The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-14

that is governed by King Leopold, of
ground Of libeling the company in
which the king is interested, and
which enjoys the rich rubber conces-
sions of large territory, and that
these American missionaries are gem
orally regarded as apt to be sent to
jail, regardless as to their actual guilt
or innocence of the charges, Indirect
ly recalls the time when the State of
Georgia sent pair of missionaries to
the penitentiary and kept them there
at hard labor for two years under the
most remarkable circumstances. The
story is we'll worth the retelling. as
to many it may have touch of
freshness. or revive memories of 9TH
er incidents in the stirring early days
OF the commonwealth.
| Gold was discovered in the Chero-
kee country Of Georgia in 1929 and
there was usual rush of adventures
from all parts Of the country. Fol-
several years prior to this efforts had
been making on the part of the State
TO secure the removal Of the Chero-
kee Indians from the State, only to
! be thwarted by the actions Of the fed
eral government. Despite the mimi
cal attitude of the officials at Wash
lngton the State had deliberately ex-
tended the operation OK it's laws over
all of the Cherokee territory, declared
the acts Of the so-called Cherokee
government invalid, and in 1880, TAX
ing cognizance of the thrush of gold
hunters, made 1t unlawful for white
persons to reside in the Cherokee
country, without having taken an
oath Of allegiance to Georgia and
without first securing a license from
the State authorities. Certain mis-
sionaries, some maintained by the
American Board. interfering in poll
tics somewhat as the missionaries are
accused of having done in Hawaii
before the annexation of those is
lands, protested against the action of
the State and refused to comply with
these requirements, falling back upon
the previous attitude of the federal
government as their defense. When
the time Of grace had elapsed the
State government promptly arrested
| them. Two Of the leaders were re-
leased by a State Judge on the
ground that they were agents of the
United States. Only one was such,
he being postmaster at the Indian
capital. President Andrew Jackson,
whose sympathies. unlike his prede-
| cessor's were with the State, and op-
posed to the course Of the federal
court, promptly removed this man
| from his Office so that the State
would feel no embarrassment in
| handling the case. On their further
| refusal to leave the State, or comply
with its regulation. the two, Messrs.
Worcester and Thompson were ar
rested by the Georgia authorities,
tried found guilty and sentenced to
four years. Others associated with
| them accepted pardon conditioned
| on their departure from the State.
These two refused and appealed to
| the United States court. Governor
I >lyf ov,1 IA IL
ly expressed their determination not
TO yield the rights Of Georgia or COM
| premise them by recognizing the pro-
ceedings in the Supreme Court in any
| way. That court held the acts Of
| the Georgia legislature void and the
| judgment OF the court trying and SEN
| fencing the two missionaries as like
wise a nullity. Georgia's attitude re-
mained one of defiance. Governor
Lumpkin announced the States in
| tentiOn of meeting with determined
| resistance any attempt to PROSTATE
| the sovereignty. of the State in the
exercise of is constitutional criminal
| jurisdiction.
President Jackson, none too great
an admirer or lover Of Chief Justice
Marshall grimly observed when the
Supreme Court decree was announced
| that now that John Marshall had rem
dered his decision he might enforce
| it. something that was clearly beyond
tho chief Justices power to do. "Old
| Hickory's" stand practically nullifed
the decision of the Supreme Court
and the missionaries labored on in
the Georgia penitentlary. Wearying
or their enforced martyrdom they
finally sOght pardon, and after serv-
| ing nearly two years they accepted