Newspaper Page Text
Athens, Aug. 17,1330.
Cooper and Hayne, or were icsshnnrsl in the exercise
nftlirir talents for the public weal." We cite the.,
charges, not with a view of refuting them, but toahoiv
to whet hardihood of assertion this w riter ie driven, in
Ilia desperate struggle to free himself from the coil in
which he ha. entangled himself. But this is a somni
ferous subject, and wo are Retting sleepy over it, or
we might notice “ A Georgian” further. We must
ake a nap.
—
The Augusta Chronicle of the t-tlh inst. commenting
tpon thn recent elections by the Hoard of I rtistees of
Franklin College—makes the following remarks.
The following gentlemen are candidates for aeata in
the Congress of the United States, at the election in
A'ctcbcr next.
THOMAS U. P. CHARLTON, of Chatham,
THOMAS F. FOSTER, of Greene,
SEA TON GRANT!,AND, of Baldwin,
DANIEL NF.tYNAN, do.
KJGER L. GAMBLE, of Jefferson,
RICHARD H. UILDE, of Richmond,
WILEY THOMPSON, of F.lbort,
WILSON LUMPKIN, of Walton,
CHARLES F.. HAYNES, nf Hancock,
IIF.NUY G. LAMAR, of Bibb,
r.EUUF.N C. SHORTER, of Jasper,
JAMES M. WAYNE, of Chatham.
In the notice of the nroceedinga during Commence
Cinnt week, in onrlast paper, we inadvertently omitted
the name ofTndd Kobinaon, Jr. a. one of the orators
. f the Junior Class. Ilia subject—" The immortality
i f the sou!,” Abo, the nnine ofF. D. Wimberly,on
whom the degree of A. B. was conferred, We have fill
il our duty to note this omission.
— -Uf>—
During the sitting nfthe Superior Court of Clark
injunction issued by the Judge egsinst them and otliera
s om e time previous, for trespass in the gold region of
the Cherokee territory. They were admitted to bail,
to .land their trials at llall Superior Court, within the
jurisdiction of which Court the crime* were committed.
The name of the Poet-office heretofore know
Bethlehem, in Oglethorpe county, ha* been changed to
Cherokee Corner, to which address il is requested all
!»ttcra and papers for that office may in future be sent.
-<®>-
Tho last Federal Union contain* a long adtlreas to
»hc People of Georgia, in vindication of the course the
editor of that paper puiaued in relation to Burrilt, and
Walker’* pamphlets. The vindication is apecioua, but
far from satisfactory. The very first charge mode by
Mr*. Buri itt, that her husband did not write for the
pamphlets, “until the propriety <>f writing had been dis
cussed in the offiee, in the presence nf hi* associate
editor, Mr. Pnlhill," i* wholly evaded and lost sight of;
not « word is said on that pr.il of thn subject, and which
i.t certainly a most materia! purl of it. It ie the pivot
upon which the whole accusation turns. If Mr. Pol.
bill wa. privy to the writing for the pamphlets, ho was
un accessory in the circulation—which as a lawyer, he
must have known. Mr. Bnrritlht nddreas to him on
presenting him with thn pamphlet aflcr his return from
Martin, showed lluvt smoothing had hoen aaid between
them on the subject before. “ I have gut one of their
b ulk* since you were gone;" evidently referring to a
book which had hern previously spoken of. And Mr.
Pnlhill’* own n*aertion, that ho “ looked at the title
page—saw what it was”—and laid it by to peruse it at
leisure, thoweof itself a familiarity with the subject
w.!ii(h requires some explanation. Mr. Pnlhill, it i»
true, aiva that Burrilt concealed from him the tact of
his having received any communication from the negto,
or having written to him—but does not aav any thing
in cnntiadiclinn of Mrs. B’a statement, that he Imd n
knowledge of Burritt’s intention to write. We feel no
dispo-itinn tocriminhte Mr. Polhill— ahnll make up no
ooi .ion ouraelf on the auhieet at present, and would
a.t.ise onr readers t the some course. When the facta
are more fullv developed, as it is probable they will he,
a v .diet ran bn made up with more certainty. Then
let the odium of attempting to citculate tlieae pamph
lets (all where il i* due.
