MoosEY] FAKEWELL ADDRESS OF LLOYD WELCH 227 



water, but assume tliat proud position among the civilized nations of the eartli 

 inte/ided by the Creator that we should occupy, and which in the near future you 

 will take or be exterminated. When you become educated, as a natural consecjucnce 

 you will become more intelligent, sober, industrious, and prosperous. 



"It has l)een the aim of my life, the chief object, to serve my race faithfully, hon- 

 estly, and to the best of my auility. How well I have succeeded I will leave to his- 

 tory and yom- magnanimity to decide, trusting an all-wise and just God to guide and 

 protect you in the future, as He will do all things well. We may fail when on earth 

 to see the goodness and wisdom of God in removing from us our best and most use- 

 ful men, but when we have crossed over on the other shore to our happy and eternal 

 home in the far beyond then our eyes will be opened and we will be enabled to see 

 and realize the goodness and mercy of (jod in thus afflicting us while here on earth, 

 and will be enabled more fully to praise God, from whom all blessings come. 



"I hope that «hen you come to select one from among you to take the responsible 

 position of principal chief of your band you will lay aside all personal considerations 

 and select one in every respect competent, without stain on his fair fame, a pure, 

 noble, honest, man — one who loves God and all that is pure — with intellect suHicient 

 to know your rights, independence and nerve to defend them. Should you be thus 

 fortunate in making your choice, all will be well. It has been truthfully said that 

 ' when the righteous rule the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule the people 

 mourn.' 



"I am satisfied that you have among you many who are fully competent of the 

 task. If I was satisfied it was your wish and for the good of my brothers 1 might 

 mention some of them, but think it Ijest to leave you in the hands of an all-wise ( iod, 

 who does all things right, to guide and direct you aright. 



"And now, my brothers, in taking perhaps my last farewell on earth I ilo pray 

 God that you may so conduct yourselves while here on earth that when the last sad 

 rite is performed by loved friends we may compose one unbroken family above in 

 that celestial city from whose bourne no traveler has ever returned to describe the 

 beauty, grandeur, and happiness of the heaven prepared for the faithful by Gotl him- 

 self beyond the sky. And again, my brothers, permit me to bid you a fond, but 

 perhaps a last, farewell on earth, until we meet again where parting is never known 

 and friends meet to part no more forever. 



"L. R. Welch, 

 "Principal Chief Eastern Band Cherokee 7ndian.s. 



"Witness: 



"Samuel W. D.wiuson. 

 "B. B. Mekonv." 



(49) Status of eastern baxd (p. 180): For some reason all authorities who have 

 hitherto discussed the status of the eastern band of Cherokee seem to have been 

 entirely unaware of the enactment of the supplementary articles to the treaty of New 

 Echota, by which all preemption and reservation rights granted under the twelfth 

 article wore canceled. Thus, in the C-herokee case of "The United States ct nl against 

 I). T. Boyd et al," we find the United States circuit judge quoting the twelfth article 

 in its original form as a basis for argument, while his as.sociate judge says: "Their 

 forefathers availed themselves of a provision in the treaty of New Echota and 

 remained in the state of North Carolina," etc. (Report of Indian Connnissioner for 

 1895, pp. 633-635, 1896) . The truth is that the treaty as ratified with its supplemen- 

 tary articles canceled the residence right of every Cherokee east of tlie Mississippi, 

 and it was not until thirty years afterwards that North Carolina finally gave assurance 

 that the eastern band would be permitted to remain within her borders. 



The twelfth article of the new Echota treaty of December 29, 1835, provides for a 

 pro rata ai>portionment to such Cherokee as desire to remain in the East, and con- 



