Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-04
GEORGE P. WISE, Secretary.
COMMUNICATED.

Mr.. SnotDden 1t never was my intention. by
the few remarks made on former day, to IN.
vite discussion on the Missionary Case, mol
vet to produce ally unpleasant feeling in the minds
Of any one-but the manner in which those re-
marks have been met by your Correspondent,
"Justlce & Peace" forces upon me the necessi
ty of making reply. This | certainly should
have done at all earlier day, had not previous en-.
yasements called me from home
In ordinary cases, which come up from the
courts below. to the Supreme Court for final ad
Indication, agree somewhat with your cores.
pondent, that it may not be proper to enter into
public discussion after the cases are finally de-
cided. These cases usually relate to dollars &
cents, and the rights of property. between indi
viduas. But the Missionary case is one of a
very different character-it is one that NAV not
only shake. but throw down the Government It.
self, and with It, all our invaluable institutions;
and what then, might not befai our Religious Pri-
viIeges, in this Gospel Land? value Religion
highly; do not dsapprove of the conscientious
religious acts of the Missionaries and place due
value ON the labOrs of the Rev. Mr.. Worcester
in the Cherokee COnupuaity; vet place much
higher value on the Union of the States know
il that is lost, all of our political and religious
liberties will be placed in jeopardy; and | wish
to preserve all By maintaining all, and not to main
tain part by destroying other parts. Your cor
respondent asks, evil 1t serve to allay the ex-
citement in Georgia to insiuuate that the Mission
aries are obstinate even unto blood?" ! ask, by
way Of reply, will it serve to ally the excitement
or satisfy the people Of Georgia, to be told, after
waiting patiently for thirty years on the General
Government for the extinguishment of the Indian
possessions to land within her chartered limits,
that she has no more right to them than she has
to France or Spain, and that the Missionaries
were not within her limits, but within the limits
OF nation at peace with the world, who had in
vi,ed them there. and who claimed. g or in other
words, it is claimed for them, " 10 be an lndepend-
ant nation.
As to the time when the Board of Foreign Mis-.
sions ordered the Rev Missionary or Missiona-
ries as the case may be, into the Cherokee coun-
ty, so called. or when they arrived there, do
not know-neither is it material for my purpose
to know. But this much do know: the Rev.
Mr. Worcester was there during time Of great
excitement-this the record proves-if hp had
withdrawn. or complied with the laws of the State,
as citizens of the same State were bound TO do,
either of which hp was permitted TO do at the
gates of the Peniten'ary, the tx, itement, SD far
And what meant by good and i'll, was this:-
The Missionary had,as was willing to hope. ex-
pounded the Book Of Life to some practical go ID
among the Indians up to the time OF his arrest;
and if he remained. or attempted to remain there
any longer. it might be the cause Of bringing the
armed forces Of the United State in collision with
those of the State OF Georgia. by which much blood
might be split This call eva-and surely there
is nushing like shalt smothered suggestions in
all this. But il they sti be '.smothered," &C
cordlng to the understanding of your correspon-
dent, hope he will fully understand me when
say, that have no belief that the State of Geor-
ria will ever consent TO be smothered" out of
her rights BY the Missionaries within, or by
her friends out of the State; and when | say
this, do not mean to be understood as being an
enemy to the propagation OF the Gospel by the as
sistance Of Missionaries. Far be it from me-
But let it be done wherever it can be, without
endangering the Union Of the States,or Of adding
to other exciting causes which now unhappiv ex-
Ist. PEACE.