Portal:United States House of Representatives

“ You are great and renowned—the nation which you represent is like a mighty man who stands in his strength. But we are small—our name is not renowned. You are wealthy, and have need of nothing; but we are poor in life, and have not the arm and power of the rich. ”

“ By these treaties our rights as a separate people are distinctly acknowledged, and guarantees given that they shall be secured and protected. So we have always understood the treaties. The conduct of the Government towards us, from its organization until very lately, the talks given to our beloved men by the Presidents of the United States, and the speeches of the Agents and Commissioners, all concur to show that we are not mistaken in our interpretation. Some of our beloved men who signed the treaties are still living, and their testimony tends to the same conclusion. ”

“ To deliver and protect them from all these and every encroachment upon their rights, the undersigned memorialists do most earnestly pray your honorable bodies. Their existence and future happiness are at stake—divest them of their liberty and country, and you sink them in degredation, and put a check, if not a final stop, to their present progress in the arts of civilized life, and in the knowledge of the christian religion. ”

“ We cannot consent to abandon it, for another far inferior, and which holds out to us, no inducements. we do moreover protest against the arbitrary measures of our neighbor, the state of Georgia, in her attempt to extend her laws over us, in surveying our lands without our consent, and in direct opposition to the treaties and the intercourse law of the United States, and interfereing with our municipal regulations in such a manner as to derange the regular operation of our own laws. ”

“ Brothers—we address you according to usage adopted by our forefathers, and the great and good men who have successfully directed the Councils of the nation you represent—we now make known to you our grievances. We are troubled by some of your own people. ”

“ We are told, if we do not leave the country, which we dearly love, and betake ourselves to the western wilds, the laws of the state will be extended over us, and the time, 1st of June, 1830, is appointed for us the execution of the edict. ”

“ Ᏺ, ᏃᎬᎦᏉ ᎣᎩᏙᏓ, Ꮀ ᎣᏥᎸᏉᏗᏳ ᎨᏒᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎣᏣᎵᏍᎦᏍᏙᏛ ᏂᎦᎥ ᎣᏣᏕᎶᏆᏍᎬ ᎠᎴ ᎣᎩᏍᏕᎸᏗᏱ, ᏄᏲᏢᏉᏃ ᏃᎬᎦ, ᎣᏤᎵᏍᎨᏍᏗ ᎣᏣᏓᏅᏖᏍᎨᏍᏗ ᏂᎪᎯᎸᎢ.—ᎥᏝᏗᎾ ᏂᏥᏍᎦᎢᎭ—ᎤᎾᏓᏅᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏂᏏᎾᏌᏂ ᏴᏫ ᎨᏥᏁᏤᎸᎯ ᎿᏉ ᎣᎦᏤᎵ ᎨᏒ ᏗᏧᎪᏙᏗᏱ ᏕᏨᏲᎯᏏ.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled: The undersigned memorialists humbly make known to your honorable bodies, that they are free citizens of the Cherokee nation. Circumstances of late occurrence have troubled our hearts, and induced us at this time to appeal to you, knowing that you are generous and just. ”