e
Th i s app l icatio n w ou ld h a v e bee n made e a rl ie r b u t the hope
ch eri shed , as l o n g as i t co u l d be reaso n abl y i n d u l ged t h at
c m a n i fes tat i o n of th e i n ten t i o n s of t h e F edera l A d m i n istr :
l
i
b
u
p
w oul d ren der i t u n necessa ry
I h a ve th e h o n o r to b e
W i th h igh co n si de rati o n a n d resp ee
Y o u r o b ed ie n t ser va n t
JO H"F O R S Y T
JOH" QU I KTC Y A D AM S
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Pr e§i d en t
f
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th e Un i ted S tates
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I" S E"
A T E, D ec em b er I 9 , 1 8 2
T h e Jo i n t C o m m i t tee
r e fe rred so m u ch o f t h e
u po n th e S tate of th e R ep ub l i c to w h o m
l ate Go ve r no r s c om m u n i c a t i on a s r eg
t h e acqu i si t io n of th e Geo rg i a l a n d s a t presen t i n t h e o cc u pa n t
t h e C h e r okee I n d i a n s ; a n d th e a b sol u t e a n d j u ri sd i ctio n a l rigl
t h e S tate to t h e s a m e ; Repo rt :
T h at t h ey h ave b e s to w ed u po n th i s m o m en tou s s u bjec t th e
a n d a l th ough so m e of
m at u re a n d d el i b erate con s i de rati o n
w
f
ed i n o ccu py i n
osi
tio
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a y a t th e
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ap pear bol d a n d n o vel ye t t h ey ch erish t h e h o pe th at b y
v ie w
v erti n g to t h e w el l ascerta i ned a n d l on g e s t a b l is hed l a ws of n a t i
t h ose pos ition s w i l l b e fo u n d a b u n d a n tly s u ppo rted
W e are a w are th at o u r r ep ea ted appeal s to th e G en eral Gov
m en t u po n th i s su bj'ect so v i ta l l y i n teres ti n g to th e P eop l e of Geo :
h av e bee n l oo k ed u p o n a s i m pert i n e n t a n d o b tr u si ve ; bu t yo u r
’
m i ttee bel i eve th at th e S tate h as been d i sposed t o s ufler i n s i l e
s o lo ng as t h e ev i l s u n de r w h i ch sh e l a b o red w er e su ti er a b le ;
t h at w h e n h er cl ai m s sh al l be fai rl y i n vestigated a n d i t i s se en
u n reaso n abl y t h e y h av e bee n d el ayed , a n en l igh ten ed a n d j ust
m u n i t y w i l l pro no u n ce th e c ou rs e s h e h as p u rs u ed , to h av e b ee n a n
ed w ith great m oderati o n a n d fo r b e a ran c e
W e p ropose i n th e d isch arge of o u r pr ese n t d u ty to i n q
ui re i
i n t oth e n atu re a n d presen t si tu at io n of ou r cl a i m u p o n th e Ger
G ov ern m e n t a n d , seco n d to i n v est igate t he n a tu re a n d ex ten t oi
t itl e to th e terri to r y i n q u estio n c on s id ered abstracted l y fro m
'
c l ai m u po n th e G en era l G o v er n m e n t
B y t h e 4 i h secti o n of th e A rti cl es of Agreem en t a n d E ession er
ed i nt o on t h e 2 4 th d ay of A pr i l 1 8 0 2 b et w e en t h e co m m i ss i o n ai
t h e U n i ted S tates, on the on e p a rt, a n d the c om m i sswu er s of
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21
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ta te o f Ge
o rgi a on th e o the r part i t w a s e x pressl y sti p ul
a gr eed th at th e U n ited S tates s h o u l d a t t h ei r ow n ex p en s e ex
for th e use of Geor gi a a s ea r ly a s th e sa m e c ou ld b e p r o
ta i n ed on r ea son a b le ter m s, t h e I n d ia n ti tl e to al l th e l a n ds w i t
S tate of Geo rgia
I t w i l l h ard ly b e con te n ded th a t t h i s w as a m ere n a ked p
a n d th erefore to b e v iol ated at pl easu re by th e U n i ted S tates
co n tract i m po rts u pon i ts face a m os t a m p l e a n d sutfi c i en t co n
tio n
We a r e n o t ign o ra n t of thefa ct th a t th e Gen eral Gov er n m en
i ng th e po w e r i n h er ow n h a n d s is d ispo sed to p ut h e
stru ctio n u p o n th i s p ro m i se a n d to m ak e h er sel f th e sol e
"
s i ve j udge of w h a t m a y b e co n si de red reaso n abl e ter m
respect fu l ly co n te n d th a t if sh e d esi gn s to kee p u p ev en th e
j ust i ce sh e w i l l s u ffer t hi s to b e co n trol led by th e sa m e r u l e
stru ctio n app l icab l e to a l l o th e r co n tracts ; th at i s to say : ti
w or d s used sh al l b e u n d ersto od i n th at sen se w h i ch i s bes t: calc
l
T
to e ffectuate th e tr ue i n ten ti o n o f t h e co nt racti ng p art ies
c ip r oc a l o bjects i n ten ded to b e a cco m pl ish ed by th e U n i ted
an d Geo rgi a by th e c o n trac t i n quest io n w ere few a n d 3
Th ey i n te n de d th a t Geo rgia sh o ul d ced e to t h e U n i ted S tat es
exte n t of terri tory th erei n desc ribed ; th a t th e U n i ted S ta tes s
a t th ei r o w n expen se a n d u po n th ei r ow n respo n si b i l ity ex ti n
Tor t h e u s e o f Geo rgi a w h ateve r cl ai m o r t i tl e th e I nd i a n s
h ave to th e l an d s ly i n g w i th i n h e r l i m i ts ; a n d th at th is sh o n
"
