clared that the tariff acts were unconstitutional, and 1832. therefore null and void; that the duties should not be paid; and that any attempt on the part of the general government to enforce the payment, would produce the withdrawal of South Carolina from the Union, and the establishment of an independent government. 5. This novel doctrine of the right of a state to declare a law of congress unconstitutional and void, and to withdraw from the Union, was promptly met by a proclamation of the president, in which he seriously warned the ultra advocates of "State rights" of the consequences that must ensue if they persisted in their course of treason to the government. He declared that, as chief magistrate of the Union, he could not, if he would, avoid the performance of his duty; that the laws must be executed; and that any opposition to their execution must be repelled; by force, if necessary. 6. The sentiments of the proclamation met with a 2. How was cordial response from all the friends of the Union, and the procla party feelings were for the time forgotten in the generally re eral determination to sustain the president in asserting the supremacy of the laws. 3South Carolina receded 1833. from her hostile position, although she still boldly advanced her favorite doctrine of the supremacy of state rights, and, in the person of her distinguished senator, Mr. Calhoun, who had recently resigned the office of vice-president, asserted it even in the halls of congress. 7. Fortunately for the public peace, this cause of 4. How wa discord and contention between the North and the the cause of South was in a great measure removed, by a "Compromise bill," introduced by Mr. Clay, of Kentucky. This bill provided for a gradual reduction of duties Became a until the year 1843, when they were to sink to the general level of twenty per cent. 5On the 4th of March, 1833, General Jackson entered upon the second term of his presidency. Martin Van Buren, of New York, had been chosen vice-president. 8. In 1833, considerable excitement was occasioned on account of the removal, by the president, from the Bank of the United States, of the government funds deposited in that institution, and their transfer to cerain state banks. "The opponents of the administration 336 7. Of the different views taken THE UNITED STATES. [PART IV. 1833. censured this measure as an unauthorized and dangerous assumption of power by the executive, and the want of confidence which soon arose in the moneyed inof this meas stitutions of the country, followed by the pecuniary distresses of 1836 and 1837, were charged upon the hostility of the president to the Bank of the United States. On the other hand, these distresses were charged to the management of the bank, which the president declared to have become "the scourge of the people." UTC 1. What mention is Indians, condition? 2. What oppressive measures tvere taken 9. 1A few events concerning the Cherokees, require nade of the notice in this portion of our history. These Indians Cherokee had long been involved in the same difficulties as end of their those which had troubled their Creek neighbors. They were the most civilized of all the Indian tribes,- -had an established government, a national legislature, and written laws. 2During the administration of Mr. Adams, they were protected in their rights against the in relation claims of the state of Georgia, but in the following administration, the legislature of Georgia extended the laws of the state over the Indian territory, annulling the laws which had been previously established, and a. Dec. 20, among other things, declaring that " no Indian or descendant of an Indian, residing within the Creek or Cherokee nations of Indians, should be deemed a competent witness or party to any suit in any court where a white man is a defendant." to them? 1829. 3. What is said of the the supreme 10. Although the supreme court of the United States decision of declared the acts of the legislature of Georgia to be unCourt, and constitutional, yet the decision of that tribunal was distaken by the regarded, and the president of the United States inpresident formed the Cherokees that he "had no power to oppose of the course What fur ther is said in relation to the Cherokers? the exercise of the sovereignty of any state over all who may be within its limits;" and he therefore advised them "to abide the issue of such new relations without any hope that he will interfere." Thus the remnant of the Cherokees, once a great and powerful people, were deprived of their national sovereignty, and delivered into the hands of their oppressors. 11. Yet the Cherokees were still determined to remain in the land of their fathers. But at length, in 1835, a few of their chiefs were induced to sign a treaty for a sale of their lands, and a removal west of the a. 8 officers 1835. Bay, with upwards of one hundred men, to his assistance. He had proceeded about half the distance, when and 102 men. he was suddenly attacked by the enemy, and he and b. Dec. 28. all but four of his men were killed; and these four, 1. Give an account of General The death of Thompson. horribly mangled, afterwards died of their wounds. One of them, supposed to be dead, was thrown into a heap of the slain, about which the Indians danced, in exultation of their victory. 15. At the very time of Dade's massacre, Osceola, with a small band of warriors, was prowling in the vicinity of Fort King.* While General Thompson and a few friends were dining at a store only 250 yards from the fort, they were surprised by a sudden disa. Dec. 28. charge of musketry, and five out of nine were killed. The body of General Thompson was found pierced by fifteen bullets. Osceola and his party rushed in, scalpea the dead, and retreated before they could be fired upon by the garrison. The same band probably took part in the closing scene of Dade's massacre on the same day. d. Dec. 31. 2. What is said of Gen and Gaines? 1836. e. Feb. 29. 3. What ac count is given of the part which war? 16. Two days later, General Clinch engaged the erals Clinch Indians on the banks of the Withlacoochee;† and in February of the following year, General Gaines was attacked near the same place. In May, several of the Creek towns and tribes joined the Seminoles in the war. Murders and devastations were frequent,-the the Creeks Indians obtained possession of many of the southern took in this mail routes in Georgia and Alabama, attacked steamboats, destroyed stages, burned sev eral towns, and compelled thou sands of the whites who had settled in their territory, to flee for their lives. A strong force, however, joined by many friendly Indians, being sent against them, and sev eral of the hostile chiefs having been taken, the Creeks submitted; SEAT OF THE SEMINOLE WAR Ft Micanopy # Ft.Drane Block House XICO L.Orange Ft.Russell Paynes Ft. Jennings Clinches Battle R Gaines's Ft.Cooper Ft.Cross Dades * Fort King is twenty miles S. W. from Payne's Landing, and sixty-five miles from St. Augus tine. (See Map.) † Withlacoochee River enters the Gulf of Mex ico, on the west coast of Florida, about ninety five miles N. from Tampa Bay. (See Map. and during the summer several thousands of them 1836. were transported west of the Mississippi. 17. 'In October, Governor Call took command of the forces in Florida, and with nearly 2000 men marched into the interior. At the Wahoo swamp, a short distance from Dade's battle-ground, 550 of his troops encountered a greater number of the enemy, who, after a fierce contest of half an hour, were dispersed, leaving twenty-five of their number dead on the field. In a second engagement, the whites lost nine men killed and sixteen wounded. In none of the battles could the loss of the Indians be ascertained, as it is their usual practice to carry off their dead. CHAPTER VIII. VAN BUREN'S ADMINISTRATION FROM MARCH 4, 1837, TO MARCH 4, 1841. VAN BUREN. 4. What is said of the submission of the Creeks? 1. What is related of Governor dition into the interior} Call's expe 1837. 2. What s said of the 1836, and of election of i pated policy 1. IN the election of 1836, Martin Van Buren, of New York, had been chosen president of the United States, and Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, vicepresident. As Mr. Van Buren was a prominent leader of the party which had secured the election of General of the gov Jackson, no change in the general policy of the government was anticipated. Soon after the accession of 3 of the conMr. Van Buren, the pecuniary and mercantile distresses of the country reached their crisis. 2. During the months of March and April the failures in the city of New York alone amounted to nearly one hundred millions of dollars. The great extent of the business operations of the country at that time, and their intimate connection with each other, extended the evil throughout all the channels of trade; causing, in the first place, a general failure of the mercantile interests, affecting, through them, the business of the mechanic and the farmer, nor stopping until it had reduced the wages of the humblest day laborer. 3. Early in May, a large and respectable committee ernment? dition of the countrythe extensive fail ures at that of the con period, and sequences! 4. What re made of the quests were president by a committen from New York? |