The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-09-30

P'S ~''A iA~h We DdQ DuL lILle lear
of their carrying the threat into execution
clustering and staggering are no evidences of
courage, and we knew that they would not
dare to execute such purpose, in violation of
treaties, and of the moral feeling of the whole
Union. They have now abandoned the plan,
themselves, finding how odious it was, and, in
conjunction with Gen. jackson and his cabinet.
have resorted to another, which, if carried into
effect, will not be less unjust and Ubiquitous
and, although not, on a superficial view, so re-
Pugnant to the moral sense of the community,
as direct resort to bloodshed and carnage"
it will be as certain in its final result and, posi-
bly,, not less cruel in its details
The mode now adopted by the Georgians, to
effect their object, is to extend the Jurisdiction
Of their laaos O0er the Cherokee territory. The
effect of this measure may be judged, when it
is known, that, by the laws of that State, no
Indian is entitled to the rights of citizenship,
nor can his oath be received in court of JUS
tice. Therefore, an extension of the laws of
the State over that territory, would subject its
inhabitants to all the acquisitions and penalties
ton, or any of the benefits, which it should be
the object of all laws to guarantee to those who
are subject to them. The Indians would be
exposed to constant depredations from the
whites; their property, their lives. their all,
would be placed at their mercy; and, for any
outrage which might be committed upon them,
however high handed or brutal, there would be
no legal remedy, because their testimony would
not be allowed
/ The pretence by which Georgia claims the
right to extend her laws over the Indian terri
tory is an insult to common sense and common
honesty, and disgrace, foul and lasting dis
grace to our country since the men, who have
been selected to preside over the destinies of
the nation, have united in the support or it, and
have displayed their talents in attempting its
justification. The argument is, that Georgia
is a free and sovereign State, and, as such, has
the right to exercise all the acts of sovereignty
| within her limits which include the Cherokee
territory, and that, to deny the right of enforc
ing her laws over any portion of territory with
in her boundaries, would be to deny her one of
the essential attributes of sovereignty. This
is all very plausible, and very fair reasoning,
but, unfortunately for the Georgians it does
not reach the case in question. There is a
wide difference between nominal sovereignty
and a real one, and there may be, between
nominal and real limits The actual boundary
of Georgia is that which divides the territory
belonging to the Indians from that which has
been coded by them, ard is possessed by the
whites Her nominal limits include the Cher I
okee territory; but, when fixed, they were
never considered in any other light than as pros
pective and contingent. They were those
within which, by an understanding with the
other States, she might exercise jurisdiction,
whenever-if ever-the Indian title should
! be extinguished This is all the right, and all
the claim that Georgia has, or ever had, to the
jurisdiction of that territory and amounts to
nothing more than preference to it over the
other States, at some future time, which may
or may not, ever arrive. Till that time arrives
her sovereignty is as much a nominal one, as
is that of his Chinese Majesty over the sun, of
which he styles himself Emperor. The In
dams are the original sovereigns and propre-
( tors Of the soil, and have been repeatedly ac-
knowledged as such, by treaties to which Geor-
gia was party, Till Georgia, therefore, shall
acquire a title to the sovereignty, from those in
whom it has for centuries resided, and who
alone have the power to grant it, she has no
more right to extend the jurisdiction of her
laws over the territory which she so much COW
cts than she has to extend it over the territory
of the State of South Carolina or any other
foreign country. Yet, upon the strength Of
this absurd fallacy, which would disgrace
third-rate special pleader, our rulers have ac-
knowledged the right of Georgia to the jnris-
diction; and Gen. Jackson has announced the
fact to the Indians, and exhorted them to
make virtue of necessity, to pull up stakes
Immediately, and make the best of their way
across the Mississippi.
We hope our readers give the numbers which
we are rc-publishng OH this subject, an atten-
tive perusal; they are well worth the time it
will occupy
FOREIGN News. The accounts from the seat
of war increase in importance and in interest
By the splendid victories of the Russians in
Asiatic Turkey, the city of Erzerum, the point
at which the Turks had concentrated all their
means of defence, has fallen into the hands of
the victors; the Russians are now, for the first
time, encamped on the banks of the Euphrates,
with the fertile plains Of the ancient Assyria
before them, and without an enemy to oppose
their progress. How far" says the London
Courier, "the Russians choose to proceed,
seems now to be left at their own will Wbeth-
er they will march over the ruins Of Babylon