Tennessee Resolution of Restoration
October 2, 2013
Whereas, the great State of Tennessee has a proud and successful heritage of playing significant roles in the recorded history of the United States of America.
Whereas, the first independent democratically governed communities in the United States were four settlements located in what is now East Tennessee, one of which was known as the Watauga Settlement.
Whereas, reconciliation has occurred between the descendants of these settlements through the passage in Carter County of Resolution 516 on April 19th, 2010, and subsequently accepted by members of the Cherokee Nation on April 24,2010.
Whereas, we, the citizens of Tennessee, acknowledge the significant role that the Native American people have played in allowing the birth of American freedom to first take root with tribal approval in East Tennessee, such as the efforts of Nancy Ward who saved the lives of many at the French Lick settlement in which our petition for statehood would emerge. Because of her diplomatic role, Nancy saved the lives of many Cherokees by preventing further bloodshed of her tribe.
Whereas, in subsequent years prior to 1830, relationships with all Native American tribes deteriorated dramatically, leading up to the tragedy of the forced removal of the native people and subsequent confiscation of their homes and lands through the passage of the Removal Act of 1830.
Whereas, Tennessee has a duel role in both the passage of the Removal Act by President Andrew Jackson, and its historic opposition through the efforts of House of Representative member, David Crockett, representing the 9th District in Tennessee.
Whereas,on this the 175th anniversary of the Trail of Tears, the State of Tennessee, wishing to both acknowledge this tragedy and renounce any role it may have played in what is a stain on our collective histories
Now therefore be it resolved, we, the citizens of the State of Tennessee, stand with our Statesman, David Crockett, on a national level in acknowledging the tragedy of this act that took place in defiance of the Supreme Court ruling by Chief Justice John Marshall in Worcester vs. Georgia.
We, the citizens of the Volunteer State, following the example of David Crockett, offered up our lives in the ultimate sacrifice in defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of all people. The global battlefields are stained with the blood of many Tennesseans.
We, the citizens of the Tennessee, wish to close this chapter in our collective history so that our past does not cast a shadow over our future. Tennesseans stand against acts of injustice perpetrated against any people group regardless of race, gender or religion. Therefore, we offer our sincere regret to all Native American groups who were tragically and unjustly confined and removed from their lands by our participation in the Removal Act of 1830 and the subsequent death march known as the Trail of Tears. Greed and prejudice have no part of play in the future of Tennessee. We stand today as David Crockett stood, prepared to lay down our lives in defense of freedom for all people in this great nation.