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Chapter 1.

National Characteristics of the Cherokees.

My countrymen,

1. Our position with regard to the Indians generally, is a very critical one. It is especially so, with regard to the Cherokee Indians. What American who feels as he ought, can see his country in danger of rendering a blot upon her honor indelible, without considering it a permanent duty to endeavour to restrain her by friendly counsel. The history of our conduct to the Cherokees is already dark enough. Let us pause where we are and ask ourselves some questions. Half the crimes on our globe are committed through ignorance; but there are very few cases in which the ignorance itself is not a crime. This is one of them. We need not be blinded by the designing and interested on the Cherokee question. I will endeavour to give you as brief a view as I can of the actual state of this important subject, that you may judge for yourselves whether the American people ought