We have made ” A Georgian" *o anra already, and
convicted him of *o much tergivenation, miarepreaen.
tn’ion and downright falsehood, that it ha* become
prot ly much a matter of indifference with its whether
wo " give him hi* tether’’ unchecked, or use him for mu
Snmt when we feel disposed to write an idle paragraph
Having* half hour’* leisure after dinner, and nothing
belter to amuse u* while picking our teeth, we will de
vote it to exposing some of tba beauties of this “elegant
author," as we find them in the Federal Union of the
list ult. To onr reader* who are not ar idle as our
selves, we would give our advise to skip this article,
for’he auhieet is nfauch trifling note, as to bo but lillla
worthy any one’* attention who ha* any other object
in view than a conforlablespn. ie.
Of all puerility in a grown baby, perhapa tha most
trifling is, instead of using arguments of your own, tak
ing iboae of your antagonist and applying them to him
self. Almost every ana ran remember in hia childhood
w hen, if l it plavmate accused him or a word or deed
di-npreeahle to him, of his very -impl*' reply,— “ I konw
,.«i .'id ’’ This is" A Georgian’*” great engine nf de
fence, > it ba’teiing.-amnfmight, and hia gigantic bul
wark nf political argument. I et him be preased ever
an idnso, hemmed in a mouse trap, crammed into a to
baccn box, no odds. “ I knew you did” acts the matter
oil right in hit clear judgment. With this all subduing
•nil dignified argument hr seta nut in the article ale.re
r»f-ired to. It lien we show him that the principles for
which the Statesman v Patriot contended, have been
lost sight of under the new regime, and that an entirely
new set have been proimdpated by the Federal lb
—" I know you hate,” is hia meat cogent reply, and
distipatr a at ence all argument and all shame. " hen
We tell him of “ anonymous writings of a person
ggr who is publishing in the Federal Union under a
imrowed name”—” I know yeu are” quickly doc* our
business, and hangs up the argument witheut debate.
Iffor a moment this writer departs from such sound
and rvetw helming logic, it is only to utter Ian.
gnage for which an indignant Spartan mothar would
have made her bov’s breeeli smart, had he been but
three year* old, for not telling a more ingenious false.
ho.nl- For tnaiane*. we are charged with holding the
ducirinea” that England and Franca are our natural
friends—that the northern and weatam people are our
na'ittal foea—that the union of the elites is agree!
Jrievviee and ought to b* dissolved—that Washington,
Jedc son, Madison, .’ackson and Lm-gaion did n><i
understand the nature of government as wall aa Troup,
must come, if the atalc is true «o itself. I ] Georgia, and with them, since that time, we
shall try a|| rases which may conic under the' have had nothing to do. These are facts with
law, and wholly disregard nil interference which the world is constantly plied, and by
from abroad The punishments, if any shall ] which of course, it is as certainly deceived,
be necessary, will be promptly inflicted, save i This cold blooded misrepresentation is uttered
nnlv mint, o= 'ihn usual suggestions of hnmani. and spread through a foreign land. It is pro*
only such as the usual suggestions of hnmani
ty mny otherwise require.
2d. There has been a most shameless inter-
meddling, in this muiter, on the part, I will
not say, r,f other states, but by some of the
people of other states, ns utteily without right
or pretext, ns it has been wanting in decency
nnd respect. Mootings have been held in all
The two vacancies in the Beard of Trustees of the I directions, to express opinions on the conduct
College, were filled bv the appointment nf Judge of fieogia nnd Georgia alone, when her adjoin-
S'rm.er, ofthi* county, and Dr. Four, nf Milledgeville. ,ing si-tor states Imd lately done precisely the
This ie well; highly creditable to the liberality and judg. j snine things, ami, in doing which, she and they
nimt of the Board; and will do much, very much, for have done no more than what the very states
Hie future prosperity of the rollege. We trust we may ! nf these sensitive complainants Imd effected,
look upon it a prrunac nf a new era of pnofl feeling* ] from lime to tiino, with an Pfjual regard to t heir
between t’ic two political parlies of the State. I.ct' intorost and with infinitely less humanity and
the hatchet he buried,if possible—and tho rpioption of forbcnrarirp. And what is conclusive of the
nil future political contain he, who shall mo*t advance fart, Georgia is an old state with one third of
the interests of the State, rather than those of a party." her tcrnfnry yet in the possession of the Indi
ans, while all the other Mates, old and new,
Wo recommend to tho attentive perusal of our rrn
Jer* tho charge of Judge Clayton, to th
(»rand
are, or ever will bo committed ngainet thin people, not
only hy her own citizen*, but by tho entire South, and
ouniv last week, line white man and two Indiana were that the abaft, of petit,cal animoaity and religious fa-
brought before Judge Clayton, arrested under n writ of ” «>»»• bec " h,lrl '' 1 "P»" n,nn '’ w " ho '" meR -
have nearly rid themselves of this charge.
