The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-10-18

GEORGIA AND MIsSIoNARIES.-We hnd
in the Georgia Journal a report of the
trial and sentence of eleven white men for
trespassing upon the territory occupied
by the Cherokees within the chartered
limits of the State of Georgia, among
whom were three missionaries, Elizur
Butler, Samuel A. Worcester, and James
Trott. They were each sentenced to the
penitentiary for four years, after having
been fairly tried and found guilty, by a
jury of their countrymen, of openly VIOLA
ting the laws Of the state of Georgia.
The opposition papers, from one end of
the Union to the other, have INDUCED in
the most unmeasured abuse ofthe execu-
tive of the state of Georgia, and of the
policy of the general government in re-
lation to the Indians upon this occasion.
We are glad to have it now in our power,
from the evidence given on this trial, and
the lucid and satisfactory charge of Judge
Clayton, to give correct statement of
the whole transaction.
1t appears that the three missionaries,
acting under impressions supposed to
have been received from the printed opin-
ions of MIR. Writ, undertook to settle
within the state of Georgia among the
Indians, with the view of preaching the
Gospel, and propagating, at the same
time, political doctrines adverse to the in
terests of that state, and subversve ofits
chartered rights, without consenting to
take the oath required by her laws as Cit
izens. A spirit of resistance and disobe-
dience was infused into the Indians they
had political discussions among them, in
which Georgia and It's authorities were
revled and abused--the missionaries had
held public meetings, in which it was re-
solved that the removal of the Indians
beyond the Mississippi was an event to
be most earnestly deprecated. Universal
discomfort followed the outpourings of
these preachers of the Gospel; and when
the Executive power ofthe state, solemn
ly sworn to execute the laws, informed
these orderly and pious individuals that
there was law which required all white
men, without distinction, residing in the
nation, to take an oath to support the
constitution Of the state, or to leave the
territory without attempting to interfere
with the expression oftheir opinions even
upon political subjects, hostile as they
were to the peace of Georgia. They not
only refused to comply, but Immediately
raised the cry of persecution for con-
science sake" and shook the Union from
one end to the other with thunders of
ecclesiastical denunciation. The replies
returned to the executive by these gentle
men, while trampIlng upon the laws of
the state, and impudently denying its au-
thorlty, are singularly audacious: "My
own view of duty" says one, sis, that l
ought to remain,. and quietly pursue my
labors for the spiritual welfare of the
Cherokee people, until ! am forcibly re-
moved. If am correct in the apprehen-
sion that the state of Georgia has no
rightful jurisdiction over the territory
where | reside, then it follows that am
under no obligation to remove, in com
pliance with her enactments. Another
individual replies, 81 could not take the
oath required Of whitemen, who live in
her chartered limits, because l should
then acknowledge the jurisdiction of
Georgia over this country, which would
be adverse to my opinion, and would es-
sentially affect my usefulness as mis-
sionary laborer among the Cherokees.
My principles Of action are founded on
the word of God, and il in adheriDg "to