Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN RECORDER.
I3Y GRANTLAND it ORME.
MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1829.
No. 10 or Vol. X.
irr The REronntn H published weekly, on llan-
^rkftrect, between Wayne nn< Jeffcrwn, nt Three
S per annum, payable in a.lvance, or tour Dol-
C. if not pai.l before the end of the year.
\1)VKIITISKMKNT3 conspicuously inserted at the usu
al rates. Thoi
DUt"and 0 eliarged accordingly.
Sales of land and negroes, by Administrators, Exc-
' or Guardians, are required by law to be field
,1 ’first Tuesday in the month, between the hours of
I in the forenoon and threo in the afternoon, at the
-' rt-house of the county in which the property is si-
~ " Notices of the sale of land must be given in a
S raxette sixty days, and of negroes kortv days,
jS,. ons to the duv of sale.
F Notices of the sale of personal property must be giv-
in like manner, forty (lays previous to the day df
. . \| S( , notice to the debtors and creditors of an
Site must bo published for forty days.
Notice tint application will be made to the Court of
4?fcdiary for leave to sell land, must be published for
viii/n MONTHS. . , , ... , .
All business in the line of Printin'?, will meet with
nrimpt attention nt the Recorder Offick.
Letters (on business) must lie post paid.
living portrait.
The gentleman who famished the fol
lowing account, informs us that it is strict
ly true.
It has been observed by % celebrated
writer* that truth is stronger than iietion.
Few will be disposed to deny this who
have bestowed much reflection on the sub
ject. To illustrate this idea, I beg leave
to submit to the reader’s attention the fol
lowing sketch of an eccentric individual
who now resides in Charlottesville, Vir
ginia.
His name is John Yeaiwain. He lias
been a resident of Charlottesville upwards
ef thirty years. He was born at a small
v iH,atre about 4 miles distant from Hamp
ton.” He was tolerably well educated.—
E trlv in life he discovered a fondness for
accumulation, and from his youth he has
•played the game of cntch and keep. Il
any thingvajuublp is once within his grasp,
henea()P^rapo88ossimi of it; and is now
■PVffire possessed of considerable wealth.
He now, sometimes, boastingly exhibits
the first four-pence half-penny that ever
same into his possession, which he receiv
ed from a bnker’s wife in Hampton as a
reward for sweeping out t lie wood-yard.
He is by trade a saddle and harness ma
ker, at which he labored for a while alter
taking up his abode in Charlottesville;-
but soon abandoned it for the more oain-
ful employment of buying and selling
whiskey, which is now, and has been for
years, his sole employment.
At first, after, his removal to Charlottes
ville, he was not particularly distinguish
ed from the rest of mankind. But, niter
a while, the distinguishing traits of his
almrncter began to develope themselves.
He shunned communion with his neigh
bours; and at length, withdrew entirely
their converse.
After residing in different parts of the
village, he removed to his present resi
dence, which is situated in an obscure part
ef Court House square, and which is now
Ins by purchase. It is a small wooden
building, on which Time has set lii.s marls.
To a casual passer by, it presents every
appearance of being uninhabited. Across
bis door is placed a chair, which permits
it to be opened wide enough to admit a jug
«r bottle, and at the same time effectually
exclude the purchaser. He most contu
maciously refuses to trust any one, anti
sever receives paper money, winch is his
utter aversion. It ntny here be mention
ed, that he obtains customers by reason of
the superior quality of the liquor which he
dells; it being of great age.
He lives entirely alone, and performs in
bis own person tlie functions of cook, cham
bermaid, washer woman, &c. &e.
Sometimes, yielding to the kindlier im
pulses of his nature, he condescends to
admit some of his neighbors, and hold dis
course with them; on which occasions,
his remurks nre shrewd and intelligent,
and display a familiar acquaintance with
the world. The principal topics on which
he descants are, I. The absurdity of the
eystem or debt and credit, which he ho
nors with his peculiar hate. 2. The ease
with which n man con pay his debts in
Virginia,! upon which lie lavishes his
sarcasms. 3. The poverty to which the
people of Virginia, and the whole Union
generally, and of Charlottesville, particu
larly, have reduced themselves, and avers
with great solemnity thatthey nre all hank
*upts. lie professes a reverence for reli
gion, and advocates the observance of the
Sabbath, ns both wise & proper, although
be never goes to meeting.