These meetings have not been content with
... ... . , ,, , , t the expression of opinions, on abstract princi-
Jury of Clark county, which will he found below and , ,| le r jghts of the general go-
,he respond,ng acnt.mcnt, ofthat body, .a• J in rcapcct f()r wh ich, Georgia yields
ti*ing column*. V\ e hopo they breathe the sentiment* | . , * • ’i,,,
, i i .• r i * * «!,• oifi i tn nnnu of them; hut they nave most insolont-
of the entire population of the state; and that the citi- 1 .
. , . . . „ rv,-n #„ Iv attempted to dictate onr course in reference
ien* of fJeorpia arc now determined, as one man, to ■ ».
resist, if necessary, any further encroachments; to our private concerns. I hey have denoun-
upon their jurisdiction over tho aborigines of! ced the laws passed by our Legislature for our
the *t*»c, from whatever quarter it may come. Thai municipal regulation, in matters perfectly un-
ludge has shown, that Georgia i» mode the srape-rnar; connected with any dispato with the Federal
for all the real and imaginary sins, which have been, Government.
In discussing these subjects they have
indulged in a language unbecoming anv privi
lege of fair debate, and certainly unworthy of
any deportment of men, who either claim or
court the distinction of gentlemen—Witness
(he late Kentucky meeting, gotten up for a
sinister political purpose, parked and moved
by a secret prompter, in which it w as declared,
in their seventh resolution, that they viewed
the late law for the removal of the Indians,
“ as having been wrested from the government
by tho dictation of the state of Georgia, to se
cure Indian lands, not for the people of tho
United Stales, but for that state which neither
the density nor existing wants of its popula
tion require.’’ Tn which was added the fur-
ther declaration, “ but which it needed only for
the purpose of being gambled off in public lot-
teries.” This last however was stricken out
thrniigh tho exertions of a friend of Georgia,
doubtless moro from a sonso of crafty pru
dence in Ihe director behind the curtain,
thn last quarter from which tho charge of gam
bling should como, than from any suggestion
of either common propriety or becoming mo-
dcsly in tho meeting, qualities, as it would
seem, w ith which they were not distressingly
ovorburlhened.
These unwarrantable liberties have not on-
aura or without justice. And this not onlv in our own
country, but by bigolted emiaoriee in the populous
cities of Europe. It ie time for Georgia to arouse her
self, and declare to the world, that this indiscriminate
and widc-epread abuse is despised and act at defiance—
that ahe has taken her stand on the border* of her ter
ritory to resist all foreign interference in her domestic
internal regulations, aid that further intrusion will he
repelled, “peaceably if we can, forriblv if we moat;”
but repelled at any price and regardless of eonseqnen.
css.
Let ua at Ihe same time treat this hapless and mi*,
guided remnant of the red race with that commiacra.
lion and kindness which their peculiar situation jalla
for, and show our vile persecutors that the welfare and
happiness ol'lhis people are abundantly more secure in
onr hands, than they eon possibly he in thnsn of these
clamorous pretenders to Indian philanthropy.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury :
A circumstance of somo interest to tho
community, of which wo aro a part, imposes
upon me the necessity of departing from my
usual silence in relation to Grand Jury char
ge*.
