Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-18
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
TUE ALABAMA QUESTION.

failure ard To the utter disappointment OF those
among Us, who hail with exultation, every symp-
tom of discomfort or d,saffecton in Southern
State, as indicating the approaching consumma
ton OF their hopes in the formation OF Southern
Coussderacy. Opinion is certainly divided IN
Alabama as to the propr'ety, or rather ezPedien'
ey of the course adopted by the general govern
ment for the assertion OF its rishts-out u Is on
win the comparatively small portion OF the state,
infected with notification, that the right OF the
government to manage the Indian Territory and
expel lntruders in its way, Is seriously ques-
toned The Alabama case Is entirely different
from that Of Georgia Sin the former there exists
no claim on the part Of the State 10 the Indian
lands either as an Incident OF original sovereign
~, or as derived from treaty and therefore there
cannot possibly be any question OF reserved rights
or State sovereignty involved 10 IT. brief re-
ference 20 some historical, facts and to the acts OF
the Federal Government. and o! Alabama herself,
connected with the admission of the latter into
the Union. will set the matter IN clear and con.
elusive light. The territory now composing the
States OF Alabama and Mississippi, formerly be.
lnneed 20 Georgia, and in 1902 she coded to the
United States, in the language OF the first article
Of the cesson "ali the right, title and esalm,
which the said State has to the jurisdiction and
soh'' Of that territory. This then was com.
plete investiture of the United States with all
right to the lands now lying within the limits Of
Alabama, and of jurisdiction over them by the
authority competent to make the grant, and there
cannot therefore be any dispute about the title OF
the United States TO both soil and jurisdiction,
unless II has been subsequently Invested by some
act Of the genera! government, In favor 0f the
State of Alabama. But so far from this being the
case, in regard to the Indian lands. that on the
admission of Alabama into the Union, the right
of the United States to those lands was, by
proyident foresight to meet the present emergen-
cy, expressly reserved. The 4th Sec. OF the act
of Congress admitting that State into this Union,
euacts "that before she shall be admitted
Convention of her people shall provide by an
Ordinance irrey0cabIe without the consent OF the
United States, that the people inhablting the said
State do agree aud declare, that they ever dis
claim all right aud title 10 the waste and uEap.
propriated lands lying within said territory: and
that the same shalt be aud remain at the entire
disposition Of the United S,ates;' other restric-
tons in the same section are imposed upon the
legislation of the State. 1.-The Convention says
a writer in an Alabama paper) did make the
agreement and disclaimer required: and we in
whose name and by whose instructions they act.
ed, have no right now tn gansay their act. We
have received the consideration upon which this
agreement vas made. The bountes and bless
ings Of the government have been poured out up.
on us. Protection and peace under it, we have
enjoyed, and we cannot al this day refuse to pay
the price"
The people of Alabama. having thus in the
yecl ass Of forming sslis feitHa2in re
sole aud entire disposition of the United States"
II Is ridiculous TO talk of the sovereignty of AL
ALBANIA being concerned 10 the eXpsision of
squatters ana intruders by the United States;
nor Is II within the province of the authorities of
Alabama 10 say, in what manner, or bv what
means The United States shall exercise their
sovereignty over their own territory. This
would be the plain dictate Of reason and common
sense had the matter rested ON duplication alone:
but we find provision in the Constitution which
renders controversy inadmissible, if not impos.
siole. "Tbe Congress shall have power TO dis.
pose Ut and make all needful rules and regula.
ions respecting the territory or the property be-
longing TO the United States" The Indian
lands III Alabama BY the cesson OF Georgia and
the recognition Of Alabama, on becoming a
State, become and continue to be - territory be.
longing 10 the U. States;' aud under the clause
OF the Constitution above quoted, Congress pas
sed the following "rues and regulations" or
law tor its government:
1T any person or persons shall after the mas.
sage OF this act, take possession OF, or make
settlement upon any lands coded or secured to
the United States BY any treaty made with
foreign power, by a cesslon from any State TO
the United States, which lands shall not have
been previously sold, coded or leased bv the
United States. or the claim 10 which lands nv |
such person OF persons shall not have been pre |
Sious'y recognized aud confirmed by the United
States, or il any shall cause such lands 10 he :
this occupied. taken possession of, or settled, it
shall be lawful tor the President of the United !
States to direct the Marshal. or the officer act |
ing as Marshal. in the manner herein after men.
toned. and also 10 take such other measures, |
AMI to employ such military force. as he may
judge necessary and proper 10 remove, from !
lands, coded or secured to the United States,
by treaty or cession as aforesaid. any person or
persons, who shall he.esiter take possession of
the sane, or make or attempt to make settle
nent thereon until authorized BY law"
Vow, what are the facts of the case, about
wh'sn such a ciamor has been raised in and out of
aiaoama, by the hostile aud the disaHected, to
the american Cn,oHS One OwanS b.b -, III.