[NativeSon]

They revered the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution as particularly important guarantors of their rights and freedoms.

I am not an expert on Cherokee history but I have seen a list of treaty after treaty (broken?) and know of some very unfriendly acts committed by the U.S. . as far as "Rights and Freedoms" that was something not afforded to AI's in general, perticually ones that had the audacity to continue to be AI.

Using the Cherokee's desire to maintain their American way of life as the reason for joining the Confederates makes be laugh.

[Mamzelle]

The Civil War was an opportunity to make war on Federals--

[stand watie]

i am reminded of the immortal words of Red Cloud of the Lakota Nation:

"the hairy faces came among us and made us many promises.

more promises than there are leaves on all the trees.

but of all the promises they made, they kept just one.

they said they would take our land away!"

free dixie,sw