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CONVERSATIONS.

Eliza. What is meant Mother by the controversy between Georgia and the Creeks, of which so much is said in the papers, and who are the Creeks?

Mother. The Creeks were once a powerful people who possessed a large tract of country in Georgia. In a late number of the New York Review there is an article, entitled an examination of the controversy between Georgia and the Creeks, which states, "that shortly after the accession of the patriotic and venerable Washington to the chief magistracy of the republic, a treaty was concluded at New York in his very presence with the Creek Nation. These par

ticulars are mentioned, that the sanction of that great and good man to the humane policy of the government may have its due weight with all who respect the purity and sagacity of the father

of his country. By this treaty the United States took the Creeks under their protection, guaranteed to the tribes their land within specific limits; settled the manner in which offenders should be punished; and in order to lead them to a greater degree of civilzation, and to become herdsmen, and cultivators, instead of remaining in the state of hunters, the United States agreed to furnish, gratuitously, the Creeks, from time to time, with useful domestic animals, and implements of husbandry." This treaty bears date August 7th, 1790.

"Thus it appears that the United States at that time offered inducements to the Creeks to become cultivators of the soil, and to appropriate it for the purposes of civilized life, instead of using it as mere hunting ground. If they yielded to these inducements, the public faith is pledged to sustain them in that course. Our government is bound, our national character plighted, to encourage them in the wise resolution they have taken, to become civilized men, and to preserve the remnant of their tribe under the protection of this republic."

Caroline. Have the Creeks yielded to the proposal of our government, and are they now civilized?

Mother. The writer of this article proceeds to say, "the pledge has been accepted, and on our part it only remains to fulfil it. In 1796, another treaty was concluded between the United States and the Creeks, and they bargained for blacksmiths and strikers to be furnished by the United States; thus plainly showing their intention to accept the humane offer of civilization from our hands." I will, my dear girls, hereafter give you some account of the Creeks, from the very interesting travels of Bartram, who visited this people on his tour through that part of the country they inhabit, and gives a most pleasing picture of the rural simplicity, and hospitality which prevails in the Creek Nation. You will then be able to judge how far they have complied with the requisition made them by the United States; but I must now proceed as briefly as I may to state the grounds of the controversy. "With these obligations subsisting on the part of the United States, an agreement was entered into with Georgia in 1802, by which the United States agreed to extinguish at their expense, for the use of Georgia, the Indian title to all the lands within the limits of the State, as early as the same could be peaceably obtained on reasonable

terms.' The consideration given by Georgia, on her part, was the relinquishment of all claims to the vacant territory in the West, included within her boundary."

Eliza. Why did the United States agree to extinguish the Indian title to these lands? Did they suppose the Creeks would ever part with their native country voluntarily ?

Mother. It was certainly wrong to make such a compromise with the Georgians, as the strong attachment of the Indians for their native soil was well known; but since we have become powerful, little attention has been given to the rights of the Indians; the Georgians in particular, appear wholly insensible to the claims of justice or humanity, and evince a determination at all events to drive the natives from the small portion of territory they still possess, though the Creeks with the expectation of being suffered to remain in their country, "have at different periods ceded to the United States 15,000,000 of acres which have been vested in Georgia, which State has also received 1,250,000 dollars as an equivalent for the lands ceded to the United States by it. During the last war a portion of the Creeks, instigated by hostile emissaries, and in

fluenced by misrepresentations as to the intentions of the United States with regard to the Indians, took up arms against the whites, and were severely chastised by the army under Gen. Jackson. In 1814, articles of agreement were concluded with the whole nation, including the hostile party, by which peace was restored, a certain portion of Indian territory ceded, and in the second article the United States guaranty the integrity of all the Creek territory not ceded in the first article. This treaty or agreement, the Creeks considered as definitive, and as settling the boundaries within which they were to reside as a civilized people, according to the promises of our government. In conformity with that sentiment, shortly after that treaty, they passed laws constituting it a capital crime to propose any further alienation of their land.”

Caroline. In what manner were these unfortunate Indians chastised?

Mother. An account is given of this bloody transaction in a beautifully written article, on traits of Indian character, which appeared in the Analectic Magazine during the late war. "The punishment of the Creeks has been pitiless and terrible,” says this humane and truly philosophic

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