Tho Legislature of this state, at their Inst
session, passed an act “ to add thn territory
lying within the chartered limits of Georgia,
and notv in the occupnncy of the Cherokee In
dians, to tho counties of Carroll, DoKalh,
Gwinnett. Hall nnd Habersham, and to extend
the laws of this slate over the samo, and to an
nul all laws and ordinances made by the Che
rokee nation of Indians, &c.”
It will he perceived that three oftlio counties
to which jurisdiction is given for executing
this net belong to the circuit over which I pre
side. nnd although no duty in relation to it enn
devolve on you. yet there are two motive* in
fluencing mo to embrnce this the earliest occa
sion to take nnd express.o public notice of the
law :
First.— As il is my fixed and determined
purpose lo inforee the act, founded upon ihe
most deliberate and conscientious belief of its
constitutionality, which Iihs been so much
questioned, I desire lo knew whether Ihe
court will he supported in this resolution by
the people of Georgia. This is a plain nnd
perhaps a startling language, but the occasion
requires it nnd none other. If the law is to he
enforced, nnd no law can he executed contra
ry In public opinion, the public sentiment must
not falter; it must come right up to the point,
and he willing to meet all rnnsequences; some
of which, as will bo presently shewn, posses
sing the most delicate character, are likely to
occur. If il is not In he enforced, if it is tn
remain a dead letter, or what is worse, to be
held out only as an expedient subject to all
the indecision of such a condition, it aught to
be repealed; and ns the elections are at hand,
the people will have n fair opportunity of set
tling the question, through their representa
tives, at the next session of the Legislature,
Second. My other purpose is to nppriaa the
Indians that they aro not tn bo oppressed, ns
has been sngclv foretold; that tho samejuslice
whirh is meted to the citizen (hall he meted
lo them; hilt that they must not lie deceived by
false friends, who care no more for Ihem than
for the wild beasts of their forests, nny farther
than it serves a miserable selfishness, ton hol
low hearted for an open avowal and loo infa
mous for an honest discuasinn.
If I am asked tvhat has made it necessary
lo bring tho public attention so strongly lo a
contemplation of the probnble results of this
law, I reply,
1st. Resides the fact officially announced
in the council of the Indians, lately assembled,
I have received information from tho Kxecu-
tive branch of this government, that counsel
claimed by a man against his own country ;
that man is an American, and that American
pretends to be an ambassador of the living
God. As a man, it is detestable, ns an Ameri
can it is perfidious, hut as a Minister, it is
shocking! No man dare plead ignorance on
such an occnoion, for where detraction results
from the words, the speaker is hound to know,
and tcell know, the facts; and the maxim justly
applies, that ignorance is a crime where know
ledge is a duly.
I have thus given you a fair sample of the
subtle calumnies that have been the daily pro
duct of an active malice, combined with the
restless ambition of off-cast statesmen, the
more revengeful because disappointed, and the
more unrelenting, because fnned and inflamed
hy a heartless priesthood. These have been
put in operation against Georgia, only because
in her politics as connected with the just and
honorable views of the Chief Magistrate of
the Union, it is considered that a flattering
opening is presented to destroy his merited
fame, and to regain to themselves a justly for
feited confidence, long abused and never de
served; hut fortunately for him and the state,
they afford a species of falsehood which from
its frequency and folly, has lost the power to
deceive and nlmost the merit of disdain.
Rut wlmt makes these circumstances tho
more insulting, they have transpired under n
character of inconsistency of more unmixed
hardihood than ever came from the front of the
most unblushing impuder.ee. Would any one
believe that at the very moment Georgia tvas
receiving such universal obloquy on account
of the Indians, the stale of New York was re
moving liorown Indians to the frozen regions
of Green bay, nnd making them pass through
all the trying and affecting scenes which have
been so compassionately portrayed fur tho
Cherokces? That in some of the other
northern states the few scattered remnants of
this unfortunate race, that were spared from
the butchery nf dogs, are now in a condition,
compared with which, even slavery lias no
thing more oppressive.
