government, where there is published weekly a paper entitled, “The Cherokee Phoenix,”—­one half being in the English language, and the other in that of the Cherokee.

The report of the secretary of war, upon the present condition of the Indians, states of the Chickesaws and Choctaws, all that has been above said of the Cherokees.  But of the last-mentioned people, the secretary’s accounts appear to be studiously defective.  Yet the fact is notorious, that both the Chickesaws and Choctaws are far behind the Cherokees in civilization.

With these facts before our eyes, what are we to think of the grief of the president, at the decay and increasing weakness of the Cherokees?  Can it be regarded in any way but as a piece of shameless hypocrisy, too glaring in its character to escape the notice even of the most inobservant individual.  It has been said that the question involves many difficulties—­to me there appears none.  The United States, in the year 1791, guarantee to the Indians the possession of all their lands not then ceded—­and confirm this by numerous subsequent treaties.  In 1802, they promise to Georgia, the possession of the Cherokee lands “whenever such purchase could be made on reasonable terms” This is the simple state of the case; and if the executive were inclined to act uprightly, the line of conduct to be pursued could be determined on without much difficulty.  Georgia has no right to press upon the executive the fulfilment of engagements which were made conditionally, and consequently with an implied reservation; and the United States should not violate many positive treaties, in order to fulfil a conditional one.[18]