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CHGBOKEE PH4ENIX
^INDIANS’ ADVOCATE.
bAztoa.
MEW fiOHOTA, EATU|tDA7 WOVEMBE 19, 1831
vol. nr.^wo. 10
WEEKLY 11
JOHN CANDY,
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TSToTaasT
From the Charleston Observer.
THE MISSION ARIES
Tliu follow in* letter from the Rev.
John Thompson, is published in no
oordmee with that system of even
/landed justice which We have pemted
iu reference to the contest which has
been pending but ween the Cherokee
missionaries and the Stat of Ga. It
will be recollected that letters and
statements, inculpatory am) expulpa-
|ory, have beet) minuted into our pa
yer from Gov. Gilmer, Col. Sanford,
Gol. Nelson, ou the one hand, and
from t|iq Rev. Mr, "Worcester and
DivBptier, on the other—but witli-
«ui auy coin nents of our own. Nor
dtave wo ;bought comment necessary ,
io enable our readers to discriminate
between surmises and fads—sophistry
ana reason, in the case at issues
BrAIAERD, CHEROKEE NATION, >
Oct. 6th, 1B31. s
Miu Giloerseeeve,
Dear Sir,—I noticed, in the Obser
ver, a few weeks since, several com
munications from His Excellency
Georgo R. Gilmer, containing refer
ences to my owe, and the conduct of
other Missionaries in this Nation.—
folds letter to the Hon. J. H. Ea
ton, ere allegations adapted to mis
lead the public mind in regard to my
own doings, and to create prejudice
against others, who are engaged in lire
name cause- It is due*- therefore, to
your readers to be made acquainted
with the course I have persued, and
far iwbicli I am accused.
Hit Excellency states (hat I am
‘^reported to have been active in ex
citing the Indians to their attempts to
suttain an independent Govt.” To this
statement permit me to subjoin a few
facts. I have been in the Nation
nearly three years, but hare never at
tended a general Council of the Cher-
okees. N6r have ! ever been pres
ent at anf of the regular Courts.—
Once I witnessed a trial between
citizens of this country at a place
where I immediately afterwards
frreached. 1 vrnt present also when
some Cherokee* had assembled to
{ irotest against the method directed
if the President for receiving their
Annuity, la the doings of the Cber-
-ekeei On that occasion I took no part
except to witness the signing of their
Starnes.
The above is a detail of my atten
dance at thO public meetings of the
Indians, except when I have met
♦hem for religious purposes. I may
safely chrttenge any man to adduce a-
nother instance. But if the reports
’wMeb -havereached Governor Gil
mer, ate of sufficient validity to. call
A»r the steps which he has taken in
regard to myself, -might it not have
been expected that I would have been
sths interested in the Councils,
SuuH*, and othef meetings of the In
dians, collected for the sake of sus
taining an “independent Govern
ment?” Or lias it been reported to
Ilis Excellency, that I have been
“active in exciting the Indians in
their individual capacity?” If so,
there has been a time and place
when and where this has been done.
His Excellency has not specified ns
to these particulars. And why not?
For the obvious reason, that evidence
,ia wanting. A candid and enlighten
ed public, I apprehend, expect him
to adduce evidence, not only, that I
have been active, but criminally so,
before it will be prepared to pro
nounce as to my guilt, f do not wish,
however, to conceal the fact* that 1
am in favor of supporting the institu
tions anti laws of the Indians. To
wrest from them these, would, in my
view, be as palpable a violation of
justice, as of those treaties by which
they are walled around. The view
expressed above, is among the causes
Which have deterred me from taking
tile Oath prescribed for white men
residing in this Nalisn, by the Legis
lature of Georgia. Aside from this,
there are other intrinsic objections a-
gainst binding myself with the obliga
tions of the above Oath: for seme of
those laws which it is designed to
support, so far as I understand their
nature and end, are adapted to goad,
instead of protecting the defenceless
Indian.
Governor Gilmer informs the late
•Secretary of War, that Missionaries
have “found their stations too lucra
tive to yield them up willingly.
