18. John Ross to Richard Taylor, John Baldridge, Sleeping Rabbit, Sicketowee, and Wahachee, 28 April 1832
My Friends
. . . The Supreme Court in the case of Worcester & Butler vs. the State of Georgia has determined the question of our national rights as fully as can be. the decision is final & cannot be revoked: but the course of legal proceedings is necessarily attended with tardiness, consequently should the authorities of Georgia, refuse, as they have done, to release immediately those much injured imprisoned gentlemen, and continue still to arrest & oppress our citizens,we should not be discouraged, because the President, out of his disappointment, may still pursue a political course toward us, under the hope that by withholding from us the protection of the government, a Treaty may yet be effected previous to the time when it shall become his imperious duty to act for the enforcement of this decision of the Supreme Court. The conflict is now between the United States & Georgia. The final issuer ere long will be seen. Should Georgia prevail, the Union of the States is dissolved: but should the United States regard the constitutional liberties guaranteed to their citizens, Georgia must submit to see the cherokees triumph over their oppressions under her usurped authority; therefore, let the people endure patiently to await the final result. e have gained a great point and they should be watchful over the conduct of such disappointed traitors as may be found amongst them. Thro' the false impressions made by them upon the government, our sufferings have been prolonged, and protections withheld from us . . . I cannot believe that the General Government would allow Georgia to go so far as to draw for and occupy our lands by force. The President has repeatedly said to us, that the Cherokees will be protected in their territorial possessions; and he has also boasted of never having told a red brother a lie, nor ever having spoke to them with a forked tongue. We have a right, however, to judge of this bravado for ourselves from his own acts. The Decision of the Supreme Court, under the Treaties, Laws & Constitution, is the strong shield by which our rights must be respected & protected; and under any other administration than Gen. Jackson, there would be no trouble or difficulty on the subject. Even under this, the crisis is at hand to induce him to act otherwise than he had done, or else his political career will be prostrated. I beseech the people to continue to be patient, firm & united & to have as little intercourse with the white intruders in our country as possible, & above all things, to discountenance & refrain from the introduction & use of ardent spirits. A tippling shop is the fountain from which every species of evil that befalls our citizens & country flows; and it should be spurned & shunned as the bosom of desolation, every true friend to humanity & patriotism. Your friend
John Ross
18. John Ross to Richard Taylor, et al, 28 Apr 1832, in Gary E. Moulton, ed., The Papers of Chief John Ross vol. 1 (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1985), 242-43.