do n e as early as i t co u l d b e u p on p ract icabl e a n d reas on a b l e
\V e con si de r i t certa i n fro m th e ter ms o f th e co n tract i ts e
parti cu l arly fro m th e con si deratio n w h i ch w a s p ai d th at i
th e i n ten tio n of both p arties th a t th e I n d i a n ti tle sh ou l d c er
a t so m e ti m e o r oth er h e ex t i n g u is hed l Th e t i m e w a s i
d e fin i te a n d u ncerta i n n o t beca use i t w a s co n te m pl ated th e
c i rcu m sta n ce sh o ul d occu r o r s ta te of th i ngs exist th a t
depri ve Geo rg i a of th ose l an d s ; b u t b ecause th i s S tat e r
s uch u n bou n d ed co n fid en ce i n th e j usti ce a n d go od fa i th
Gen eral Gover nm e n t as i n d uced h er co n fiden tly to b el ieve t
o p po rtu n ity w o u l d be per m itted to escape a n d th at n o fai r a n
n or a b le exertio n w o u l d be w i th h el d fo r th e speed y a n d p u n ct u
fi l m e n t o f t h e p ro m i se
S
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t he
I n d i a n s B y w h a t m o ti ve or reaso n th e Gen era l Go vern m en t
c a n b e i n fl uen ced i n so pe rti n ac io usl y an d u nj ustly re fusi ng en
t i r ely to redee m h er pl edged fai th to Georgi a w e \ a re u n a b l e to pe r
c ei v e
Th e w h ol e c i v il ized Worl d k n o w s th at Geo rgi a ac ted a g a l
l a n t a n d d i sti ngu i sh e d pa rt d u ri ng th e Re v ol utio n a ry w a r in a c h iev
i ng o u r l ib erty an d i n dep en d en ce ; a n d o u r si ste r Sta t es w i l l d o u
s
t h e j u s t i c e to testi fy th at s i nc e t h a t ti m e Ge orgi a h as n o t w i th h el d
h er t reasu re o r h e r s w o rd fro m th e d e fe n ce of o u r co m m o n co u n try
a n d n atio n a l rig h ts W e m en ti o n th ese th i n g s n o t b y w a y of b oast
i n g o r o u t o f v a i n gl o ry b u t to sh o w t h at Geo rgi a h as v iol ated n o e
n
of th e o b l igatio n s b y w h i ch sh e w a s b o u n d to h e r si ste r S tates a n d
t h ere fo r e t h at th ere i s th e l e s s j u sti ce i n th ei r v iol ati n g th ei r o b l iga
t i o n s to h er:
I t w i l l b e r em em'b er é d th a t th e A rti cl es of A gree m e n t
a n d C essio n w ere e n tered i n t o i n 1 8 0 2 ; a n d th at th ey i m posed u po n
t h e Un i ted S ta tes th e o b l igat io n o f p rocu ri n g th e rel i nq u ish m e n t o f
"
t h e I nd i a n t i tl e as soo n as t he sa m e co u l d b e d o n e peacea b l y, a n d
" ~I m m ed i ate ly u po n t h e r a t ifi c a t io n of
u po n " reason ab l e ter m s
th ese a rti cl es i t b eca m e th e d uty of th e Gen era l Go v er n m en t to i m
p ro ve every o p po rtu n i ty th at m i gh t p resen t i tsel f a n d w i th al l h er
i n fl uen ce a n d e n ergies fai th fu l ly a ppl ied to h ave soug h t d i l i g en tl y
fo r oppo rt u n i ties to e ffec t s d eh rel i n qu ish m en t S h e d i d n o t d o so
b ut o n t he co n tra ry m a n i fested so m u ch i nd i fferen ce a n d fo r so
l o ng a ti m e th at Geo rgi a b eca m e d issati s fied a n d too k o ccasi on r e
s p ec tful ly to c a ll th e a tten ti o n o f th e Gen era l Go ve r n m e n t to t h is s u b
— a l i b erty th a t sh e h as severa l ti m es s i n ce fo u n d i t n ecessa ry to
e
c
t
j
exerc ise b u t w h i c h h as ei th er b ee n treated w i th s i len t co n te m pt o r
h a s su bj ected h er to reproach a n d cal u m n y
Th a t th e U n i ted States
h av e v iol ated , m ost p a l pab ly th ei r co n t ra c t w i th Geo rgi a w e th i n k
i s m ad e ev id e n t w h en i t i s re m e m bered th at s i n ce th e r ati fi cati o n of
'
th e A rti cl es of Agr eem en t a n d C essi o n t h e In d i a n s h a v e b een re m oved
'
en ti rely fro m O h i o K e n tucky "
o r t h a n d So u th C a r ol i n a sy l en n es
s ee M issou ri
s i n ce th at ti m e
a nd al m os t a l l A rka n sas ; a n d th at
fi v e o r s ix ti m e s as m u ch l a n d as b el o nged to Geo rgi a a n d w a s i n
t h e po ssess ion 0 f th e I n d i a n s h as b een acqu i red i n A l a b a m a fo r th e
u se o f th e Un i t ed S tates an d th at too
u po n peace a b l e an d r eason a
b l e ter m s bes i des l arge cessio n s i n M i ss issi ppi I l l i n o is M i ch i ga n
a n d F l o ri da
A n d i t i s a fac t so n o to r i o us th at w e p res u m e n o o n e
w i l l ven tu re to d i sp u te i t th a t u po n th e ter m i n at io n of t h e l ate w a r
w i th G rea t B ri ta i n a n d th e I nd i an s th e
i ted S tates h ad i t c om
i r po w e r to proc u re for t he u se o f Geo rgi a, t h e p ri n c i
p l etely i n t h e
p a l pa rt of th e l an d s to w h i ch sh e wa s e n ti tl ed n ot o n ly u po n
" peac eabl e a n d reaso n b l e ter m s " b u t u po n j ust s u ch te r m s as th ey
a
m igh t h ave pl eased to p resc ri be ; b u t th i s w a s n o t d o n e n o r a tte m p t
ed to b e d on e : o n th e co n trary th e Un i ted S tates b y n ego ti a t i o n
