Today in Chickamauga History - June 14
1839, June 14: The Cherokee Registry” Emigration from Georgia – Letter Written by the Chickamauga Chiefs to the John Ross Party – Gentlemen: The National Council has taken up your proposition of June 13, 1839, and given them due consideration. You state that your wishes are to unite the people. As to that nuttier, it is believed by the National Council that the two people have already been united. Our chiefs have met their brother emigrants, and made them welcome in the country; they are, thereby, made partakers of all the existing laws in the country, enjoy all its benefits; and are, in every respect, the same as ourselves. Since our chiefs have made them welcome, they have come to the chiefs and taken them by the hand, and expressed great satisfaction with the manner in which they have been received. This is sufficient to justify the belief that the people are, in general, very well satisfied; consequently, the National Council cannot justify the course of keeping up the uniting question, merely to protract a debate, when the uniting of the people has already been fully and satisfactorily accomplished. As it respects your wishes for your original laws, created beyond the Mississippi, to he brought here, brought to life, and to have full force in this Nation, it is believed by the National Council that such an admission is, and would he, entirely repugnant to the government and laws of the Cherokee, Nation (Chickamauga) which would thereby create great dissatisfaction among the people. To admit two distinct laws or governments in the same country, and for the government of the same people, is something never known to be admitted in any country, or even asked for by any people.
A. M. Vann, President National Committee.
Wm. Thornton, Clerk.
Messrs. Ross and Lowry will please receive this as an answer to their propositions.
Respectfully yours,
John Brown,
John Looney,
John Rogers,
Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation.
Messrs. John Ross and George Lowry.” ‘
To the Committee and Council of the Eastern Cherokees
- https://cherokeeregistry.com/the-emigration-from-georgia-trail-of-tears/