Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-01-13

70 assume MS responsibility, aud be VIZ
tually Presidents under him.
The Judiciary Department, an institu-
ton still more important than any one
can be that merely affects the economi-
cal interests of the Union, seems also to
be seriously threatened by the perverse
policy of the present administration
The great improvement made by the a
doption ofthe present constitution in the
political system Of the Old Confedera-
ton, was the extension of the power OF
the Union over the persons Of the indi-
vidual citizens, through the action ofthe
Federal Courts, including, as necessary
ingredient, Il right of appeal to these
Courts from the decision ofthose of the
States. The adoption of this single
salutary provision raised us from the Sit
uation of a cluster ofpoor, imbecile, and,
for all substantial purposes. mutually de-
pendent States oppressed with debts, dis
turbed by instructions, and on the verge
of absolute anarchy, into our subsequent
condition of one great, powerful, pros
porous, glorious, free, and independent
Federal Republic. The rejection of
this wholesome principle would bring
us back again to the same situation in
which we stood before. Notwithstand.
ing this n powerful party, represented by
severalimportant States, and by a large
and respectable portion of the people,
seem to consider the Union, and the
principles on which it is founded, posi-
tive evils. Much is said of the sover-
eighty and independence of the States,
and of the right, as separate States to
annul the laws; while threats are held
out, which have not in all cases proved
TO be mere empty words, that this right
is to be Immediately exercised, and the
Union ofcourse virtually dissolved.
Under these circumstances, it was to
have been expected that the President,
as the head of the Executive Depart
ment and natural guardian of the rights
and powers of the Federal Government,
would have exerted his influence to
check this dangerous spirit. Instead of
this, we find him openly encouraging it,
and acting under its influence. With a
proposition to repeal, without substi-
tutc, the section of the judiciary act which
authorizes the appeal from the State to
the Federal Courts, and forms the foun-
dation of the jurisprudence of the IN
ion in this respect, was made in Con-
gress, it was favored by the immediate
friends of the President, and by the
journals under his control and at the re-
cent organization of the House of Rep
resentatives, the member proposing the
repeal was placed at the head of the Ju-
dietary Committee. These proceed
ings seem to indicate settled intention
in the administration to shake the indie
pendence and destroy the efficiency of
this most important branch Of the Gov
eminent.
The last point which we shall notice
in the conduct of the Administration, as
relates to the internal policy Of the coun-
try, and it is the most important of all,
as far as concerns the principle involved,
is that Of our relations with the Indian
tribes, and particularly that portion of
the Cherokees situated within the terri
torial limits Of Georgia. A series ofsol-
emn treaties concluded successfully by
all the Administrations of the General
Government since the period of its cstab-
hshment, guaranteed to the Indians the
possession of their lands without inter
ference or intrusion from any quarter,
their right of governing themselves ac-
cording to their own laws within those
limits, and their character of sovereign
States. An Act of Congress passed in
the year 1902, authorized and required
the President to protect the rights guar
anteed to them by those treaties, if ne
cessary, by the employment Of the mill
tary force. In open violation of all
these solemn engagements, the State of
Georgia has extended her jurisdiction,
over the territory and persons of the
Cherokces situated within her limits
interrupted them in the possession of
their dwellings and plantations, and at
tempted to deprive them of their charac-
ter of distinct communities while the
President, instead Of protecting the In
dams against these acts of wholly unau-
thorized violence, has openly counten-
anced the pretensions of Georgia, and,
instead of employing the armed force of
the United States. in their defence, ac-
tually Withdrew that force at the in
stance Of the offending party, from the
scene of action, and left the unofending
natives entirely at the mercy Of their en-
emies.
The recent inhuman and uneonstitu-
tional outrages committed under the au-
thority Of Georgia upon the persons Of
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