240 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
ities with regard to the extent of their respective powers. No other 
case had, however, happened in which the application of military 
force by the Government of the Union had been suggested for the en- 
forcement of a law the violation of which had within any single State 
been prescribed by a legislative act of that State. In the present in- 
stance it was his duty to say that if the legislative and executive au- 
thorities of the State of Georgia should persevere in acts of encroach- 
ment upon the territories secured by a solemn treaty to the Indians 
and the laws of the Union remained unaltered, a superadded obligation, 
even higher than that of human authority, would compel the Executive 
of the United States to enforce the laws and fulfill the duties of the na- 
tion by all the force committed for that purpose to his charge. 
CHEROKEE PROGRESS IN CIVILIZATION. 
Notwithstanding the many difficulties that had beset their paths and 
the condition of uncertainty and suspense which had surrounded their 
affairs for years, the Cherokees seem to have continued steadily in their 
progress toward civilization. 
The Rev. David Brown, who in the fall of 1825 made an extended 
tour of observation through their nation, submitted, in December! of 
that year, for the information of the War Department, an extended and 
detailed report of his examination, from which it appeared that number- 
less herds of cattle grazed upon their extensive plains; horses were 
numerous; many and extensive flocks of sheep, goats, and swine cov- 
ered the hills and valleys; the climate was delicious and healthy and 
the winters were mild; the soil of the valleys and plains was rich, and 
was utilized in the production of corn, tobacco, cotton, wheat, oats, in- 
digo, and potatoes; considerable trade was carried on with the neighbor- 
ing States, much cotton being exported in boats of their own to New Or- 
leans; apple and peach orchards were quite common; much attention 
was paid to the cultivation of gardens; butter aud cheese of their own 
manufacture were seen upon many of their tables; public roads were 
numerous in the nation and supplied at convenient distances with 
houses of entertainment kept by the natives; many and _ flourish- 
ing villages dotted the country; cotton and woolen cloths were manu- 
factured by the women and home-made blankets were very common; 
almost every family grew suflicient cotton for its own consumption; 
industry and commercial enterprise were extending themselves through- 
out the nation; nearly all the merchants were native Cherokees; the 
population was rapidly increasing, a census just taken showing 15,563 
native citizens, 147 white men and 73 white women who had inter- 
married with the Cherokees, and 1,277 slaves; schools were increasing 
every year, and indolence was strongly discountenanced ; the nation had 
no debt, and therevenue was in a flourishing condition; a printing press 
was soon to be established, and a national library and museum were in 
contemplation. 
1 Letter of Rey. David Brown to Thomas L. McKenney, December 12, 1825. 