When I bear (bis allegation from the
lips of injured avarice or wounded
cupidity, in connection with it* kind
red insinuations so frequently made
to the Indian, “the missionaries have
come to rob you of your lands and to
.•i.iMrj'n ” 1 can \vith-
out greal effort make up my mind si
lently to hi.nr. them. But I am not
nccus'omed to hear them from jr
source sn deserving of respect, as the
Executive of Georgia, i will not
say that Governor Gilmer has origin
ated this allegation: for it is as old
,>s the hostility to Missions, i owe
it, however, to myself, my brethren,
mid the cause of my Master, to r«pel
the assertion. So tar as L myself am
concerned, and so for as my knowl
edge extends to other Missionaries,
tf is wholly incorrect J.111 I ask, and
all / obtain for my labor among (bis
people is a bare support. Nor would
my pecuniary interest be effected in
the least hy the entire failure of the
Indian cause. If any person is in
possession of evidence to invalidate
this statement he Certainly has the
right, and ought to produce it.
I understand, Governor Gilmer, as
including me in that class of persons
whose “influence,” be affirms, has
beon “exercised in opposition to the
humane policy of the Government.”
By “the humane policy of the Gov
ernment,” is douhtles meant those
measures in .progress for tho removal
of the Indians beyond the Mississippi.
I am represented as opposed to these
measures. If by my “opposition”
His Excellency meant no more than
that I entertain views, on this tub-
ject, differing from In's own, and that
they have been expressed, 1 admit
the correctness of his representation.
I am free to confess that I anticipate
the removal of the Cherokee* with
their aversion to it, with the
greatest solicitude. 1 view it as the
precursor to a serious, if not entire
and fatal interruption of their progress
in civilization apd religion. Apd
should these feeble churches of
Christ, to gather which has cost the
toil and expense of years, be scatter
ed and placed b<jypnd the reach of
instruction, I have resolved that it
shall be done without iny aid. If the
children i» the schools, raipd be com
pelled to return J<? tbcjr parents, and
accompany them to the chase, and
live and,die in nil the ignorance of
nature, it shall be without any influ
ence of mine- D«d the prospect be
fore them in the West, offer any e-
quivalenl for the loss they would sus
tain in points tfewhicb I have alluded,
I should view the subject different *dd said lome things
ly. And is it a crime for a Missiona
ry thus to express an opinion on a
subject of such universal interest to
oar country?
Further than a free expression of
my belief, I have not gone. And if
by my “opposition to the policy of
Government,” Gov. Gilmer would
imply, that I have endeavoured to
prejudice the mind of the Cherokees
against a removal, or that 1 have
been disposed in any way to intercept
the Agent of Government when en
gaged in the business of enrolling em
igrants, 1 disavow any such inter
ference. Indeed, 1 have been as desti
tute of an opportunity,as a desire thus
to interfere', for no citizen of this Na
tion has ever expressed to mo a dis
position to remove beyond the Missis
sippi. With such as have been so
disposed, 1 have had no moans of inter
course, So far as the feelings of in
dividuals have been made known to
me, they have been without excep
tion averse to a removal.
But the circumstances in which 1
have found myself, has led me to
inquire as to the character of those
measures which Ilis Excellency is
pleased to denominate the “humane
policy of the Government.” So far
as this policy Iia3 fifcen developed, 1
have been led to take a different
view of its nature.
Under its influence, I have seen
tho Indian, whose rights and welfare
it professes to regard io prime ob
ject, thrown into rhaius and dragged
topiisjn, for no ether offence than
digirug into ti «* «°:i which cave him
niriu." * u»vv m-«ii v-»
around his nock, and thence extend
ing to the baggage wagon ot the
Georgia Guard, and thus made to
travel during the greater part of the
day. Others I have seen driven be
fore tho Guard, like so many cattle
for the sli'ughler, for the same crime
mentioned above. Others still have
been confined in jail for weeks; and
again, others havo been summoned to
appear before the acting Command-’
or of the Guard, to receive such ad
monitions as his martial spirit might
dictate,, and then to be retained or
discharged at h s pleasure. Among
those who have been thus treated,
may be mentioned the Editor of the
Cherokee Phoenix. In short, the
Cherokees have, without distinction,
been hunted and driven from thoir
gold mines, and thus made to yield
an unwilling obedience to the acts of
Georgia. When I have witnessed
these things, the question has arisen,
“arc the rights of the Indians secured,
and l\ipir persons and property pro
tected by the policy of Government?”
