Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-08-25

laws oi the United States.
You say, Il very wen know that
from the late events which have trans
pred under the eyes of the con tnission-
ers Of Georgia, that the oath OF Co.
vernon of Georgia may be permitted to
pass fer nothing, and that any ,agabond
OF the Indian country may be put IN re-
QUESTION 10 djscredt him; but assure
you, sir, ifthat oath should not weigh
single feather with your government.
il viii weigh with the people Of this
state, Who, so Ear as have knowledga
ottheir history, have never yet refused
credence 10 the word OF their chief ma
gisirale.o
To this, apparently very serious, but
certainly very vague charge, | cannok
undertake To reply, until you do me
tie favour TO give me some specifica-
lions of the matter of fact to which you
have reference.
will, however, take this occasion to-
remark, that whatever statements YOU
may baye received in support cf the IN
situation apparently contained i'm
your letter, that ] have called in ques-
lion, or ever put any person in requisi-
tion TO cal in question, the oath OF a
Governor OF Georgia. during bis con-
hnuance in office, is wholly destitute of
truth. | have, indeed. believed, and
expressed to you my belief, that you
have been greatly deceived by persons
in whose honour you placed reliance.
but who were unworthy your conf
dence.
But | am BY no means ydisposed TO
yield even my tacit assent to the high
toned rule Of English law which your
remarks just now quoted call tn mind
that "the King can. do no erongn--
Truth iss divine attribute, and The fouu-
dation of every virtue--struth is the
basis of all excellence.' This inestima-
BILE moral treasure, truth, is to he found
in the cottage as well as in the palace
at the plough as well as at the bureau
of the state. Many Of the unfortunate
wanderers OF the wilderness and lis bor-
ders are a. firm votaries OF truth as any
men have ever known. Some ofthem
who have been unfo,tu and whose
regard to truth and honesty induced
them to give tho last dollar Justly due
to their oredtors--had they regarded
money little more and truth . little
less, might have falisd Jun honded---.
and now, instead Of being reduced to-
the condition of despised poverty would
wanton in the Injuries Of plundered.
wealth. II is no longer possible in A.
mrrica to make free men believe, that
"fhe King lor he pho gouuns) can do no
srong,n The enlightened citizens o.
the Republic, having long since found
it to be fruitIess to look for angles in
the form OF men to govern them, know
full well how to discriminate between
the high office and the man who fills il
You rexcellency vii, i doubt moi, always
receive degree Of respectproportionslb
at least to that which you are wont 10
bestew on other men ia office: more
than this could not be expscted--less
than this would not be Just. That q
great part of the citizens Of Georgia arS
magnanimons, just, generous and CHI
valric, ] well know; and that they are
disposed to do Justice to their chief ma
gistrate, am equally convinced; nor
can doubt that they will do equal JUS
tice to their United States as well as to
their state officers. rely upon the
wisdom. and justice, and patriotism, Of
at least nine tenths of those with whom
Ihaye the pleasure OF an acquaintance
many of whom are cultiyators Of tho
land; TO which class, in this and every
other state OF the Republic, look I'M
with confident pleasure and pride, 40
they from the adamantine pillars of the
UNloS; against which, the angry vapor.
ing paper squibs of the itiIe and the
great demagogues, Of all countries, may
continue to be hurled for hundred Of
centuries, withou; endangeaing the no.
BILE edfice. This beloved monument
of American wisdom, and valor, and
virtue, will stand mistaken, when tina
dissurbers of its infantile repose will be /.
remembered only to be pitied or exc
Grated.
The good people Of Georgia, I am
well aware, are anxious to obtain pos
session OF the land upon their western
border; but they would abhor the idea
Of fraudulent or lawiess means being
resorsed TO treat for, or after treating,
20 obtain possession Of it, before the
time authorized by the treaty. And I
am convinced that The President Of the
United States Is as sincerely desirous
as any upright citizen of Georgia can
be, thatsthe Indian claims TO the lanL