Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-06
COWGgg RlSSEONAV.

SPEECH OF CLAYTON, OF GEORGIA,
III the House Of Representatives, on the Mac York
Memorial, PRAYING The EtGp0sition Of Congress
be,,eeen he State Of Georgia and The Cherokee In
dams.
Mr. SPEAKER: The calm mild, and enlightened
course of the gentleman last up, admonishcs me TO
equal moderation OF temper and, Sir, it is in my pow
or TO give the prooof to this House. The House is
greatly deceived the Indian affairs in Georgia;
and it shall be my present business supply them
with better information on that subject. When
came into the House this morning. knew not what
was going on, and certainly little dreamed of such
memorial as the one your table. But, hearing
the name of Georgia and the hfidrs and rccollect-
ing her late insult iii relation the latter was in
stanily alive to the rights of the former. | found,
upon n close examination into the matter that il was
memorial from New York, presented by q gentle
from Massachusetts, of the best friends
of Georgia, and that it not take the usual
course of other petitions, but sought to be re-
fered to select committee, which, according to the
custom of the House, isalways favorable to the
sure referred; and bearing strongly i'm mind, the de-
csion of the Supreme Court, believe it was sys-
tematic arrangement to force Georgia into terms; and
believing this, confess my feelings were fired to n
very high degree of excitement; and, although did
not pretend 10 place any restraint upon the language
which they seemed to prompt, yet no one can accuse
me of malice atorethougHt / will retract nothing,
but VIII say am person OF an ardent temperament,
accustomed to think what please on political sub
jects, and to speak what think, never meaning to
offer dsrespect to any individual, unless believe it
! farther believed it was my duty 10 inform this
House, candidly, what Georgia would do in refer
encc to this matter, and to them of the conse-
quences and this the more inclined TO do. I'M
der the firm conviction that they might be led into
error, If the feelings of Georgia truly re-
presented TO them on this the most Jealous question
that can possibly arise between the two governments
know, If Georgia were present. she would have
used the language did; and could perceive no
reason, in her ABSENCE why her representative should
not do so too meant no threats has been in
sinuated; have too much respect for this House
TO use such language, and certainly great q re-
gard for my own character, to employ such q feeble
weapon. Threats mean nothing; and have long
believed nothing more is intended wherever they
arc used. II is not the mode of warfare of my
State; and Of this the General Governments has had
more than one proof solely intended to utter the
voice of warning, of caution, of prudence, and to
convey this meaning, That without these the subject
before the House might lead to the disastrous
consequences. Ours is not a homogeneous govern
ment, but composed ofindcpc sovereign States
these States arc not colonies dependencies, that
can be- forced into measures by the sword no part of
such a principle has entered into the compact
which binds themselves together and is fatal de
fusion of the General Government predicate any
measure upon such monsrous idea. I claimed
for myself that freedom of debate which is not even
denied TO member of the British Parliament much
less to one in this house, the boast of every tongue
and said to be tho freest assembly i'm the world! |
meant to convey similar lesson 10 that which
friend Of the colonies before the revolution com
Inunlcated TO Parliament on the subject of dis
pute with the mother country. lie told them that
we were wrOngcd, that we were oppressed that we
were n brave and generous people, that the Gov
ernmcnt ought TO pause before il further increased
our dIscontcnts, that we had much as we could
pear, and that resistance would be the inevitable
consequence. These were no threats; il was the
language of truth. Atthat very time a member rose
and told the Parliament they had nothing to fear,
the colonies dare not resist and if they did lie
could take n single regiment, march through
America, and crush the rebels to subsection ~
This same gentleman, no other than General Bur
goync afterwards endeavorcd to fulfil his prediction
no; with one, but with many regiments and the
success was every way worthy of the foolish at
tompt; for he was captured and made prisoner of
war before he had penetrated fifty miles into the
first colony The honorable gentleman from Mas
aochusetts, who has last spoken knows that one Of
his own towns, the memorable city Of Boston, is
called the cradle Of the revolution and which TO
this day is its prOudest boast He will well rccoI-
lect what little cause set off the revolution. IT.
was tho trlifing circumstance of sno,0balLng be-
tween some Of the inhabitants of Boston and the
British soldieTy who had been sent there TO over
awe then To Il people highly excited bv reason of
the belief that they are oppressed and insulted and
where that sense OF injury is wrought up to pitch
beyond which they car bear no more, the smallest
circumstance kindes these accumulated but smo-
thorcd rescntnents into n fame the CONSEQUENCES
OF which no human forecast can avoid. We should
learn wisdom from experience. There is a deem
toned voice Of complaint already in the south, on
account of other grievances. 1t is MS much as orr
most sage and enlightened men can do to restrain
the people; and il has been done only to await the
deliberations Of this Congress, under an anxious
hope that oil their injuries will bc redressed They
TOO have demonstrated from iic TO lime; they have
warned you Of the consequences Of pcrsistinq in
course which must inevitably lead to separation-
NOW, follow up these sore exactions on a whole
country bya reckless act Of aggression tlpon one of
ihe cluster Of these States thus iusuItod and abused
and the ycriest grecn-horn of politician must ner-
eeve that every thing but peace and harmony win
result.
confidently believe that Georgia viii not sib,,it
70 the decision Of the Supreme Court much less an
interference by this House, into her private and sole
concerns, and believing dis az one of her Repre.
scnHtlvcs, ougi; TO have holiness enough to de
glare 1t. therefore, take ts rcsponsibily and M
nave nIisrcprcs3ut5d he people Of Georgia as has
Deen roundly animated, they can turn me ont The
dread of dispeasiug constituents. when in tbo dis
charge OF duiy and the cScrcisc of my best iudy.
mem, enters INTO no part Of my rule of action. /
deliberately repeat, ny constituents viii resid and
VIII now give the scceons ior believing IT, and tLev
yi' account not only Tor tic great constituencies &of
@e9rg.@ oa ths -Jtgce. but tally ju.df, ,r,s.t thc