e ffected for th ei r ow n u se an d a g g r a n d iz em en t l a r ge cessi o n s of
t erri to ry i n an oth er pa rt of th e n atio n a n d t hereby t h r ew th e I n
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11
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p u rpos e A n d s i n c e th a t t i m e it h as b ee n th e co n s tan t an d
fav ori te pol i cy o f th e U n i ted S tates n ot to h ol d o u t i n d u ce m e n ts to
t h e I n d ia n s to y iel d u p t h e possessio n of th e Geo rgi a l a nd s b u t to so
ad d to th ei r co m fo rts a nd so i n stru ct th e m i n th e b u s i n ess of h us
b a nd ry as to attac h t he m to th ei r co m fo rts a n d as to a ttach th e m so
fi r m ly to th ei r cou n try an d t o th ei r h o m es as al m ost to destroy th e
l as t ray o f h ope th a t t h ey w o ul d e ve r co n se n t to part w i t h th e Geor
gi a l an ds I t is n ow al leged w e u n de rstan d th at i t i s i m possi b l e
for th e U n ite d S tates to o b ta i n t h e l a n d i n questio n for th e u se of
Georgi a u po n
peaceabl e a n d reaso n abl e ter m s
a n d th a t th ere
for e t h ey a re u n d er n o obl igatio n to o b tai n t he m a t al l
By w h o m
a n d i n w h at w a y we beg l eave to i nqu i re h a s t his i m possib i lity bee n
p rod u ced " S u rely by the Un i te d S ta tes a n d by th ei r po l i cy an d
th at too agai n s t th e co n sen t a n d re m on s tra n ce of Georgi a A n d i s
i t p ossi b l e t h a t t he Ge n e ral Gover n m en t w i l l co n se n t i n th is w a y to
b en e fi t he rsel f a n d to ta ke ad va n tage o f h e r o w n acts a n d th at too ,
to t he i nj u ry an d oppress io n of o n e of h er ow n m e m b ers "F or th e d ig
n i ty a n d h on or of o u r co m m o n co u n try w e ea rn estly h ope n o t
B u t al
t ho ugh th e Gen era l Go v ern m en t is u n de r th i s o b l igati o n an d fr o m
w h i c h sh e ca n n o t h o n o ra b ly re lea se h ersel f i n a ny o the r w a y th a n by
co m ply i ng wi th i t, yet j ud g i ng fro m ou r p ast experi en ce w e ca n
sca rcely ve n tu re to h ope th at sh e w i l l red ress o u r i nj u ries a n d es ta
b l i s h o u r righ ts We a re a ppriz ed th a t th is su bject e ngaged th e a t
te n ti o n of th e l ast L egis l atu re— th at th e r eso l u tio n s w h i c h they
adopted were su b m i tted to th e P res ide n t of th e U n i ted S t a tes a n d
we a r e gl ad th at i n repl y h e co n des cen ded to expre s s to o u r Sen a
t or s i n C o n g ress a
b u t w e a re so rry '
w is h t o g r a ti fy th e S tate
th a t h e ad ded
n egoti atio n w i t h I n d i an s w a s h o pel es s a n d th at he
'
"
We a re a t l i berty to u n derstan d
co u l d n ot co n se n t to apply fo rce
th i s ans w e r n o o the r w ise th a n as a d isti n c t an d fo r m a l deter m i nat io n
to take n o s tep to ob ta i n for a n d secu re to Georgi a h e r l o n g d e
l ayed righ ts
We h a ve w ai ted u po n an d trusted to th e j ustice a n d
l i b era l i ty o f th e Un i ted S tates fo r u p w a rd s o f th e fou r t h o f a c en
t u ry a nd th e resu l t to u s i s d i sappo i n t men t i ns u l t a n d i nj u ry
F ro m th i s gl oo m y a n d a l m ost h opel ess p rospect w e t u rn ou r a t
t en t io n to th e seco n d b ra n ch of ou r i n q
u i r y a n d t ru s t th at w e sh al l b e
a b l e to esta b l ish i n the S tate of Georgi a a good l egal a n d per fect t i tl e
t o th e l an ds i n Questi o n ; a nd t h a t w e h ave t h e righ t by a ny m ea n s i n
o u r po w e r , to possess ou rsel ves of the m
I n th e ex am i n atio n of th is
i m pp r t a n t a n d i n teresti n g qu estio n w e are necessari ly ca rried b ack
to th e ea rl i es t h istory o f t his co u n try W hen th e co n ti nen t of A m e
r ica w a s fi rs t d iscovered it w a s possessed an d o w ned b
y v ari o u s w a n
oth e r
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" P recisel
p l easu re ever y th i n g th a t passes i n th e co u n t ry
y i n th i s way
a n d i n n o oth er d i d S pa i n F ra n ce En gl a n d Ho l l an d an d P ortugal
ob ta i n sov erei gn ty o ver th e por t io n s of t h is co u n try d is c o v ered by
e ach I t m a y be co n te n ded w i th m uch pl a us ib i l i ty th a t t he re i s
i n th ese cl a i m s m or e of fo rce th a n of j ust i ce ; bu t t h ey a re cl a im s
'
w h ich h a ve b ee n re c ogn i zed an d ad m i tted b y th e w h ol e ci v i l i zed
w o rl d a n d i t is u nq uest io n abl y t ru e th a t u n d er s uch c i rc u m sta n ces
or c e beco m es r ig h t
Th i s k i n d o f t itl e i s n o t o nl y goo d a n d val id
f
a gre eab l e to th e l a ws of n a t i o ns b u t i s perfectl y co n si sten t w i th n a
t ur alj us ti c e Th e earth w a s certa i n l y m ad e for th e ben efi t co m fo rt
a n d s u b sis te n ce o f m a n a n d s h ou l d be so used as to ac co m m od ate t h e
