Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-06-08
Under this fraudulent and pretended

of the lands they inherit from their an
oestors-of the land they looked 10 as
the future inheritance of children no
longer bred up in savage habits, but
gradually looking forward to the settled
life of Observation-Disclosures, again
into savage life, among savages, on
new and distant lands, and forced into
almost inevitable hostility with the tribes
they are compelled to intrude on. This
is to be done after these poor wretches
have for series of years been advis-
ed, pressed, tempted, exhorted, encour-
aged, and by all manner of means in-
duced and persuaded by our o1On govern
ment to quit the hunter life, and 10 en-
brace fixed and agricultural habits.
These people, their wives and infants,
are thus to be driven away, against
their manifest and rightful claims, d.
galnst their interest, against their inten-
tons and inclinations, and TO the utter
destruction of all those improved views
of future living which they have adopt
ed in obedience TO the advice Of their
great father Washington.-Having thus
persuaded them for twenty years past,
to commence a gradual change in their
modes and habits of living. just as we
have succeeded in this benevolent de-
sign, we destroy in moment our TWEEN
ty years labour, we convert agricultur-
allsts into savages, friends into enemies,
and set an example of deliberate, cold
blooded injustice, that is sufficient to
make an honest and kind-hearted man
shudder on contemplating its origin, its
progress, and its consequences.
This treaty may be very advantage
GUS for Georgia. But rejecting men
will not fail to inquire, can we, as
members of an honest and fair dealing
government, justify these doings Does
1t comport with the honorable charac-
ter of the American government, whose
proud motto is, " equal and exact justice
to all men," to become participators of
this manifest fraud, and take advantage
of treaty SO obtained? Did not Min
tosh, .belying his honorable character of
national representative of his own peo-
pie, and abusing the confidence reposed
In him, act, not as agent of the Creek
nation, but as agent of the whites? He
might by bare possibility have meant
well; but did he act well? Did he not
know that his doings were not sanction
ed by his nation, but were in manifest
hostility TO their wishes, and in open
derogation of their rights He knew
of the law previously and regularly pas
sed by his own people, with their usu-
al forms: was he not, therefore, duly
tried, convicted and punished for an Of
fence against known law and DELHI
crate fraud on his nation Although the
punishment was reluctantly inflicted,
and therefore somewhat. delayed, it
was; nevertheless, it is TO be presumed,
the result of meeting convened to de-
liberate on his case, and in conformity
with previous act of the nation, we'll
known to him, and by which he was
bound. The manner of punishment is
..othing ; that depends on the custom
OF the country. The Indians employ
the rifle and the tomahawk; we use
the gibbet.
| Mlntosh knew the treaty of 18th
February, 1926, was fraudulent and in
valid. 10 former treaty, after the
war which was terminated by general
jackson, M'lntosh had procured re-
servation in his own favour of tract
of land of mile, or mile and hall
square, in consideration of services ren-
dered during that war. This reserva-
ton he afterwards exchanged for a
mineral spring. | will not enter into a
suggestion of the very probable motives
that induced him to make this exchange.
But he took good care to have the deed
conveying this mineral spring, ratified
in due form and order, by the requisite
number of representative Chiefs. SO |
am told and believe truly. He did
not guard his own interest so loosely
and carelessly as the nations. have
heard, and believe, that soon after re-
curing this spring, he sold it to the
State of Georgia tor 10000 dollars. OF
course this bargain and sale was previ-
Gus 10 the negotiation of the last treaty
complained of. As to the spring, lis
value is imaginary it might be worth
90 cents, and it might be worth 10000
dollars, or any other large sum. He
certainly has shewn that he well knew
how to take care of his own interests,
whatever became of the nations and
if he has proved himself no friend TO
the Creeks to whom he belonged, he
certainly has been no enemy to Geor-
gia.
Under these circumstances, which
come from authority that inclines me
to give them full credit, would it not be
we'll for the Legislature Of Georgia TO
suspend the actual mission of Surveyors
into the Creek nation to run out these