The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-04

nign supreme law of the land
IL dates from March 4, $780, In ar
actual sense, the salutary suprem-
acy of the constitution, to Use the
words of Washington, was not felt un-
til after April 30, 1889, the day when
the hero of heroes took the oath OF
Office at the corner of Broad and Wall
streets, New York.
The laggard patriots of the house OF
representatives found present q bare
quorum of thirty members on April /,
on April s, enough of the lettering
senators arrived to enable the First
congress to organize and proceed to
the business of inaugurating the first
chief of state. Prior to the first presi-
dents departure from Mt. Vernon, he
learned that schemes on the part of
Great Britain and Spain threatened the
internal peace of the Union. The
Spanish authorities at New Orleans
long held out as a bait the free navi-
cation of the Mississippi to the up
river inhabitants if they would cut
loose from the United States. Lord
Dorchester, governor general of Cam
ada, was suspected of promising u
nelping hand to the frontiersmen who
might feel disposed to seize New Or
leans. Hamilton gave the British
agent in New York to understand that
he might dismiss all fears about hav-
ing a stable administration to deal
with. The republic was now able to
protect and control the governed. A
government by supplication, political
monstrosity with thirteen heads had
passed forever away.
North Carolina came into the Union
in November, 1889, and on Feb. %, 1890,
the state ceded to the United States
the territory now known as Tennessee.
None of the 10000 inhabitants made
known their wishes concerning this
change for the better. The diGnified
William Blount, of North Carolina, be-
came first territorial governor in Oc-
tober, 1890. Our hardy old heroes, Rob-
ertson and SEWER having obtained for
giveness for their sins of indiscretion
and rashness, were made generals COM
manding the eastern and western mill
tary districts. Soon after Washington
came into office he found that the
southwestern Indians were disposed to
give much trouble. He endeavored to
make peace with the Greek Indians
and with other tribes, but found that
the troublesome chief. Alexander Nc
Gillivray, ever stood in the way. AS
last resort this dangerous and treach-
erous half-breed was invited to visit
New York, the temporary capital, in
hope that his Observation-Disclosures might
be Modified by some pecuniary cOnso-
laton. With twenty-eight of his chief
warriors in his train this feather-be-
dccked and paint-coated savage was
received on his route with royal liber-
aity and distinction. The Tammany
society of New York, which Aaron
Burr had recently organized, tried to
impress the forest chiefs with their
own semi-savage paraphernalia and
bogus Indian toggery, but the genuine
child of the forest gave only the gut
tural grunt of contempt for such shall
low shams. When this Scotch free
booter or land pirate got down to busi-
ness it was found that all he wanted
was monopoly of furnishing all the
supplies to the Greeks; 100000 for the
alleged contiscatiOn of his lands and
the pay and rank of Il brigadier gen.
eral in the United States army for life.
While this almost equalled the Alger-
inc pirates in the direction of leVying
blackmail, the government commits
sioners recommended compliance with
the Stand-and-deliver demands, so
anxious were our border settlers to be
saved from the horrors of prolonged
Indian wars. ~ treaty with this chief
gave us all the territory north and
east of the Oconee river in Georgia
While promising to place his tribe un-
ucr our protection, this double twisted
deceiver was at this precise time in the
pay of Spain and Great Britain. The
rcd-skinned rascal so played upon the
Sympathies of General Knox and even
on Washington, that the latter gave
the Creek chief a pair of his epaulets
and some books, the latter doubtless
intended for his moral elevation. 1t is
gravely related that on more than one
spectacular or war-path occasion this
thrifty diplomatist of the wilderness
would don a scarlet red British uni
form and General Washlngton's epau-
lets, which, with his Spanish cooked
hat and paint-smeared face, presented
a sight never to be forgotten by gods
or men. At this time-1790-Wi
once formidable enemy of national
supremacy, was whining: my stua-
tion is extremely painful, since, alb
horring duplicity, / must dissemble."
If he had said since "doting on lupfc-
ity, l ann forced to the WALL" he would
have approached nearer the truth. His
dupes, except Sebastian, had deserted
him and Governor Miro was about to
pension another traitor to watch him.
In presenting next in our narrative
history the facts of record, it seems
fairest TO let each cabinet officer and
public man make known himself his
attitude on the extension of our terri |
tory. On July IL, 1890, Mr.. jefferson. |
referring to the spirited preparations
of England now seemingly bent on a
war with Spain, writes to James Mon |
roe; "Other symptoms indicate a gem
eral design on all Louisiana and the |
two Floridas. What a tremendous DO
sition would success in these objects
place us in! Embraced from the st. |
CroiX to St. Mary's on the one side by
their possessions, on the other by their |
fleet, we need not hesitate to say that ,
they would soon find means to unite |
TO them all of the territory covered by
the ramiications of the Mississippi"
just one month later President Wash |
ington writes to Lafayette: "Gradual- |
ly recovering from the dstresses in |
which war left us, PATIENTLY advance |
ing in our task of civil government |
unentangled in the crooked politics of !
Europe, wanting scarcely anything but |
the full navigation of the Mississippi |
(Which we must have and as certainly |
shall have as we remain a nation), L |
have supposed. that, with the undevi- |
atlnS exercise of just, steady and |
prudent national policy, we shall be the !
gainers whether the powers of the Old |
hn IN |