P
just yet. The holy man’s skill at dealing with whites
will also help his people cope with life in their west-
ern territory. Kennekuk will instruct his followers
in a new religion that teaches them to live peace-
fully with non-Indians while refusing to relinquish
any more of their lands to whites.
Black Hawk’s autobiography is published.
Sac rebellion leader Black Hawk (see entry for APRIL
TO AUGUST 1832) tells his life story, in one of the
first as-told-to Indian autobiographies. The book
is dictated to French interpreter Antoine LeClair,
who claims Black Hawk approached him to write
the manuscript so “that the people of the United
States... might know the causes that impelled him
to act as he had done, and the principles by which
he was governed.” White interest in Black Hawk
was aroused during his government-sponsored tour
of eastern cities after he was released from prison in
late 1832.
January
Elias Boudinot resigns as the Cherokee
Phoenix editor.
Editor of the Cherokee’s tribal newspaper, the Cher-
okee Phoenix (see entry for FEBRUARY 21, 1828),
Elias Boudinot begins reporting on the dissension
within the Cherokee Tribal Council regarding Re-
moval to lands to the west. Once a vocal opponent
of Removal, Boudinot has begun to reverse his
stance, largely because the aftermath of Worcester v.
Georgia (see entry for 1832). The Supreme Court’s
decision in this case held that Georgia law could
not be applied to the Cherokee. This legal victory
meant little in practice, however, because the fed-
eral government refused to protect the Cherokee
from Georgia’s efforts to control their lands.
When Boudinot writes about some coun-
cil members’ doubts about whether the Cherokee,
without federal support, will be able to win the fight
against Removal, Principal Chief John Ross (see entry
for 1828) orders him to stop. Boudinot refuses and
resigns in protest. Ross appoints his brother-in-law
Elijah Hicks as Boudinot’s successor, but publication
becomes increasingly erratic as Georgia officials pres-
sure the newspaper to close its doors. On May 31,
1834, the last issue of the Phoenix is published. The
next year, the Cherokee’s printing press will be con-
fiscated by Georgia authorities. (See also entries for
DECEMBER 25, 1835, and for JUNE 22, 1839.)“I could not consent to be the
conductor of the [Cherokee
Phoenix] without having the
right and privilege of discuss-
ing these important matters;
and from what I have seen and
heard, were I to assume that
privilege, my usefulness would
be paralyzed by being consid-
ered, as I have already been, an
enemy to the interests of my
country and my people.”
—from Elias Boudinot’s letter of
resignation as editor of the
Cherokee PhoenixMarchNez Perce and Flathead are reported to be
eager for conversion.
Published in the Christian Advocate and Journal, a
letter written by William Walker, a Wyandot convert
to Christianity, provides an account of a Nez Perce
and Flathead delegation’s 1831 trip to St. Louis. Ac-
cording to Walker, the delegates traveled more than
1,000 miles to ask that missionaries be sent to their
tribal territories. Although the delegation most likely
made the trip for another reason, the story will per-
suade many missionaries to set out for the West to
work among the Indians there. Among them are
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, who will establish an
ill-fated mission among the Cayuse (see entries for
1836 and for NOVEMBER 29, 1847).