And has humanity originated and
carried forward such a system of pol
icy as this? The answer has been,
A good tree cannot bring forth evil
* a IS VI.— m — — a a M L.f A til M lit I A A
into jail where he lay for three or
fouF days and was then discharged,
while the only ostensible cause for
this treatment was, that lie happened
to i^eet the Guard on the public road
which they re
ceived as “insolent language.” I
have seen another minister of the
Gospel, who did not ride out of sight
of the Guard at the order of their
Commander, recfciv from him a se
vere blow on the head.
Recently 1 have visited the mis
sion station which I have been com
pelled to leave for the present on
account of the proceedings of Geor
gia, which appear to have received
the sanction of of the Executive of
the United States. I fouud the mis
sion house occupied hy a number of
the Guard. A Cherokee family
which I had placed thoir to take care
of the furniture anil other property
at the Station, fled at their approach
The doors of a room in which the
furniture had bean left and which
was carefully nailed and bolted, were
opened and the furniture removed
to an upper apartment. To this any
one had access, for when l arrived
the door was not fastened.
The last Spring expecting to board
and school fifteen or twenty Cherokee
children during the year, I planted a
small fluid of corn. Much of the
labor in preparing tlid ground, and
depositing the seed, was performed
with my own hands. Some vegeta
bles bad been raised, and also a small
quantity of potatoes. When i arriv
ed at tlie station, the corn had been
destroyed by the Guard. Tho place
where I left pototoo« had been sown
with lurnip-'eed. Their horses were
permitted to range ot pleasure, not
only in the cornfield, but in the gar
den, and amtng the fruit trees.
It will not he forgotten that the
Mission house was erected, and the
llllpl U1
the expense of the Missionary Socie
ty, under whose direction I labor;
and for the express purpose of ena
bling those who had the charge of
them to exert their influence to civil
ize and evangelize the Indians
Gov. Gilmer. In view of the fact*
which have been mentioned, wc have
a glance at that policy which Govern
or Gilmer lias denominated' “hu
mane”. And is humanity its'peculiar
characteristic? Let bolts add furs,
w hich coniine such men as Worces
ter and Butler, answer. Let the
grating 6f massy hinges arid clanking
of chains, as they echo from priron
walls on the car ot innocent men, ter*'
lily.
1 am, dear sir. yours in the Gospel,
JOHN THOMPSON.
From Pouhons American daily Advertiser;
THE CHEROKEE MISSIONA
RIES, INDIANS, &c.