greatest poss ibl e n u m b e r of h u m a n bei ngs I t w a s t h ere fo re per fect
l y i n accor d a n ce w i th th e d es ign s of n at u re th a t th e d en sely p op ul a t
ed co u n tries of E u rop e sh b u ld possess th em sel ves of th e i m m en se
forests i n A m e ri ca w h i c h w ere u sed o n l y as h u n t i ng gro u n ds , an d
e m pl oy th e m i n p ro m o ti n g th e c pm for ts a n d p rov i d i ng for th e s u b
s iste n ce of th ei r o ve rfl o w i ng popu l a t io n
A ct ing n o d o ub t u po n th ese pr i nci pl es G rea t B ri tai n o ccu pied
a n d co lo n ized t he p rov i n ce of Geo rgi a th e l i m i ts of w hi ch an terio r
to th e R e vo l u tio n a ry w a r, w e re d efined an d m ad e to exten d fro m th e
'
A tl an t ic Coas t to t h e M i ss iss i ppi a n d f ro m th e th i rt y fi rs t to th e th i r
'
Th e w h ol e of t h i s terri tory w a s
t y -fift h d egrees of n o rth l ati tud e
m ade to fo r m a pro v i n c i al Gov ern m en t — th u s e xerc is i n g th e h igh es t
I n t h is exerc ise both of
a n d m os t u neq u i vo cal acts o f so ve reig n ty
d om ain an d em p i r e o n th e par t of G rea t B ri ta i n ce rta i n po rt io n s o f
t e rr i t ory w ere rese r ved fo r th e u se of th e I nd i a ns , a n d th e I n d i a n s
t h e m se l ves w ere decl a red to be u n de r th e p rotect io n of G reat B ri ta i n
a n d th e l a n d s reserved w ere al so u n de r th e so v er ei gn ty p rotect io n
Th u s i t i s seen , t h at t h e so ve
a n d do m in io n of t h at Go vern m e n t
'
r eig n ty of Grea t B ritai n o ver th e w h ol e o f Geo rgi a w a s co m pl ete
th at t h e
a n d per fec t ; th at th e absol u te righ t t o th e so i l w a s i n h e r
I fid ian s w ere u n de r h er p r otec ti on ; a n d th at th e i r possessio n w a s on
"
I h i n g s re m a i n ed i n th i s co n d itio n u nt i l th e R ev ol u
l y p er mi ss i ve
t i on a r y w a r ; u po n t h e ter m i n ati on of w h ich by th e t r ea ty p f peace
b e t wee n th e U n i ted S ta tes a n d t h e m o th er co u n t ry , th e so ve reign ty
to th e ful l ext en t as cl a i m ed ow n ed a n d exerc ised by G rea t B r i
t a i n ov e r a l l th e l a n d s a n d I nd i a n s w i th i n t h e S tate of G eo rgia, p ass We h a ve sh e w n w e trus t
ed to a nd v es ted i n th e Peo pl e of t h is S tate
v ery c l earl y th at a t th e en d o f th e Revol u tion a ry w a r G eorgi a pos
s essed an d h ad a r igh t to exerc ise , abso l u te c o n tro l and so vereign ty
o ve r th e w h ol e of t h e terri to ry ly i ng w i th i n her th e n l i m i ts ; th at h er
cl a i m to d om a i n a n d emp i r e w a s n ot d i sp u ted ; th a t th e ab so l u te ti tle
t o t h e soi l w a s i n h er ; th at th e I n d ian s w e re u n der her p r otec ti on ;
a n d th at th ei r posses s i o n w a s b y h er p er m i ssi on as i t h ad p rev io u sl y
Th us fa r w e appreh en d t he p re m ises
b ee n b y th a t of Grea t B ri t ai n
t h a t w e h a ve es tab l i sh ed a n d th e co n cl usio n s we h ave d ra w n w i l L n ot
,
.
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-
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fD oc
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'
13
o
.
.
re m ai n s fo r u s to shew, th at si n ce th e Revol u ti on a ry w'
a r , Ge e r
gi a h as d o n e n o act an d en te red i n to n o co m pac t w ith h er si ster
S tates by w h i ch sh e h as d ivested h ersel f of'a ny port io n of h er sov e
r eig n ty a ffecti ng h er r igh ts n o w i n q uestio n ; a n d th is proposi tio n w i l l
b e su p ported i f w e can sh e w th at n o such co n seq u en ce ca n resu l t
fro m t h e A rti cl es of C on federa t i on th e F edera l C o n st i tuti on o r th e
A rti cl es of A gree m e n t a n d C ess io n of 1 8 0 2
To sh e w t h at the A rt i
c l es of C on federatio n h a ve d i vested Geo rgia of n o po rt io n of h e r so
v er eig n ty i t does n ot a ppea r to u s n ecessary to take a ny o ther gro u n d
th an th e very ob v i ous o n e t h a t th es e art icles h a ve b een 'a b r og a ted b y
t he F ederal C o n st it u tio n w h i ch w a s adopted i n i ts p l ace a n d stead
B u t we co n te nd th at , e ve n p rio r to th e a d op tion p f th a t C on sti tu tio n
t h ey co n tai ned n o p rov is io n w h e n p roperl y con stru ed a ffecti ng th e
r i gh t i n question
I n th e A rti c l es of C o n fede rat io n w e fi n d t h i s prov i
s io n "each S tate retai n s i ts sov er eig nty freedo m a n d i n depen d en ce ;
a n d eve ry po w er ofj u r i sd i c ti on 'an d r ig h t w h i ch i s n o t by th e C o n fede r
"
t i on , exp r essly d el eg a ted to th e U n i ted S tates
i s res er ved to th e Peo
W
C
l
e
o
f
o
th
e
S
tates
m
sea
r
c
h
i
n
v
ai
n
i
n
th
e
A
rti
cl
es
on fed e
e
a
f
p
y
r ati o n or any express d el egati o n o f th e righ t of s ov er eig n ty o r j u r is d i c
f
