Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-04-09

tl,at as I v,
.o,,dsd that the Cherokees had no right to their
oyn lands: and have thereupon enacted laws, Or
Jeripc them to be surveyed, and parcelled out
for distribution. by lottery, or otherwise, among
peopIe, who if they have any title TO them. nave
obtained it by their own legislation. When the
Cherokee delegation arrived in Washington, the
las, winter, and applied to the President again
for protection, against the outrages daily commit,
ted on them, they were told by him, that all had
been done that could be done; and they had no
other course but to migrate beyond the M'ssis-
sippi. Sc ,ho
What can have changed the conduct OF the
President from solemn assurance of pro'ec''o"'
to total desertion Of all the rights OF these uii
fortunate pcople: Who is his adriser,-the
keeper of his conscience? The Secretary oi
State.-The lands, laws, government, tne "hoie
nation of the Cherukces, have been sold by this
heartless Cabinet Minister, to the infatuated po-
iticians of Georgia. To favor and carry INTO
full effect. this scheme against all other inhiah
nations aud tribes to which our government owes
annmhcs. 10 deprive the Cherokees OF the Pc
cunary power Of contendlng with georgia, lhese
annuties, amounting yearly to more than not2,
OOO have, by order from the war once, Dee' u'
rected to be paid. not to the nations anu t'noes
as the several treaties covenant that they snail De
mon indians, in rateable proportion. In some
of the tribes there are more individuals than there
are dollars to be PAID, and how can they receive
the money from an agent, who does not Know one
from another; who could not therefore, safely dis
tribute the annuities without assembling them all
together, nor then, without scale, graduated
with the respective proportions 10 De pa'u 10 eaIh
grade of character in the tribe. In truth, the
project must result in double fraud; one on our
own government, which puts the money into the
hands of agents, who can never produce any
voucher that he has paid it over, and therefore
will keep the most of it in their own Golfers; ana
the other, to the Indian tribes and nations, which,
| by this project, can receive not cent OF their
annuities for any purpose common TO the wh"'e
people. Our conduct Is without parallel
What can be found in the history OF our own, or
any civilized country 50 cruel IN practice, so ut,
terly without the pale OF any theory OF moral
principle! This is not question ot national M
terest. but of rational morality and character
The adviser IF these measures, brings caIdm-
nv on our good faith in the great forum OF the
world; and we must, unless by great national
disavowal, stand condemned before all mankind
Let us turn to part of the administration
less odious, because its errors, or frauds Tall on
ourselves alone and do not affect the rights and
interests Of any other people. The great nation
al establishment for the transmission of mtelli-
gence, is among the most important of our coun-
try. 1t deeply concerns things, the most dear
and valuable to US. The mail moves not only
much of the wealth and information of the people,
but their political Governments are greatly 10
the power of those engaged in its movements. -
The late Post Master General administered that
establishment with great ability and with sue
cess highly satisfactory to the nation. When
called to the office by Mr.. Monroe, as we'll as
when continued in IT by Mr.. Adams, he had full
permission to conduct it on his own proposed
principle. :. to appoint 10 deputy, clerks or as
sistant, but for official merit, anu to displace ne
one, but for official delinquency" Gen. Jack
son. when he first took the Prudential chair. gave
him t.e same tolerant rule Of appointment and
removal; yet, as it was in few days announced,
that the Post Office establishment would, by a
rule of the administration. be arranged into the
cabinet, he found himself compelled to resign
He left the office, rich in funds, LAID up from ITS
own revenue; well supplied with skilful and
diligent clerks, and supported by two assistants,
either OF whom was fully competent to conduct
the whole establishment.
How has it been conducted BY his successor:
No branch of the administration disclosed more
rancorous political intolerance Four or live hun
dred removals and appointments have been made,
comprehending assistants clerks & deputies; and
when it has been proposed, in the Senate, OF the
United States to inquire into the causes of these
changes, it has not been shown by the friends OF
the administration, that they were made for Off
cal delinquency. The establishment has been
arranged into the cabinet; and the same regency
principle which has directed our relations with
foreign nations aud the Indian tribes, has con-
troled this
Under the principles of the present economy,
the funds of the establishment have been exhaust
ed, without any new benefit to the people. The
whole business Of removal and appointment was
conducted BY Mr.. M'Lean, assisted by two
clerks at the annual cost of Sl400. This bust
ness is now the most important branch of,he esta-
blishment: it is arranged into the Bureau Of ZIP.
poiniment, with special agent of the Secretary
at the head, and with such train of preparation
in clerks and contingencies. that the whole
costs the country SO, 500 annually. Other parts
of this service are equally prodigal and expen'
sive. Clerks and extra calls for labor and saa'
res, are nearly doubled under this new arrange
ment. 1t was last year ostentatiously published
to the nation, that the contracts for transporting