Who says nny thing against New York and
these other states ? Is Georgia the only state
that has attempted lo govern Ihe Indians
within her limits I Indeed, where is tho state
that lias not done it? Has not Alabama,
Mississippi and Indiana lately done what
Georgia has ? Who complains of their con
duct? No ! the truth is, Georgia has submit
ted long onough to these outrages, it is high
time to fling these calumnies hack into the
teeth of her slanderers, nnd that it may be
dona with the best effect, it should proceed
from the highest moral nnd political eminences
it ts then because It is too true ! To the truly
pious no part of it is applicable, and no man
of this character need take any exception to
the remarks; it is solely intended for a class,
who certainly do not reside in the South, but
who call themselves tho “ learned and efficient
clergy,” of whom I would say to the people of
this nation, deware !
I will pass over very many instances of
gratuitous intrusion on the port of these men,
in proof of the statement made, and which
must be familiar tn every one who has read
the current pnmphlets and papers of the coun
try, and cite you to a caso which their holy
zeal has carried even into Europe.. At a late
meeting of a Missionary Society in London,
a Mr. Milner, of New York, Reverend I think
they coll him, who happenod to be in atten
dance at that meeting, roundly asserted to the
Society, amidst its repeated cheers, that “ if
the cause of Ihe negroes in the West Indies
was interesting to that auditory, end deeply
interesting it ought to be ! if the population in
Ireland, groaning beneath the degradation of
superstition, excited their s'mpathies, he trus-
led the Indians of North America would also
have been employed bv the Cherokee nation; he considered ns Ihe objects of tlioir Christian
to raise for the adjudication of the Supreme j regard. He nos grieved, however, to state
Court of the t inted Slates, the question j that there wrote those in America who acted
“ whether the stale has a right io post lairs for , towards ihem in n different spirit, and he la-
the government of the Indians residing within j mented to nay, that at this very moment, tho
its limits.” Now, without intending the least; stale of Georgia was seeking to subjugate
disrespect to that court, to whose constitution- j and destroy the liberties, both of the Creeks
nl authority this and all other stale courts, I j and Cherokces; the former of whom possess-
hope, will most cheerfully submit, this ques- j ed ten millions of acres of land, and the latter
lion can never go from a court in which I pre- j six millions.” Now here is a statement that
aide, until the people of the slate yield il, either j is as false as God is true, and known to every
front a conviction of error, ascertained by their person tho least acquainted with public nf-
own tribunal*, or the more awful »en*e of their j fairs. Since the 12th day of February, 1825,
weaknons to retain it; and, il i» useless to dit- j the Creek Indian* have not resided nor even
guiso tho matter, to this issue the question j owned one foot of land within tho limits of
ly been taken, against tho character of the j of the sinle. Further submission will only pro
state, in town meetings, but even members oC voke further insult; and as to reproach, on Ihe
Congress, lost to the true character and high ] score of recriminntion WO have nothing to fear,
dignity of their stations, have descended to a j for such is the character of their defamation
strain of abuse and reckless aspersion, to say it utterly contemns all retaliation, from any
the least ofit, outraging every dictate of good • source which feels and acknowledges the nu-
breeding towards a aovereign state, and sure- j thority nf those well known courtesies that
ly very wide nf all sense of self respect, if in- govern nnd refine the force of public opinion,
deed, hy them, such no influence is either tell In any thing I have said, or expect to say, Ido
or understood. A “cnatnr, from New Jersey, j r.ot wish to be understood as intending to con-
speaking of the Georgia law, cnlls it “an op-, vev any threat, especially against the Federal
pressive edetnf arbitrary power.” and derlare* Union. This is too sacred a subject to be
“ history furnishes no example of such high- i trifled with, and commands at all times, and in
handed usurpation—the dismemberment and . all places our most unqualified affliction
partition of Poland was a deed of humane Ie- ! nnd support, so long as it moves within its le
gislation compared with this.” He charge* j gimate sphere. Threats are idle and weak, and
the state with putting in operation “ grinding, • oftener betray a wrong thnn a right cause,pro
heart breaking exactions,” to drive the Indi- j reeding upon the idea that more is tobegain-
nns from their country and finally gives it asjt'dfrom physical than moral power, and that
his “ religions belief Hint if thn law is enforced, an adversary mny be alarmed into compliance
it will awaken tone* of feeling that will go up 1 —this is not designed. Rut such is tho nature
tn God.andcalldnwnthelhtindersofhis wrath.” j and habits of our institutions, that they require
This is not all, another c lass of men styling • and secure tho utmost freedom of speech in
theniRcIves the heralds of tho cross, with an I relation to nil our rights, and more particular-
officiousness ever characteristic of pretended ; ly our wrongs. I have mentioned therefore
pieiv, nnd who follow religion less for its hope* ; the foregoing matters tn shew you tvhat wo
than it* honors, have lent themselves ns wil- j mny expect in attempting to carry our law into
ling tools to the project* of political ambition, | execution. If what wo have witnessed be
in this crusndc against Georgia, merely for i done ,! in tho grecn-lrce, what may wo not ex-
the crumbs that mny fall from the success of I pect in the dry ?” We must he prepared for
the undertaking. Is this language too severe, j all events, if we design to assert our rights
over the territory of the slate; the object must
be pursued with a steady nnd unflinching pur
pose, or it ought to he abandoned altogether.
