The Ridge Family
“I rejoice that my dear nation now begins to peep into the privileges of civilization – that this great and generous government is favorable to them, and that ere long, Congress will give them the hand of strong fellowship – that they will encircle them in the arms of love, and adopt them into the fond embraces of the Union.”
“It is a known fact, that those Indians who have missionaries among them, and who live on this side [of] the Mississippi [River], are coming up, with faster steps to civilization, than those who have been enticed to remove to the west… How different is the condition of that part of my nation, who have been enticed by their foolish imaginations, and particularly by the allurement of the white men, to remove to the Arkansas [Territory] .”
Source: Thurman Wilkins, Cherokee Tragedy: The Story of the Ridge Family and of the Decimation of a People (New York: MacMillan Co., 1970), p. 129.
Elias Boudinot
“There is, in Indian history, something very melancholy, and which seems to establish a mournful precedent for the future events of the few sons of the forest, now scattered over this vast continent.
We have seen every where the poor aborigines melt away before the white population. I merely speak of the fact, without at all referring to the cause. We have seen, I say, one family after another, one tribe after another, nation after nation, pass away; until only a few solitary creatures are left to tell the sad story of extinction.
Shall this precedent be followed? I ask you, shall red men live, or shall they be swept from the earth? With you and this public at large, the decision chiefly rests. Must they perish? Must they all, like the unfortunate Creeks, (victims of the unchristian policy of certain persons,) go down in sorrow to their grave? They hang upon your mercy as to a garment. Will you push them from you, or will you save them? Let humanity answer. ”
Source: Elias Boudinot ‘An Address to the Whites,’ 1826 | United States History I.” Lumenlearning.com, 2020,courses.lumenlearning.com/ushistory1os/chapter/primary-source-elias-boudinot-an-address-to-the-whites-1826/. Accessed 3 Oct. 2020.
Major Ridge
Translated by his son, John Ridge
“Major Ridge (has with) distinguished zeal and ability served his country. He saw it was on the precipice of ruin, ready to tumble down. He (has) told of their danger. Did he tell truth or not?
Let every man look at our circumstances and judge for himself.
(Is) a man to be denounced for his opinions? If a man (sees) a cloud charged with rain, thunder and storm … (and urges) the people to take care … is that man to be hated or … respected?
Foreman (has) told untruths to prejudice your minds against certain men to gratify his malice. The Delegation (has) given us a candid report – I believe they (have) hid nothing from us. It offered no hope of relief against our suffering country.
Why should we embitter each other’s feelings?
But, if the presence of Major Ridge and myself in (this) Council, which we thought was ours also, is disagreeable to you, we know how to stay away.
What would become of our Nation if we were all like Tom Foreman? Could any good grow out of our Councils? We should now fall together and twist each other’s noses. Our eyes would not remain in their sockets, but in general, we (would) gouge them out.”
Source: Ridenour, Paul. “Quotes and Stories.” Paulridenour.Com, 2020, www.paulridenour.com/quotes.htm. Accessed 3 Oct. 2020.