t io n by Geo rgi a t o th e U n i ted S tat es o ve r th e terri to ry i n c o n tr m er sy
"o such exp ress del ega ti o n w a s ever m ade ; th e co n seq u en ce i s ob v i
o us i t i s reserved to th e Peopl e o f th e S tate Th ose w l1 0 d iffer w ith u s
i n opi n io n m ay at te m p t to su sta i n th e m sel ves b y o n e fu rth e r p rov is io n
i n t h e A rti cl es o f C o n fede rat io n
We al l ud e to th e po we r gi ve n to
"
"
t h e U n i ted S tat es of regu l at i n g trad e a n d m a n a gi n g al l a ffa i rs
w i th t h e I n d i ans n o t m em b ers of any pa rti cul a r S tate : b u t b y exp ress
in
p rov is io n th is po we r is i n n o i u s t a n c ef t o be ex er c ised s o as to
fr i nge or v iol ate t h e l eg i sla ti v e r ig h t o f a n y S tate w ith i n i ts ow n l i
"
m i ts
We are b y n o m ean s s a tis fied b u t th at th e I n d ian s re si den t
w ith i n t h e l i m i ts o f Geo rgi a m a y fai rly b e co n s i dere d m em b er s of
th e State : i f so t h e U n i ted S tates possess n o t th e r ig ht to i n ter fere
"
w i th th e m ev en so fa r a s to regul ate
trade ; b u t w h eth er t h ey b e
m e m b ers of th e S tate o r n o t th e Un ited S tates a re expressly p ro h ibi t
ed fro m i n terfer i ng w i th the m i n any w a y so as to " i n fri nge o r v i o
"
S
tate w i th i n h er o w n l i m its
l a te t h e l eg i sl a t i ve righ t of t h e
th i n k th ere fore th a t th e A rt i cles of C o n fed eratio n h av e n o t a ffected
n ow
‘
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‘
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,
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t h e cl ai m s o f n o pa rti cul a r S tate sh al l b e p rej ud i ced I t w ilt n ot
b e co n ten ded w e a ppreh e n d th at s i n ce th e A r t i cl es of Agr eem en t an d
C es sion of 1 8 0 2 th e Un i ted St ates h av e t he s m al l est sh ado w of a t i
t l e to t h e l a n d in co n tro versy ; a n d i t i t w ere co n si d ered n ecessary w e
c ou l d easi l y sh e w th a t ev en b efor e th at t i m e , th ey h ad n o w el l fou n ded
T he re i s th ere fo r e n ot h i n g in th i s p art of th e C on sti tu tion ex
t i tl e
o f t h e ri h t o f sov ereign ty i n
l
o
r
i
m
d
d
i
vesti
ng
Geo
rgi
a
ss
i
r
l
e
l
e
p
p
y
y
g
questio n a n d fro m th e very fac t th at n o suc h righ t w a s su rre nd ere d u p
i n to th e h a n d s o f th e U n i ted S tates w e are w arran ted i n assert i ng
'
th a t th e r igh t w a s r eta i n ed b y th e S tate
We u n derstan d t h at th e po w e r w h i ch the Co n st i tu tio n co n fers u p
p n th e P r es id en t b y an d w i t h th e a d vi ce a n d co n se n t of t h e Sen ate,
to m a ke tr ea ti es is cl a i med t o h ave a n i n fl ue n c e u po n th e presen t
q uesti o n 5 b u t w e are u n a b l e to di scove r a ny n ecessary co n nectio n
b et w ee n t h is p ro v i s io n i n th e C o n stitu tio n a n d th e qu estio n u n de r
con s i deratio n Th i s pa rt of'
th e C o n sti tu tio n we b a v e a l w ays u n d er
stood appl ied t o f or eig n ufi a t r s o n l y SV e a re a ppri zed , h ow e ve r
t h a t t he Un i ted S tates h ave treate
d
w i t h v a rio us t r i b es of I n d i a n s a t
'
d i fferen t t i m es an d th at t h ose tr ea t ies h ave b ee n su b m i tted to t h e
S en at e for rati ficatio n
B u t i f w e m i s take n ot si n ce th e ad opti on
a n d K en tu cky h ave
ew Y o rk
of t h e C on st i tu ti o n V i r g i n i a O h i o "
e x erci sed th e r igh t of treati n g w i th th e I n d i an s resi d i n g w i th in
t h e i r l i m i ts ; a n d th ei r righ t to d o so h as n o t so fa r as w e k n o w o r
B u t u po n th i s po i n t we feel n o sort of
b el ie ve b ee n d i spu ted
s o l i ci tu de
for i t i s s u tfi c i en t fo r o u r pu r pose th at i n t he C on st it u
t i on a l prov i sio n n ow u nd er v ie w , th ere i s n o exp r ess o r p l a in ly i m p li ed
s u rre n de r o n th e p art of Geor g i a of h er r i gh t of so vereign ty to th e
t erri to ry i n questio n:
If t h e r e i s a n y oth e r p rov is io n i n the F eder a l C o n sti tu ti on , a i
fec ti n g th i s questio n w e are n o t a pp ri zed of i t ; a n d w e co n seque ntl y
a r ri v e a t t h e co n cl usio n th a t th e ri gh ts a n d po wers of Geo rgi a i n
u e s ti o n re m ai n p rec isel y w h ere t h ey stoo d i m ~
a n d to th e l an ds i n
m ed i ately u p o n th e c o n c l us io n o f t h e Revo l u tio n a ry w a r w i th th e
exce p ti on th a t Geo rgi a h as i n co m m o n w i th a l l th e o th er S ta tes
gi ve n u p to th e Gen e ral Go vern m en t a po rti o n o f h e r r ig ht of em
re
i
b u t sh e h as s u rr en dered th a t righ t n o fu r th er i n rel atio n to th e
p
terri to ry i n d isp u te t han sh e h as i n rel atio n to a l l th e rest o f h er ter
er ,
.
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I
15
o
.
.
