270 GILMER COUNTY. 



noticed that many white persons residing in this territory were 

 using exertions to thwart the policy of the General Govern- 

 ment, and to oppose the execution of the laws of Georgia. 

 The Legislature required that all white men residing among 

 the Cherokees should take an oath to support the constitution 

 and laws of Georgia. Two hundred and three took the re- 

 quisite oath ; but an obstinate and perverse opposition was 

 made to the authority of the State by certain missionaries in 

 the employ of the American Board of Commissioners for Fo- 

 reign Missions. These men refused to take the oath, and in 

 various ways were opposing the policy of the General Govern- 

 ment. They had been treated with remarkable forbearance. 

 Due regard had been paid to their sacred office. No oath was 

 required of them that would militate against their conscientious 

 opinions. Dr. Butler and Mr. Worcester were not sentenced 

 to the penitentiary for residing among the Cherokees, but for 

 refusing to take an oath to support the laws of Georgia. They 

 refused the clemency of Governor Gilmer, when offered to 

 them, even upon the simple condition of removing from the 

 territory, and whatever punishment they suffered was brought 

 upon them by their own misconduct. We know Governor 

 Gilmer to be one of the kindest men in the world. We believe 

 that it would be impossible to induce him to commit an unkind 

 act. He was only the organ of the people of Georgia, and he 

 would have failed to shed " a lustre upon his native State" had 

 he permitted himself to be influenced by the opinions of north- 

 ern fanatics. The celebrated William Wirt proposed to Go- 

 vernor Gilmer, in behalf of the Cherokees, to submit to the 

 Supreme Court of the United States for its determination, upon 

 a case to be made between the State of Georgia and the Che- 

 rokees, the question " whether the Legislature of Georgia had 

 competent authority to pass laws for the government of the 

 Indians residing within its limits." To this proposition the 

 Governor of Georgia would not for a moment listen. We have 

 now before us the letter of Governor Gilmer, in reply to that of 

 Mr. Wirt proposing the settlement of the Cherokee matters to 

 the Supreme Court of the United States ; and as this letter con- 

 tains much information, in regard to the true position of things 

 at that time, and as few of our readers may have seen it, we 