After yielding to the desire of his neigh
bors to converse with him, pcradveniurc
regretting his weakness, he preserves a
more guarded silence for a Jong time there
after.
Such is John Yeargain,—a man whose
'ray of life npproaclies as near to the her
mit’s, as that of any one with which I am
acquainted. His door is barriendoed—his
shutters closed—and he immured in his
dwelling, from which, the pleasant sun
and cheerful light of day is carefully ex
cluded.
He is never seen abroad during the day,
* Byron.
t A man who hns no property has merely to
»ke the debtor’s oath—or, us Mr. Yeargain once
observed, ‘to ring the court-house bell and kiss tlie
•If skin [the bible.’l All personal projierty, in
eluding slaves, can be taken by the Sheriff; but
leal estate is not subject to attachment. A con
trivance of the ancient aristocracy to perpetuate
their wealth; indeed, it appears to have been their
policy to make the lords of the soil lords of every
thing else. Thus, the elective franchise is most
•rtfully contrived to consolidate political power.
A man must own a certain number of acres of
Wild or cleared land, to be entitled to a vote. He
■•ay be possessed of boundless wealth, in specie,
•ad yet not be |>ermitted to vote. Whereas, the
*and holder, if he owns the required number of
•cres i D separate counties, is entitled to a vote in
•ach. As it regards attachment of real estate, the
•aly remedy a creditor has, it a tedious proces by
Which he can secure the income of an estate to. be
1« th« liquidation of his claim.
('BhI* a fetirwr.
except on very rnre occasions. For the
last twenty yenrs, he hus been seen abroad
hut twice: Once, lie was summoned as a
juror, on which occasion bis dress was
proper and his deportment correct. And,
ut another time, lie was drawn forth by tin*
hope of gain in the purchase of some
whiskey, which was offered him at less
than the market price; but not having
bestowed so much time and attention in
arranging his dress, as on the previous oc-
casidn, and having to pass through the
most thickly settled part of the village, his
strange demennor and strnnger garb, drew
a crowd after him. But his philosophy did
not desert him.—He moved slowly and
solemnly on his way, sometimes pausing
in mid career, and eyeing his tormentors
(who were very lihcrnl of their shouts,)
with the utmost scorn and contempt.
He supplies himself with water from the
public pump near the court house, which lie
is careful to procure before day break.—
How be procures those other indispensa-
bles, videlicet, ment mid bread, is n mys
tery which the argus eyes of his neighbors
have not been able to penetrate.
Sometimes, in the “noon of night,” he
sallies forth, wrapped in his cloak, to in
vigorate his frame by the healthful cxer-
cisg of walking. In these excursions, lie
occasionally encounters a straggling pe
destrian, but glides by without deigning
to exchange a greeting.
His personal appearance is prepossess
ing. lie has an uncommonly brilliant
eye.
Of this singular being, it may truly be
said that lie is one alone; for lie lias nei-
tlieir father, mother, sister, nor brother.
grain in. There is stone enough in it to
fence n good farm, and iron enough round
it to keep n nail factory going for a twelve
month. They have had some outlandish
man, from Europe, 1 fancy, nt work, mak
ing threo old women him) an owl, nil four of
which are perched over the door tlrnt fronts
the turnpike, as you go down from Balti
more to the tavern. One of the old Indies
hns a pair of scales in her hands, nud seems
to lie weighing out sausnges, while the other
holds a dripping pan ; the owl looks ita if he
would like to take a ‘link’ and fly away
with it, and the principal old Indy keeps n
sharp eye on him. This matter excites the
admiration of the peoplo hugely, and they
pronounce it the perfection of art. It is so
no doubt. They have ploughed up die fields
in the neighborhood, hut what crops they
have got In 1 don’t know, ns I innke no in
quiries ; probably clover: for it is n wretch
ed soil. So next year the members will
live in clover whilst attending to their du
ties. There is r good deni of underbrush
in these fields, which hns not yet been clear
ed away, particularly scrub cedar. Ononf
our farmers would smooth it over in n week,
while hero n fellow goes to work at one of
these hushes with a jock knife, and com
mences at (he top by cutting away an inch
or two of the folingo at n time. “ The
more days the more dollars.” So it is with
all men who are paid by the Government;
they will not lake things by the roots —they
will not Ita radicals. I hope your ngricnltu
ral operations will he conducted on differ
ent principles. 1 can toll you nothing hut
nhout the fashion—people dress as cell ns
iliey can—the ladies and doves wear a great
many feathers, and the young ge.nilemen
and spaniels wear hruss chains round their
necks.”
