Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-10

Georgia and the Cherokees. -It is Known that,
IN opposition to almost all our political friends.
we have hitherto incined to favor the claims OF
Georgia in her disputes with the Indians. This
we did as much from desire to preserve peace,
harmony, aud good feeling, as any thing else
We saw the difficulties Of preserving an - inape-
rum in imperio," aud we felt pain at the pros
pect Of the heart burnings which might be angen-
dered by the formation of a Government OF In
dams in the centre almost Of one of the States Of
the Confederacy. Hence, we were anxious not
that Georgia should possess herself Of the In.
dian lands forcibiy-not that treaties should be
violated and laws disregarded-but that the In.
dams should be persuaded quietly to submit to
the necessity Of the case, and remove beyond the
Mississippi. Before this, however, could be eff.
fected, case has arisen, involving the question
of the constitutional right Of Georgia to legisate
over the Indian territory, and bringing at once
the whole matter in dispute before the highest
Court of Law recognized by our laws. The case
has been soemnly argued. and as soemnly deci'
ded,-and we bow in respectful submission to
the Judgment Of this august tribunal.
The decision of the Supreme Court in this i'm.
portant case, we have already given. In add.
ton TO this, debate has taken place in the House
of Representatives oi a most interesting charac.
ter on the subject. notice Of which has been al
80 given. 1t is desirable, however, that some
further account of 1t should be spread before our
readers. for the sake of showing the feeling ex-
pressed, and the views entertained with regard to
this matter.
Mr. ADAMS presented petition Of number
of citizens Of New York in favor Of the Chero-
KEGS. and moved its reference TO a Select Com
mittee. Mr. WAYNE, Of Georgia, in reply, said:
IF decision had been given by which those
laws of Georgia were declared to be unconstitu.
,ional, with what propriety could the House now
act ON the memorial before 1t, before the subse-
ouent course of Georgia should be known He
Understood that mandate had gone to the Cour,
hollow 10 correct IT'S errors; the reasons on which
= w.s fnunded would soon be laid before the pub
Il. and tbouph Mr.. w. did not believe that i,
nos the wish or design Of the gentleman from
Massachusetts to throw into the scale OF public
sentiment decision of the House of Represen-
tatives, by the adoption Of an elaborate report
from select committee, vet such II was manifest
would be the consequence Of the motion he had
made.
MIR. CLAYTON. of Georgia. said. that it was not
his Intention to offer any disrespect to the gentle
man who introduced this memorial, as ne believ-
81 there was no one who cherished towards him
a higher degree ofveneration; yet he felt himself
Al liberty to say, what he was well convinced the
ceonle Of his State would say, were they person
al,y present; and that was, that the gentlemen
who had drawn up and presented that memorial.
were doing what they had no right to do-were
meddling with what did not concern them-and
were acting impertinently in the presentation Of
such paper. He was almost afraid to trust him III
sslf with such subject, representing, as he did.
half million Of the free people OF the United
States. and knowing the indignity which they
had lately received ip the pronOuncing OF deel'