I n ai d of o u r o pi n i o n u po n th e q
uest io n of t i tl e , w e beg
l eave to re fe r to th e decisio n m ad e b y th e S up re m e C o u rt of th e
U n i te d S tates i n t h e fa m ou s case of F l etch er a n d Peck w h i ch ful ly
esta b l ish es t h e p ri n ci pl e th at th e " L egisl atu re of Geo rgia u n l ess
r es t rai ned b yi ts ow n C o n sti t u ti on possesses th e po w e r of d is pos i n g of
t h e u n app ro pri ate d l a n ds w ith i n h er ow n l i m i ts i n su ch m an ne r as
"
h er o w n j udg m en t m a y d i ctate
A n d th e sa m e ca se esta b l ish es t h e
furth er p r i n ci pl e th at
th e l u d i an t i tl e i s o n ly per m issi ve an d te m po
ra ry a n d n o t a t a lt i n co n s isten t w ith a seiz i n i n fee o n th e pa rt of
"
Geo rgi a
We n eed o n l y ad d th at t h i s d ec i s ion w a s m ade l on g
su b s equen t to t he ado p tio n of th e F ed e ra l C o n sti tu ti on
B y th e Arti c les of Agree m e n t a n d C ess i o n of 1 8 0 2 Geo rgi a parted
a n d gave u p a l l h e r cl ai m s a n d righ ts b o th of d om a i n an d
w i th
em p i r e
to th e terri tory th ereby c ed ed to t h e U n i ted S tates B u t
th ese a rti cl es co n tai n n o f or nm l a n d ex p r ess s u rren der of any su c h
r igh ts t o th e ter rito ry r eser v ed
W
e
a r e a w are th a t s u c h su rren der
'
"
i
i s cl a i m ed to b e m p li ed fro m t h e ter m fIn d i a n t i tl e
as th ere
B u t w hen th e s u bje ct i s p ro perl y u n de rstood w e co n ten d th a t
u sed
t h i s co n cl u si o n does n ot n ecessa ri ly resu l t fro m th e p re m ises Th is
ter m w a s n o t i n tend ed a n d c an n o t b e u n derstoo d as b u i ld i ng u p
a n d vesti ng i n t he I n d ia n s a ny k i n d of ti tle to t he l a n d s i n co n tro
v er sy ; n or w a s i t i n ten ded to ad d to o r det ract fro m th e t i t l e w h i c h
,
t hey al ready h ad I t w a s o n ly u sed as a ter m descri pti ve of th at
t i tl e We h a ve a l ready s een w h a t th a t t i tl e w a s ; th a t i t w a s a
m ere possesso ry o n e ; a n d th at t hey h a d so l i ttl e i n tere s t i n th e s o i l
th at th ei r possess io n w a s n ot i n c o n sisten t w i th a seiz i n i n fee o n th e
p a rt of Geo rg i a B u t i t i s co n ten d ed th at b y th e A rti cl es of Ag ree
m en t a n d C essio n a con si d er a ti on w a s co n te m pl ated to be p ai d by th e
U n i ted S tates to th e I n d i a ns for th ei r rel i n qui sh m en t of th is t itl e ;
an d th ere fo re th a t i t w a s of su ch a ch aracter as w a s en ti tl ed to r e
spec t a n d as co u l d n o t b e taken fro m t h e m u n l ess by th ei r co n sen t
We a re of a d i ffe ren t o pi n io n We h av e a l ready seen th e fragil e
ten u re b y w h ich th ey h o l d a n d d o ye t h ol d t hose l an ds 3 b u t h o w
ever sl en der i t m ay h ave b een ye t som e a c t w a s n ecessa ry to b e d o n e
by th e U n i ted S t a tes o r Geo rgi a i n o rder to o u st t he m o f possessi o n
r i tor y .
'
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16
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q
th e sa me w ay a n d th e p ro v i si o n i n u esti o n w a s s i m ply i n ten d e d to
m ake t h e U n i ted S tates s ust a i n al l th e expen se of n egot i ati o n
p resen ts , a n d co n s i derat io n w h i ch o th er w ise wou l d h ave fa l l en Up o n
Geor gi a , h ad she p roceeded to t h e acco m pl ish m en t of th e sa m e oh
m ea n s
B
u
t
th
ere
i
s n o th i n g i n t h is p rov i si on w h i c h
ec t by p a c i
j
v en ts th e Un ited S tat es o r Geo r gi a fro m reso rti ng to f or ce
On
r
e
p
t h e co nt ra ry th i s righ t s ee m s to b e ad m i tted al t h oug h t he U n i ted
S tate s w o ul d n o t b i n d th e m sel v e s to use i t A t a l l ev en ts i t i s ev i
d e n t th at i f Geo rgi a p ossessed th i s righ t b efor e e n teri ng i n to t h ose
a rt icles sh e possess es i t y et : for a s u rren der of i t i s n o w h ere to b e
fo u n d B e fore Geo rgi a beca m e a p arty t o th e A rt icles o f Agree m e nt
a n d C essi o n sh e co u l d righ t fu l ly h ave possesse d h ersel f of th ose
l a n d s ei th e r by n eg oti a ti on w i t h th e I n d i an s o r by f or c e ; a n d she
B u t b y th i s c on
h a d d ete r m i n ed i n o n e of th e t w o w ay s to d o so
t rac t sh e m a d e i t th e d u ty o f th e Un i ted S tates to s u stai n th e ex
pen se of ob tai n i n g for h e r th e possess io n ; p r o v i ded i t co u l d be d on e
u po n reas on ab l e ter m s a n d by n egoti at i on B u t i n case i t sh o u l d
b eco m e n ecessar y to r eso r t to f or c e t h is co n tract w i th th e Un i ted
S tates m a kes n o p rov is io n
Th e co n seque n ce i s ; th at G eorgi a i s
l e ft u n tra m m el l ed a n d at fu l l l i b er ty to p rosecu te h er r ig hts i n th a t
o w n d iscreti o n
o
i
n
t
of
v
ie
accord
i
ng
to
h
e
r
a
n
d
as
th
ough
w
no
p
su ch c o n t rac t h ad b ee n m ad e Y o u r co m m i ttee t h erefore, a rr iv e a t
t h a t a n terio r to th e Revo l u ti o n ary w a r , th e l a n d s
t h i s co n cl us io n
i n qu es tio n b el o nged to Great B r i tai n ; th at th e righ t of sov ereign ty ,
b o th as to d om a i n a n d e m pi re w a s co m pl ete a n d per fec t i n h er ; t h a t
t h e possessio n b y th e I n d ia n s w a s per m iss i ve ; th at th ey w ere u n d er
th e p ro tectio n of th a t Go ve rn m en t th a t t h ei r t i tl e Was te m po ra ry ;
a n d th a t su ch te n an cy m igh t
t h a t they w ere m ere te n an ts a t w i l l
h a ve b ee n de ter m i ne d at a ny m o m e n t, ei t h er b y n ego ti atio n o r fo rce
a t th e p l easu re of Great B ri ta i n t h at upo n t h e ter m i n ati o n o f th e
Re vo l u tio n ary wa r a n d by th e trea ty of p ea ce , Geo rgi a ass u m e d a ll
th e righ ts a n d po w ers i n rel at io n to t h e l a n d s a n d I n d ia n s i n ques
th a t s i n ce th at
ti on w h i c h h er eto fo r e bel o n ged to Grea t B r i ta i n
t i m e sh e h as n o t d i vested h ersel f o f a ny l igh t o r po w e r i n r el ati o n
to th e l a n d s n ow i n questio n fu rt h e r th a n s h e h as i n rel atio n to a l l
t h e b al an ce of h er terr i to ry ; a n d t h at sh e i s n ow at fu l l l iberty a n d
h as th e po w e r an d righ t to possess h ersel f b y a ny m ea n s sh e ma y
ch oose to e m pl oy o f th e l a n d s i n d isp u te , a n d to e x ten d o ver th e m
h er au tho r i ty a n d l a w s
A l tho ugh y o u r co m m i ttee b el ie ves th e absol u te ti tl e to th e l a nd s i n
co n tro versy i s i n Geo rgi a a n d t hat s h e m a y righ tfu l ly possess h er
sel f of th e m w h en a n d by w h at m ea n s sh e pl eases ; y et, th ey w o u l d
n ot reco m m en d a n ex er c ise o f th a t righ t t i l l al l o th er m ean s fa i l
W e a re a w are th at t he C h ero kee I n d i a n s t al k extrav agan tly o f
,
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,
,
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.