Mr. Pollson— 1 notice in yooi*‘
paper of yesterday morning, a ,; copy
oftlie proceedings of tl:e distinguished
Association— The .American Board of
Commissioners, tit a meeting held at
New Haven, on the 7lh insl 1 rejoice
to sue the notice, and the sort of no
tice which the bp aid has taken o f t he'
incarceration of two of their mi««ion-
arii:s. Thc.ro is in this step of ovl-
latcry on the part of Georgia;’ a pri.i^
cipie, which, if not dest royed, must
end in the subversion of our Federal
compact. The American Board ap
pear to me to have nioved, in regard
to this subject, in the spirit of (rue
wisdom. Tin: basis of theii opera--
lions is to give out li-ht to the peo
ple; hut it is indespe-'safU u> a clear"
illustration of the case that Con/ <ss
be mercorailized, and net meaiorializ
ed only, but that Committees fro av
ail parts of (be Union, in the person*’
of tarn loving otir Union respecting
the laws and treaties of the land, and
feeling for the honor of the country',-
and for the wrongs done to even the
meanest of her sous, should attend, in
person, and show to Congress in art 1
embodied form, how indignant the
citizens of this republic are at suehf
LHl/rtiF, ff W o r.. , i le l .jovereigaty. of this
zm. ,
Either Congress hafre* the' right,
nr have not the right to enact laws
for the government df' our “i.itr-r-
But'course with the fr.dian tribes.”—The
and i general governitten 1 bnrt^he power
enter dial Mission house now, and; gencr „ #
instead of those who have beon there | or have it not, 1o enter inf tt com par's
fruit*” I have seen while men too,
respectable anil intelligent, arrested
and driven before the Guard during
the day, and chained at night* till
(hey have accomplished laborious
rbute of from 50 to 100 miles, and
thi;n thrown inti prison, and detained
there eight or ten days, when their
keepers could show no warrant or
precept from civil authority for so
doing. A minister of the Gospel
whose residence was in Tennessee,
after having been arretted and com
pelled to dismount from his horse
ami to Walk* was denied for awhile
the pfiV'tleiie of choosing tho better
part's of Iti? way; and was forced
through thud-boles and water. He
was obliged To continue in company
with the ether clergymen, his pe
destrian march for the greater part
of the time till seventy miles had
b£eo passed: He was then thrown
for the sake of disseminating the mild
maxims of the Gospel, you shall bd-
holil the soldier in .Habiliments of
war. Instead of the voice of prayer
and praise, you shall hear the music
of the violin! Instead of a circle of
young immortal beings, listening to
instruction, you shall find their places
occupied with the ensigns of death.
In view of this appalling picture, I
would ask, whether buildings erect
ed, with the funds of the benevolent,
to furnish means for imparling to the
Indians the rudiments of knowledge,
the arts of civilized life, and the
principles of Christianity^ shall be
forcibly entered by a band of soldiers,
and by them be converted into camps?
Shall the avails of a Missionary’s la
bor, designed to support his family
and a few Cherokee children, he
seized in opeu day, and be consumed
as rations for troops and forage for
their horses? Shall the apartments
of a Mission house, secured hy nails
and bolts, be broken open, and the
property within removed and derang
ed to suit tlieir convenience?
I submit the decision of these in
quiries to tho friends of liberty, jus
tice, and humanity, iu our country.
If I mistake not, they are novel trans
actions, and will hereafter be viewed
as such, when seen on the page of
future history, which records the
splendor of American freedom?
In conclusion, permit me to add
that a few days since, al Lawrence*
villa, Go. eleven men were sentenc
ed to four years hard labor in the Pen
itentiary of Georgia-, among whom
were two Ministers of the Gospel,
one Catechist, and four or five other
professors of religion—for residing
in this nation without a license from
._ >r >* l
with these people. The assert leaf ia
ventured, that up to the reign’ of the
present Administration, no previous^,
one ever expended a thought, involv
ing a doubt ns to its obligations to-In*
dians, and to enforce the laws of
Congress, enacted for the government
of our relations with them. Evea
Georgia herself lias acquiesced in
this right, and in these legal obliga
tions. Officers acting under orders,
of the Federal FxPcutive,. have, id
forcing back intruders upon Cherokee
lands, shot and killed citizens of
Georgia. These officers have been
arrested, iudictmcnts for murder have
been found against (hem—they Have
been tried by Georgia Courts, and
Georgia Juries, and acquitted! Where
foro! Because of (tie proof that they
were acting under iTic nutlioritv of the
Federal Government, wlijrli Georgia
herself admitted to be legal aid para
mount.
Whatever may have been (tic opin
ions of the Presidents who proceed
ed the present incumbent, as to th£
policy of removing the Indlatis, and
the beneficial effect! of (bat policy on
the lives and happinef* of die Indian*,
and the repose and harmony of the
states, reeking their removal, and
they did nil believe in this--but with
out dreaming of force to compel lt-*-
no one of them ever ventured to tip*
burden his conscience of ihe ©nth
which he had taken to support the
laws. This appalling task wm re
served for General Jackson! He has
decided that the laws and treaties
are a nullity—surrendered the Indiew
up 1o the enactments of n Stats Ur
gislature—and abandoned them to
their fate!
- The question in not, hat Georgia