So long,however, ns the law remains unrepcnled
the country Ims my solemn pledge that it shall be
faithfully nnd impartially administered, so far
as I am concerned. I only requiro the aid of
public opinion and tho arm of the Executive
authority, and no court on earth besides our
own shall ever be troubled with this question.
To our citizens I would say, let us falsify
the prophecies that have been made as to the
treatment which the Indians are to receive at
our hands, by exercising towards that unfortu
nate people, the utmost kindness, justice and
humanity. Their personal rights must bo re
spected. To tho Indians I will repeat, tticy
have nothing lo drend, as far as they arc con
cerned, either from the character of our laws
or their mode of admnistration, for if we can
live under them, they surely can, Qnd no dis
tinction shall be made in their execution.
The Augusta Me. Patriot, states that Gen.
AVebber, who was appointed by the Mnrshal
of that state to assist in faking the Census, lias
been driven back and compelled to desist from
the performance of his duty in that part of our
territory to which the British have set up their
claims. The authorities of New Brunswick
have extended their jurisdiction over this terri
tory, and a Proclamation was published for
bidding the inhabitants to give in their census,
and Gen. W. was threatened with an nrrest in
case he proceeded further in carrying into ef
fect one of the laws of Ihe United Slates. He
has returned to lay the subject before the Mar
shal, who will, no doubt, immediately acquaint
the Se -retary of State with this highhanded
measure of the Colonist, and act tinder his in
structions-
We have published copiously in our pap« r j u •
last eight months on the Indian question, and j, ***'
that to many of our reidrrs the subject is ^
stale and tiresome. Our apology j 9] th e vital 7**!
tance of the question to the atate. We copy „ ^
document relating to the same subject, from o C '" t:
of General Eaton, the Secretary at \v ar .
ter gires such a plain and clear view of the mien,,'
of the general Government in relation to thii nutt,, '
to render it worthy of the attentive perusal of M
readers. Without any design at idle bravado » e
corroborate the teatirnony of Col. McKenney, "o'
Georgia will not surrender her rights as* slate B „i'
out malting a manly and patriotic effort tod«f "J
them,” whatever may be the decree of the Supr'^
Court. Upon this subject the minds of the p l0( ,|„ ' M
made up almost to a mnn. There could liudl,
found a hundred men in Georgia who would not 11 ,’;,^
to their arms;” and dear as is the Union to them ,
its aeverance rather than submit to the enernachm,
of (tic Supreme Court, should any be attempted. Oj
this subject Georgia has suffered with a patient endir
once, until the stock of her humility is exhausted. s; i(
now stands upon her rights, despite thedecrerj tf
Courts, the clamor of demagogues, or the philaMfe n
py of sickly sentimentalists. Shedemands justice,,
will have it.
Letter from the Hon. J. H. Eaton, Secretaryof\Vi r
to the Rev. Eli Baldwin, Corresponding Secretary tf
the Indian Board, New Yolk.
