The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-05-09

''idthi luC vi the reader.
TO satisfy himself he visited the ground of
controversy unbiased by party feelings
The results were communicated to a friend
in this city, who has also visited the Cbero-
KEGS and confirms by careful observation
every statement made by his correspondent.
Let the American people, let Justice and
humanity answer the questions proposed at
the close of the letter.
- Tennessee.
Dear SRI am Just from the upper conn.
tries of Georgia. Ny route Through the
Cherokee nation brought me into those
parts situated in that State, part of North
Carolina and Tennessee.
The news of the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, met me while
IN the nation of Georgia. An Indian is mt
uraliy taciturn-little was said but much
expressed in the countenances of this dis
tressed, distracted and much abused peo.
pie. Having been disappointed in their
former case before that tribunal, and ap
PealIng IN vain to the magnanimity of the
American public for redress, some had
abandoned themselves to despair-a few
enrolled for West of the Mississippi. But
with majority of them there is a firmness
OF character, a philosophy under wrong
that, exercised as it has been, ought 20 call
around them every chvalrous spirit. They
have borne beyond endurance. In sober sad
ness their councils have met, and the AGED
have exhorted to forbearance. They saw
the President for they will not call the Pres
ident our Father has turned a deaf ear to
all their petitions, and remained unmoved
by the story of their sufferings. Still thew
hoped that aid would come from some Quar-
ter.
They relied upon the Supreme Court-a
press of wrongs has forced them into an in
quiry touching their rights, and they are
now Ignorant OF the force of constitutional
law under treaties unbroken by themselves.
These topics have been debated, in council
and out of council-many of the nation are
men of letters and generally read and write
IN their own language and characters
They are as sensible as the whites how far
the oath of the President and honor of the
United States ought to ensure protection
and they constantly have and still do view
the evil but for time. For myself, | do
not think treaty may be anticipated
Sure am twill not De coerced by the mode
pursued.
The extent of the wrongs done this peo-
pie has never half been laid before the
American public. Their hill, filed in the
Supreme Court, loaded with technicalties
and forms, contained but an outline. | am
confident no one man can recount them
nay, was the whole told, the acts have so
outraged decency and propriety, that the
story would scarcely gain credence with a
people who believe that christianity, mo-
rality, and law, ought all to have binding
influence with the white population.
Tho d'fiinnlties brought upon the Indians.
arise from the circumstance that every
Georgian has been taught by the political
demagogues of that State, 10 feel direct
interest in the Indian lands.
The State in times past established the
principle of making divisions of her vacant
Territory by lotteries in small tracts-each
citizen has chance-fo prize.
Each aspirant for the Legislature, when
he mounts the stump, seizes the cupidity of
his audience and proposes bargain-elect
me and will vote you ticket for a lot in
the Gold Region in the Indian country
The temptation takes, and they vote for
such as can violate constitution and treaty
to effect the end designed As they are
all blinded by interest, integrity is out of
the question. Hence the passage of those
laws which the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States are compelled to declare void for
their conflict with the Federal Constitution.
INDUCED in this course as Georgia has
been, the Indian country was literally over
run by intruders. The Indian Agent is
a Georgian and has her feelings. He af-
lords no protection, SO that the Office is USE
less. Their lands have been surveyed
The Indian farms and dwellings have been
numbered and scrutinized. If the Indian
Is absent, he is reported as removed, his
farm rented by an agent and when the
renter arrives to take possession, if the In
dian he then in his house he is thrown out
II he resist he is beaten and thrust away.
Ii one is charged with an offence, he is
taken, tied, aad conveyed forty and fifty
miles from home, out Of his country has a
mock trial, is discharged without inquiry
attor receiving volley of curses by way
OF lecture. They dare not enforce their
own laws against their own people. Iithey
Dig gold on their own land, or sit as a mag
lstrate under their own laws, they are sub
Ject to punishment in the penitentiary Of the
State.
The commander of a company of Ran
gers, who traverse the country, is person
OF bad morals. He is reported TO be u
bankrupt in property and tyrant in tenn
per. His cruelties may not have extended
to taking life itself, but short of that almost
every other crime is laid TO his charge. |
should blush to name facts concerning fe-
males, and acts committed in the face OF
worshipplng Christian Congregations.
AS every thing like wrong and outrage
toward an Indian were tolerated, maraud
ers have stolen half the horses in the ma
lion. Their cattle on pretended executions
and forgeries have been driven away
Forged deeds, bonds and receipts-n this
department an extensive business has been
carried on with perfect impunity for the
plea IS that an Indian cannot be sworn as q
witness against white man-therefore the
thief and forger are safe, and the address,
as they would call it, laughed at and appro-
bated.
Whiskey and spirits are brought in from
every point: trading Of every kind and by
every character who chooses, without Ii
cense from the agent, is going forward
The Indians made drunk, cheated, beaten
and dismissed. Human invention has been
exhausted in devising the means of theft,
fraud, and barbarous oppression on an unof-
Tending people.
And though in this brief letter | have
said much, yet assure you half has not
been told. But while recounting crimes of
snch magnitude | must confine myself to
Georgia North Carolina and Tennessee
have acted with magnanmity towards the
nntion and will not hoWavar desirable n