o v er n m e n t w n
ian e
o t a l l y unn eren t J a n g uag e II w e en ei a
g
i ts pol i c y to w a rd t he m a n d a pp ri ze th e m o f th e n atu re a n d exten t of
t h e Geo rgia ti tle to th ose l a n d s , a n d w h a t w i l l be t h e p robab le co use
qu enc o of thei r re m a i n i ng refracto ry
Y o u r co m m i t tee w o u l d reco m m en d th at o ne oth er a n d t h e l ast a p
nt
w
m
w
ne
ea
l
ade
to
th
e
Ge
neral
Go
vern
e
i
th
a
i
to
open
a
b
m
e
p
v
n d ia n s u po n th is su bj ec t
t
h
e
i
th
h
ero
kee
I
That
C
w
o
i
o
h
t
i
t
n
t
e
a
g
Un i ted S tates d o i n st ru c t thei r C o m m is s io ners to su b m i t t h i s repo r t
t o the sai d I n d ian s ; an d th at i f n o su c h n egoti at io n i s ope n ed o r i f
t i s a n d i t prov es to b e u n s u ccess fu l th at the n t h e n ext L egi s l atu re
ii s reco m m e n ded to ta ke i nt o co n sid era t io n th e propriety of usi ng t he
m ost e ffic i en t m eas u r es for taki n g possessi o n o f a n d e x ten d i ng o u r
a u th o ri ty a n d l a w s o ve r th e w ho le of th e l a nd s i n c on t r m er s y
Y o u r co m m i ttee i n th e tr ue s pi ri t of l i b er a l i ty a n d fo r th e al o n e
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t he Gen era l Go vern m en t o r t h e C h ero kee I nd ia n s
m en d to th e Pe opl e o f Geo rgi a to acce p t a ny treaty w h i ch m a y b e
m a d e b et ween th e Un i ted S tates a n d t h ose Ind ia n s sec u ri ng to th i s
S tate so m uch of the l an d s i n ques t io n as m a y re m a i n a fter m aki n g
r eser v es for a ter m of yea rs fo r l i fe o r eve n i n fee s i m p le to th e u se
o f parti cu l ar I n d i an s n ot to exceed i n t h e a ggregate o n e sixth par t
o f t he w h o
l e terri to ry B u t i f a l l t hi s w il l n o t d o ; i f th e U n ite d
S t ates w i l l n ot rede em h er ple d ged ho n o r ; a n d i f th e I nd i a n s w i l l
co n t i n ue to tu rn a d e a f ea r to th e v oic e of reas on a n d o f frien d sh i p
w e n ow sol e m n ly w a rn th e m of the C p nseq
u en c e
Th e l an d s i n qu es
t i o n b elon g to Geo rgi a
S h e m u st a nd s he w i ll h ave th e m
I n fl uen ce d b y t he fo rego i n g co n s ide ratio n s , yo u r co m m ittee beg
l eave t o o ffer t h e fol l o w i n g r esol u ti o n s
R esolv ed Th at th e Un i ted S tate s i n fai l i ng to proc u re th e l a n ds i n
"
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co n tro versy
as ea rly a s th e sa m e co u l d b e d o n e u po n
p eace
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ab l e a n d reaso n a b l e ter m s h av e pal pa b ly v i o lated th ei r co ntrac t
w i th Geo rgi a a n d a re n ow bou n d at a l l h az a rd s a n d wi th o ut regar d
'
to ter m s to proc u re sa id l a n ds for th e use of Geo rgi a
R esolv ed Th at th e pol i cy w h i ch h a s bee n pu rsue d by th e Un i t ed
S tates to w a rd s t he C herokee I n d ian s h as n ot b een i n go od fa it h to
w ard Geo rgi a , a n d th a t as a l l t h e d i ffic ul ties t h a t n o w exi st to a n
ex t i ngu ish m e n t o f th e I n d ia n t i tle h av e resu l ted a lo ne fro m th e acts
a n d p o l icy of th e U n i ted S tates i t w o u l d be u nj us t a nd d isho n ora b l e
i n th e m to take sh el ter be h i n d those d i ffi c u l ties
R esolv ed T h at al l th e l a n ds ap prop ri ated a n d u n a ppropri ated
w h igh l ie w i th i n th e c o n ven tio n al l i m i ts of Geo rgi a belo n g to h e r
a bso l utely ; th at th e ti tl e is i n h er ; th at th e I n d i an s a re te na n ts a t
h er w i l l ; a n d th at sh e m ay a t a ny ti m e sh e pleases d eter m i n e th a t
A n d th at Georgi a
t en an c y b y t ak i n g possessi o n of th e pre m ises
h a s th e r igh t to e xte n d h er a u th o ri ty a n d l a w s over h er w h ol e terri
tory a n d to coerc e ob ed ien ce to th em fro m al l descri pti o n s o f peop l e
be th ey w h ite red o r bl ac k wh o m a y reside w ith i n h er l i m it s
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w ith i n the l i m i ts of Geo rgi a
R esolv ed , T b at, i f suc h treaty
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be h el d th e P resi de nt be respectful ly
r eq u ested to i nstru c t th e Co m m iss io n ers to l ay a co p y of th i s rep o r t
b e fo re t h e I n d ia n s i n C o n v en t io n w i th s uc b co m m e n t s as m ay be c on