beginning, we aimed not nt independence.
But there’s a Divinity which shapes our
onds.’ The injustice of England has dri
ven us to arms ; and, blinded to her own
interest for our good, she has obstinately
persisted, till independence is now within
our grasp. We have but to reach forth to
it, and it is ours. Wliy then should we
defer the declaration 1 Is any man now
so weak as to hope for a reconciliation
wifti England, which shall leave either
safety to the country and its liberties, or
safety to his own life, and his own honor 1
Are not you, sir, who sit in that chair, is
not he, our venerable colleague near you,
are you not both already the proscribed
and predestined objects of punishment and
of vengeance ? Cut oft’from all hope of
royal clemency, what are you, what can
you be, while the power of England re
mains, but outlaws 1 If wc postpone inde
pendence, do we mean to curry on, or to
give up, the war ? Do we mean to submit
to the measures of parliament, Boston port
bill and all 7 Do wc mean to submit, and
consent that we ourselves shall be ground
to powder, and our country und its rights
trodden down in the dust? I know we
do not mean to submit. We never shall
submit? Do we intend to violate that
most solemn obligation ever entered into
by men, that plighting, before God, of our
sacred honor to Washington, when put
ting him forth to incur the dangers of war,
as well as the political haznrdsof the times,
wc promised to adhere to him in every
extremity, witii our fortunes and our lives?
know there is not a man here, who
festivity, with bonfire^ and illuminations.
On its annual return they will shed tears,
copious, gushing tears, not of subjection
and slavery, not of agony and distress, hut
of exultation, of gratitude, und of joy.—
Sir, before God, I believe the hour is come.
My judgment approves this measure, and
my whole heart is inf it. All that I have,
and all that I am, and all that 1 hope, in
this life, I am now ready here to stake up
on it; and 1 leave off as I begun, that live
or die, survive or perish, I am for the de
claration. It is my living sentiment, nnd
by the blessing of God, it shall be my dy
ing sentiment; independence, now ; and
‘ independence forever.']
And so that day shall be honored, illus
trious prophet and Patriot; so that day
shall he honored, and as often ns it returns,
thy renown slinll come along with it, and
the glory of thy life, like the dny of thy
death, shall not fail from the remembrance
of men.”
AMERICAN RUSTIC HOSPITALITY.
Keuirning from one of these excursions,
I whs overtaken hy the night, mnl found my
pnili obstructed hy n deep inlet from the ri
vrr; which being choked with logs and
brush, could not be crossed by swimming
Observing n housti on the opposite side, I
railed for HBsislRtice. A linlf naked, ill-look
ing fellow came down, and lift nr dragging n
canoe r r an around the river, with some troti
tile, ferried mr over, Rod I followed him to
bis habitation, near to which our bont was
moored for the nigh’. His cabin war of the
meanest kind, consisting of a single apart
ment, constructed of logs, which contained
a family of seven nr eigbt souls, and even
thing seemed to designate him rs a new
atul unthrifty settler. After drinking n bowl
of milk, which I really called for by way of
excuse for paying him « little more for his'
i rouble, I asked to know his charge for fer
rying me over the water, to which he good-
humouredly replied, that he •* never took
money for helping a traveller on bis way."
Then let in*- pay you for your milk.” “ I
never sell milk.” “But,” said I, urging him,
“ I would rather pay you, 1 have money e
uough.” “ Welt,” said lie, “ 1 have milk
enough, so we’re even ; I have as good u
right to give you trnlk ns you have to give
me inouey.”—Judge Hall's Litters from the
H esf.
