The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-07
From the Southern Religious 1slegraph.

Mr.. Editor take the liberty of enclos-
ing for publication the proceedings Of the !
SYNOD of North Carolina in relation to GER
tain missionaries in the State OF Georgia.
agree in opinion with those who think !
that this subject in all its details and bear
ings ought to be kept constantly before the
public; for when it is fully understood AMI
believed, the result must he one general
burst OF honest Indignation through the
whole length and breadth of the land.
The stab which has been given to our
national reputation is, | apprehend, too Sc
rious. affective, and humllating to be re-
garded with Indifference.
If such oppression and outrages are to
be met by the great body of the American
people with silence and tame submission,
then | confess that have been mistaken
either in my views of the affair alluded to,
or, in the character of the country which
has given me birth. CIyIs.
October 25, 1881.
The Synod of North Carolina in the ex-
ercisc Of right which they possess in COM
mon with their fellew citizens, of freely and
fearlessly expressing their views in relation
to public measures and events which effect
the honor, the dignity, and the christian
character Of their beloved country, feel it
duty which they owe TO themselves and to
that part Of the community which they rep
resent, to notice with expressions of deep
regret and unqualified remonstrance, the
treatment to which certain christian mis-
sionares of different religious denomina-
tons have, under form of legal process re-
Gently been subjected in the State OF Geor-
ga.
Having examined the subject as present
~ N hu, 4 hrp, b ,1f tba
and presuming that the details which have
been given to the public are substantially
correct, they are constrained to say, that in
the case alluded to there has been spec
tacle exhibited more shameful and shock
ing than any within their recollection,
which has hitherto disgraced the annals of
our free institutions.
To the honorable and high minded au-
thorities of their sister State they would
say, respectfully in the words of the elo-
quent Deseze, one of the learned council
who defended Louis the Sixteenth on his
last trial.
"Recollect that history will judge your judgment"
And when the political agitations Of the
day shall have subsidized, and when reason
and humanity shall have resumed their as
cendancy over the baser passions of the
that the transactions of the summer of 1881
will be remembered only to be associated
with the fell deeds of the dark ages, when
tyranny and oppression were deemed no
crimes, and when the principles of tolera-
ton and the rights of conscience were but
imperfectly understood and scarcely recog-
nized: Therefore,
RESOLVED, |. That the unrestrained in
sults-wanton ndignities, and brutal cruel
ties to which some of the missionaries were
subjected after their arrest, by individuals
of the Georgia escort, SAVIOR more of the
lawless barbaIities of an Algerine bandtt,
than of the customary decencies and civili-
ties of an American Guard.
ii. That the severity of the sentence
which, according to the laws of the State,
has consigned to Imprisonment and hard
labor for the term of four years, some of
the missionaries in question, can find no
apology either in the moral turpitude of
their general character, or in the heinous-
ness of the offences which they have COM
mitted, but must be ascribed to the violence
of party politics and imbittered feelings
displaying themselves in the arbitrary en-
actments Of high handed dominion.
III. That the following assertion found in
letter bearing the signature of the Exec
utve of the State, namely:
"The missionaries of the different relig-
ious societies stationed among the Indians,
had found their situations too lucrative to
give them up wilingly"-contains an insn-
uation altogether gratutous, and unworthy
the high station whence it proceeds: and
uutil the contrary is made to appear, must
be regarded as ungenerous and unfounded.
w. That the Synod recommend to their
churches and to christians generally, TO
unite Especially at the Monthly Concert) in
fervent prayer to God, that he would direct
and sustain by his Almighty power and
grace, the missionaries of the cross of
Christ in the State of Georgia, who have
been traduced and prosecuted for righteous
ness sake. That he would pardon the sin
of all concerned in the transactions alluded
TO, and that he would not lay their sins to
the charge of our beloved country.
CHEROKEE GOLD MINES. 1t is well known
that Cherokee, who was recently charg-
ed with violation of law of GeoIgia, pro
bibiting all persons from working the gold
mines within the Indian territory, was dis
charged by Judge Clayton, on the ground,
that the law was unconstitutional. Fol- this
slight indication of disposition to deviate
lHtu incICy3 the LeSiSidtuiG HdFv thought
tit to punish that gentleman, by refusing to
re-elect him to this office. Having previ-
ously felt some msgvings of the fate which
awaited him, Judge Clayton requested the
opinion Of Chancellor Kent as to the propri-
ETY. Of the course he had pursued; and has
published his reply in the Milledgeville
Journal. In his reply, the Chancellor fully
confirms the principle adopted by Judge
Clayton. He maintains, the title of the
Cherokees to the enjoyment of their mines,
is as perfect as to any part of their lands
that the occupancy belongs to them and
their posterty of right, ard TINT the State
of Georgia has no other right in regard to
the Indian property in their lands, than the
right Of preemption by fair purchase. The
law of Georgia, in his opinion, substitutes
force fer the obligations of treaty contract,
Injuries the credit of flee governments and
the moral characters of our country, and is
in direct contravention of the constitutional
authority of the United States.
Boston Daily .4dueriiser
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