s id er ed j u st a n d p ro per u o n th e n atu re a n d exte n t of th e G eo rgia
p
'
t i tl e to th e l a n ds i n co n tr o ve rsy
a n d the p ro b abl e co n seque n c es
w h i c h w i l l resu l t fro m a co n t i n u ed r efusal u po n t h e pa rt of t h e I n
d ian s to pa rt w i th th o se l a n d s ; an d th a t t he C o m m issi o n ers b e a l so
i n st ru cted to gra n t i f th e y fi n d i t abso l u tely n ecessa ry res erve s of
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Ia n d i n fa vo r of i n d i v id u a l I n d i a ns o r i n h a b ita n ts of t h e n atio n , n ot
'
t o ex ceed o n e sixt h par t of t h e terri to ry to b e acq u i red th e sa m e to
b e su bj ect to fu tu re p u rch ase b y th e G e ner al Go v ern m e n t, fo r th e use
of Geo rgi a
Resolv ed Th a t h i s Ex ce l l e n cy th e G o ve rn o r b e req uested to fo r
w ard a copy o f th e fo rego i ng r e p o rt a n d resol utio n s to th e P re s i d en t
of t h e Un i ted S ta tes
a n d o n e to o u r S e n ato rs a n d Rep re sen tat i ves i n
C o ngress w i th a req ues t th at th ey u se th ei r best exerti o n s to obt ai n
t he objec t t herei n e x p res s ed
R esolv ed Th at t he l ate p roceed i n gs o f th e C h e ro kee I n d i a n s i n
fra m i n g a C o n sti tu tion fo r th ei r n atio n a n d prepa ri ng to es t a b l i sh a
G o v ern m en t i n depen d en t o f Geb rg ia is i n co n si sten t wi th th e righ t s
of sa id S t a te a n d th e refo re n ot recogn i zed b y t h is G ov e rn m e n t a n d
ou gh t to be dec id ed l y d i sco u n ten a n ced b y th e G e ne ra l G o v er n m en t
Read , a n d agreed to
T HO M AS S T O C K S , P r esi d en t
A t test :
WM Y Ha n s e n , S ec r eta ry
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R e sol u ti on s a pp r oved , D ec em ber 2 7, 1 8 2 7
JO H F OR S YT H, Gov er n or
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S IR
O ffi c ia l i n fo r m ati on h av i n g b een rece i ve d b y t he D ep a rt
m en t of th e p r oc eed i n g s of th e C h er ok ee I nd i a n s , i n t he fo r m atio n
of a C o n sti t u tio n & c
t he P reside n t d i re c ts th at yo u con verse w i t h
t h e C h ie fs a n d i n fo r m th e m th a t h e w i sh es th e m d i sti n c tly to u n der
s tan d th at th is ac t of th ei rs ca n no t b e v ie w ed '
i n any o th er l igh t
'
t h an as r egu l ation s o f a p u r ely m u n ici p a l c h a r a c t er a n d w h i ch h e
w ishes th e m d is ti n ctly to u nd erstan d w i l l n ot b e r ecogn i zed a s
ch a ngi n g a ny o n e of th e relati on s u nde r w h i ch th ey stood to the Ge
n era l Go vern m e n t pr io r to th e a dop t i o n of sai d C o n stitu tio n
I h ave th e h ono r to be , & c
JA M ES B A R B O UR
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f I r es pec tful ly s ub m it to y ou th e e n cl osed l e tter fro m th e C h ero k ee
C o u n c i l to C o lo nel Mo n tgo m ery , th e Age n t
I es tee m i t p roper to
d o so , because y ou m ay th i n k i t des i rab l e to h o l d a co m m u n ic a t io n i n
r egard to i t w i th t h e Presiden t
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I t h i n k i t m u ch to he regretted t h a t th e i dea o f sov er eig n ty sh o u l d
It i s n o t possi b l e for the m
h ave taken su ch dee p hol d of these peo pl e
to e rect th e m sel ves i n to a state of s u ch i n d epen d en ce, a n d a s epara t e
a n d d isti n c t G overn m en t ; a n d th e soo ner t h ey a r e e n l igh tened o n t h e
Th e m ost th ey ca n eve r h ope fo r , if th ey
s ubj ec t I th i n k , th e better
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etai n th ei r posse ssion s w ith i n the S tates i s to h o l d th e m u n d er th e
l a ws of th e S tates as ci tize n s B u t to exten d o u r l a w s o ve r t h e m
n ow w ou l d be to th e bette r h a l f of e ve n th i s m os t e n l igh tened tr i b e ,
l i ke b u i l d i ng fi res i n a l l d i rect io n s a ro u'
n d th e i n experien ced i n fan t
a n d l eav i ng i t t o fi n d i ts w a y out t h r o
ugh t he faggots b y i ts o wn
p o wers
O ut of th i s pri n ci p l e of sovereignt y th ese poo r peopl e reaso n th e m
se l ves i n to m a ny d el u si o n s, as w i ll b e see n i n th ei r a rgu m en t o n th e
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righ t to t ax, &c
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