Utica, (.V. Y.) June 30, tejo
Dear Sir Since receiving your letter
my engagements have hern such us until t!i e
present moment not to afford leisure to repl?
to your inquiries. For various reasons winch
already, on former occasions, have been pre.
seated to the consideration of the public, iti s
desirable that our red brothers should consent
to leave their present homes within the states
and,retire beyond the Mississippi; it is consi.'
dered an important matter and mainly con-
ductive to their future happiness as a people.
The President, to be sure, is desirous for (hem
to remove, but in seeking lo attain this object,
he has not sought to oppress, nor will he np.
press them. Reason, not compulsion, is th e
means lie would employ. If a desire to hnr-
rass, and ultimately to destroy, was Ihe go
verning motive, the argument to be adduced
to them would be, not to remove, but remain
where they are. The President has not bven
nor will will ho bo influenced hy any wron;
considerations. His fears aro that strife, dif
ficulty nnd dangers may he consequent upon c
disposition on their part to remain tvhero they
arc; and these he lias an anxious desire to
avert, if within his power, through the exer-
ciso of any legitimate means.
It is tho desire of the President to speak :o
thn Indians with the utmost frankness anc
kindness, nothing disguising and nothing it,
the least extenuating. It is high time they
were aroused to a sense of their actual anil
truo condition; and for them lo ho informed
that the opinion entertained hy the Executive
is, that hy adopting tho one course, advanta
ges to them are presented, dangers hy the
other; nnd that it is not in his power to inter
fere with tho exercise of tho sovereign uuthnri-
ty of u Slate, to prevent the extension of their
laws within (heir own territorial limits. But
whilo the President desires their removnl,
from a confident belief that thereby their best
interests will be served, he will do no act, the
tendency of which mny be to compel them loa
removal. They ought to know, they do know,
that towards them he can entertain no feeling
of m.ltindness; ar.d under no circumstances
would he induced to practico injustice towards
them. For years pnst he has seen them the
friends of the white people, and gallantly io
battle contending by their side. These things
the President knows ami appreciates, and lo
(he extent, tlmt the power placed within his
control will permit, will his desire ho to pro
tect, not injure. If ho had over been capable
of feeling nn impulse of ambitious desire upon
this or any other subject, apart from what jus
tice could sanction, that feeling has passed
away. Much as he has toiled nnd done for
hi* country, nnd favorably ua it has apprecia
ted his acts, he entertains a ronsciousncJi
that Ins countrymen, no more than himself,
would require of him any course which cnold
carry with it a seeming injustice towards our
brothers of the forest. If not identically tho
snme people, they aro nt lenst under similar
influences of feelings. Every American would
desire to preserve, not to oppress them. They
will never be driven from their homes. Thow
who urgo the probability of such a-course, can
be actuated only hy one motive—a desire to
impose on the credulity of those tvho have not
taken the time and troublo to examine the
grounds which uniformly on this subject have
been presented and maintained.
The questions involved in this controversy
aro so few nnd plain, that it is matter of sur
prise how any one can permit himself to he
deceived. Again and again may it bo assert
ed, that there is no disposition entertained by
the government to compel those people front
their homes; while on the other hand, no de
sign is had to interfere with the rights of the
states. The President possesses no such
power, ns ho hns repeatedly avowed; and
hence, can oppose no actofa state, where the
constitution does not concede to him an au
thority to do so. Can he say to Georgia, you
shall not consider on Indian a citizen and an
swerable lo her civil and criminal jurisdiction!
Equally, then, may he deny to her a right lo
regulate any other portion of her inhabitants,
without regard to their complexion and color.
Begin the argument, and the conclusion tnay
be just what ingenuity mny render it. Abstract
and political rights are of very different carac-
ter and import. When we speak of the right
of our Indian tribes to remain in undisputed
possession of their soil and country, becauie
they were ihe primitive owners, another mate
rial enquiry arises, who shall be considered
competent and capable to determine the cer
tainty of this. Will it be urged our govern
ment has authority lo decide, that the doc
trine of descents in the states is wrong, and
should bn changed—that real estate shall b®
answerable to the claims and judgments