Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-09-30
GEORGIA AND THE MISSIONA
RIIrS

RIE,S.
1t appears that the State authorities of
Georgia continue TO treat the Missiona-
ries TO the Indians with unmitigated Sc
verify. The Rev. NJ LEoD, the Presd-
ing Elder of the district which includes
the Missionary station among the Chero-
KEGS, in his third quarterly report, TO the
Corresponding Secretary of the Mission.
ry Society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, states, that, having received in
formation, while ona visit to West Ten
nessee, of the arrest and shameful treat
ment ofthe Rev. j. |. TRoTT, the asss-
tant preacher OH Conasauga circuit, he
fastened to the nation, in order if posi-
Bile, TO procure his release and to adopt
the measures necessary for the mission
in these perilous times. On his arrival,
about the first of July, he learned that
Mr. TRoTT: having given bail, had been
permitted to return to his charge. Mr..
Nj LoED then attended a quarterly meet
ing on Path creek after which he pro-
ceeded, in company with the Rev. Mr..
WELLS, to Mr.. TRoTT's residence,
where they arrived on the Sth, and were
Informed that he had again been arrested
on the preceding day, by the Georgia
guards, and was then on his way to head
quarters. They followed and soon over
took him, and found him, together with
the Rev. Mr.. WORCESTER, Presbyteri-
an Missionary, who had been torn form
his sick family few days before, for the
same crime-that of residing within
the charter ofthe State without license
and an Indian, chained by the neck to
baggage wagon, 81 driven on foot before
the mounted horSemen. Mr.. M'LEoD
then rode up to the commander of the
party, and asked permission to speak
with the prisoners; which was granted,
on condition he talked loud enough to be
heard by the guard. Before they had
proceeded far. however; Mr. M'LEoD, in
consequence of some questions which he
put to MIR. TRoTT, in relation to his ar
rest, incurred the displeasure of the sup
error officer, was ordered to dismount,
assailed with the most villifying epithets,
and finally compelled to march with the
other plsoners. His companion was also
ordered TO leave the party and failing
to do SO, was struck with heavy
club by the commander 81 severly injur-
ed.
On the preceding day, the Rev. Mr..
BUTLER. another Presby terian Mission
airy, had been arrested by the guards,
chained around the neck 81 forced to walk
by the side of a mounted soldier, until it
became so dark as seriously to endanger
his life. He was then placed behind the
oder, one end ofthe chain being fasten-
ed around his neck with paddock, and
the other tied to rope around the horses
neck. In this situation, he travelled
some distance, until the animal fell back
wards on both his riders into gully, and
came very near killing them both; the
soldier having two or three of his ribs
broken. On the evening ofthe Sth, the
two parties met at Hightower; when
the Rev Messrs. BUTLER. WORCESTER
and M'LEoD. were chained together for
the night, and the Rev Mr.. TRoTT was
bound to the Indian. On the evening of
the 10th, after enduring much abuse, and
almost incredible suilerings, the Mission
aries reached headquarters, and were i'm
mediately conducted to prison, with
much parade, and in martial style. On
the 18th, Mr. M'LEoD was brought be.
fore the Colonel but none of the Often
ces laid to his charge being susceptible
OF proof, he was discharged, after having
been forbidden to preach within the
charter of the State, and without being
permitted even 10 bid farewell to his fell
low-sullerers.
The facts detailed by Mr.. M'LEoD arc
corroborated, in every particular, by let
tiers from Mr.. WORCESTER, published i'm
late Cherokee PhGnir. The latter fur
ther states, that, after the discharge Of
the former, himself and his companions
were kept in close confinement, subject
TO the daily insults and abuse of the
guard and their officers, until the 2lst,
when they were released by virtue ola
writ Of hdbcas corpus issued from the in
ierior Court at LawrenccvilIe, before
which they underwent an examination
Oh the Sd aud, having given bail for
their appearance at the ensuing term of
the Superior Court, they we're finally
discharged except the Indian, who was
rcmandcd back to jail
These proceedings require no com
ment. Wemay be permitted, however,
to express the hope that some means
may yet be devised to put an end TO
state Of things disgraceful to our age and
country, no less than injurious to the in
teresis ofreligion, and at variance with
the ciearest dictates of humanity g. JUS