The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-10

necessity be always successful in defraudirg and or
pressing them. ~
With these visys Of my duty, Mr. President with
my instructions before me, holding in my hind the
late Cherokee treaty, which soemnly guarantees TO
the Cherokees the possession of their property and
the free use and occupation Of the same until the
time fixed for their removal 10 the West. What
should have been my course II ! had acted Other
wise than did should have considered myself re-
crean to The sacred trust Teposed in me- An Indian
presents himself before me- and in the language OF
nature details his complaint. He says, have been
dispossessed by the white man OF the house which
built and the fields which have cultivated for years
my properly has been taken from me, and my
family turned out TO the shelter of the forest Your
government is pledged TO protect me, you have the
treaty before you, and you were sent to enforce ~
ask justice at your hands, | say 10 him, go 10 Inc
civil tribunals of the States, they viii redress
your wrongs What would be his answer-what
would BE- your answer-or that OF any other man IN
the community l-It would be the voice OF nature,
universal as the human family. Hewon say, You
insult me with such protection, y : a miserable
mockery. Is this your justice This your iaiih SO
otten, so solemny pledged TO us In the language
of scripture he might exclaim, have asked you Tor
bread and you have given me aone.
Mycrime has been, not IN using the language here
supposed bur in listening TO his complains and re-
dressing his wrongs. have endeavored TO do him
Justice without enguiring into the particular proy-
sion Of this or ha; State law. have not perplexed
myself with the subtle arguments OF politicians
cobweb OF the BRAIN but the path Of justice being
clear, | BIZ cboyed the sill small voice OF con-
science which frequently, in the advance OF rcason-
ing, overcaps those blrriers with which Subiliiy
and ingenuity sometimes successfully oppose its pro-
greSs.
The course of justice and humanity are but the
dictates Of an enlarged and liberal policy BY such
a course the Indians taught that some remains
of Justice some touches of feeling yet existed in the
bosams Of uhile men, for their unfortunate and pc
culiar situations. | trust that il sofiened in some
degree, the asperity of their feelings, and caused
them TO look with some confidence To the future
Suppose different course had been pursued, and
every species of oppression and cruelty Prac-
tsed towards them, and they could find no redress.
Mightthey Justly say, can but dielet us first
b, rcyenged! Do we seek in vain In the pages of
history for such resolutions prompted BY despair!
But, Mr.. President, am happy that no charges
which should dishonor me as a man, or disgrace me
as an officer, have appeared against me. Tint
may have committed errors Of Judgment, cannot
doubt but the case before the court cannot think
is one. And although the consequences OF this
case were tragical indeed surely am not response
Bile for the violence Of human passions which caused
such result No one can regret II more than do.
Mr. President return the court my thanks for
their courtesy and unwearied attention during the
investigation.
4. JOHN Z. WOOL,
Brig. General, 3U S. Army