Lewis Ross Et Al. Appeal Of The Cherokee Nation 1830 ✓ Solved

Lewis Ross Et Alappeal Of The Cherokee Nation 1830 Abridgedwe Ar

Lewis Ross et al. Appeal of the Cherokee Nation (1830) [Abridged] We are aware that some persons suppose it will be for our advantage to remove beyond the Mississippi. We think otherwise. Our people universally think otherwise. Thinking that it would be fatal to their interests, they have almost to a man sent their memorial to Congress, deprecating the necessity of a removal. . . .

It is incredible that Georgia should ever have enacted the oppressive laws to which reference is here made, unless she had supposed that something extremely terrific in its character was necessary in order to make the Cherokees willing to remove. We are not willing to remove; and if we could be brought to this extremity, it would be not by argument, nor because our judgment was satisfied, not because our condition will be improved; but only because we cannot endure to be deprived of our national and individual rights and subjected to a process of intolerable oppression. We wish to remain on the land of our fathers. We have a perfect and original right to remain without interruption or molestation.

The treaties with us, and laws of the United States made in pursuance of treaties, guaranty our residence and our privileges, and secure us against intruders. Our only request is, that these treaties may be fulfilled, and these laws executed. But if we are compelled to leave our country, we see nothing but ruin before us. The country west of the Arkansas territory is unknown to us. From what we can learn of it, we have no prepossessions in its favor.

All the inviting parts of it, as we believe, are preoccupied by various Indian nations, to which it has been assigned. They would regard us as intruders. . . . The far greater part of that region is, beyond all controversy, badly supplied with wood and water; and no Indian tribe can live as agriculturists without these articles. All our neighbors . . . would speak a language totally different from ours, and practice different customs. The original possessors of that region are now wandering savages lurking for prey in the neighborhood. . . .

Were the country to which we are urged much better than it is represented to be, . . . still it is not the land of our birth, nor of our affections. It contains neither the scenes of our childhood, nor the graves of our fathers. . . . We have been called a poor, ignorant, and degraded people. We certainly are not rich; nor have we ever boasted of our knowledge, or our moral or intellectual elevation. But there is not a man within our limits so ignorant as not to know that he has a right to live on the land of his fathers, in the possession of his immemorial privileges, and that this right has been acknowledged by the United States; nor is there a man so degraded as not to feel a keen sense of injury, on being deprived of his right and driven into exile. . . .

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The struggle of the Cherokee Nation in the early 19th century epitomizes the broader conflict between Native American tribes and U.S. federal and state governments over land rights, sovereignty, and cultural survival. The Petition of the Cherokee Nation in 1830, as articulated by Lewis Ross and other leaders, presents a compelling argument against forced removal and underscores their deep emotional and legal ties to ancestral lands. This paper explores the historical context of this appeal, examines the legal and ethical dimensions of Cherokee resistance, and discusses implications for contemporary discussions on indigenous rights.

The Cherokee Nation's appeal was a direct response to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, enacted by the U.S. Congress under President Andrew Jackson. While the legislation aimed to relocate Native tribes west of the Mississippi River to supposedly 'better' lands, the Cherokee leaders articulated that such removal was neither desirable nor justified. Their argument centered on legal treaties that guaranteed their land rights and on moral principles of justice and respect for sovereignty. They contended that their right to remain on their homeland was protected by treaties with the United States, which could not be abrogated without violating legal commitments.

The appeal highlights the profound connection between the Cherokee people and their land, emphasizing that their origins, cultural practices, cemeteries, and history were intertwined with their territorial boundaries. For them, leaving this land equated to cultural genocide and loss of identity. The Cherokee leaders pointed out that the lands proposed for resettlement, west of the Arkansas Territory, were unfamiliar and inhospitable, poorly supplied with essential resources like water and wood, and inhabited by peoples with whom they had little in common. Additionally, they viewed the proposed new lands as already occupied by other tribes, strengthening their claim that removal would be an act of intrusiveness and injustice.

From a legal perspective, the Cherokee Nation’s appeal rests on the treaties that recognized their ownership and sovereignty. Notably, the Treaty of Hopewell (1785) and subsequent agreements reinforced the Cherokee’s rights to their land. Yet, despite these legal assurances, the U.S. government sought to impose policies that disregarded treaty obligations. The Cherokee's resistance underscores the importance of treaty law and the need for its enforcement to protect indigenous land rights.

Moreover, the appeal reveals the moral dimension of the struggle. The Cherokee leaders explicitly state that they are not 'ignorant' or 'degraded,' but a proud people with a fundamental right to their land—rights that must be respected regardless of political expediency. Their pleas evoke universal principles of justice and respect for indigenous sovereignty, which remain relevant today.

This resistance had lasting implications for Native American communities. Although the Indian Removal Act ultimately led to the infamous Trail of Tears, the Cherokee Nation's steadfastness influenced future legal battles and advocacy for indigenous rights. The appeal articulated a vision of sovereignty rooted in law, history, and moral justice—an enduring testament to their resilience.

In conclusion, the Cherokee Nation’s appeal in 1830 epitomizes the enduring conflict between indigenous sovereignty and U.S. expansion. Their legal arguments based on treaty rights, combined with moral appeals emphasizing their humanity and cultural importance, continue to resonate in contemporary debates over indigenous land rights today. Recognizing their historical resistance is crucial for understanding the ongoing struggles of Native populations and the importance of honoring treaties and sovereignty.

References

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• Wilkins, D. E. (2016). American Indian Sovereignty and the U.S. Supreme Court: The Treaty Power and the Constitution. Oxford University Press.
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