A match race for $ 100 was run on the
Nth instant, in Pittsylvania County, Virgi
nia, hy Owen Atkin* nnd John W. Boling,
ten miles distance, startinr nt the store ol
Messrs. Smith and Moorman, and keeping
the road nearly in a Northerly direction.—
Pile greatest anxiety was manifested hy the
friends of the parties. Bohna is a tuff, trim-
looking young man, about 21 years of age,
nnd nus the favorite courser, though a few
knowing ones, who had been engaged with
Atkins (a man about lift years old) n hunt
mg parties, and who were fully acquainted
wiili Ins speed and liottoui, predicted a quite
different result. When the time of starting
had nearly arrived, tho friends of the par
ties, who were, fearful of disagreeable eon
sequences, endeavor, d to Imve the race
drawn, to which A.kuis showed some de
gree of willingness, while the, otlitr (who
before had been quietjnow became resiles-,
and appeared anxious for the word to be
given, which a as accordingly done. The
first several hundred yards tli")’ run nearly
locked; after whwli Atkins took the lend,
and kept it during the whole course, which
lie, ns near as could he ascertained, run in
about forty minutes! !
Boling, after running 7 miles, gave up
the race. Atkins and his party were so far
abend that they could not he overtaken by
those that W‘re on horse-back, until he had
ran the ten miles. By the best judges it is
believed that no innn in Virginia is able to
run ten miles with Atkins. Neither of the
parties sustained any injury from the race
[ Virginian.
rrou the Detroit gazette.
Extract of a letter to the Editor from a rheu
matic friend in- Washington.
« A fig for thoir capitol nnd public build
ings, nnd my most particular malediction
upon their public amusements, which are
execrable beyond any thing you can see in
our Western villages. They hnve nolht a-re,
hut a circus, in n building not half so conve
nient ns our livery stables at the West.
The quadrupeds who inhabit it have some
wit, L, the bibeda would not he “ slow,” had
they a cleanly plate to perform in. Still
they contrive to make you pay three prices
for overy tiling you have here, and the
hoaiding-houses have tho grace to charge
you nine dollars for n calabash full of cnl-
lap as unsettled os the South -American Re
publics, and a piece of mutton that defies
your masticatory enorgies, and resists dis
memberment with as much firmness ns the
best friend of the American system—or you
may get fish that requires no mastication at
nil, provided you eschew the bones. Go to
Washington to spend a Winter forsooth!—
There is nothing to interest a man here, ex
cept the People, who appear to be altogeth
er clever nnd agreeable. I do not think,
however,that all the clever fellows in the
nation have been to Congress. Some very
respectahle men have been left at borne. I
have walked twice around the palaver bouse.
It is an excellent place to play bide mid-go
seek, and the lower part is laid offinto stalls
with doors to them, except a large round
room, that would be excellent te thresh
WEBSTER’S EULOGY.
The Eulogy of Adams und Jefferson,
pronounced by Mr. Webster of Faneuil
llall, lias been pubhshro, and forms a
pamphlet of 02 pages.—Much as has been
said of tins performance by those who
witnessed its delivery, our expectations
have been fully realised on a perusal of
the pamphlet. It is indeed a proud spe
cimen of American genius and eloquence.
We observed thut a copy right has been
taken out by the publishers of this Eulo
gy, but it can only be for the purpose of
preventing its republicutiou entire by o-
tliers for pecuniary gain—wc therefore
take the liberty to extract one or two pas
sages ns a foretaste, which cannot but give
the reader u sharp appetite for the whole
of the rich repast. We have heard that
nothing could surpass the effect produced
by the delivery of the passage quoted—
hut supposed, ns they must have received
much force from Mr. W’s impressive style
of oratory, that they might not appear to
so much advantage in print. We how
ever, think wc may challenge the produc
tion of nuy thing from the orators of the
present age to surpass these quotations:
[Salem Register.
“ The eloquence of Mr. Adams resem
bled his general character, and formed in
deed, u part ef it. It was bold, manly,
and energetic; and such the crisis requir
ed. When public bodies ure to be ad
dressed pn momentous occasions, when
great interests nre at stake, nnd strong pas
sions excited, nothing is vnlunbh
speech, further than it is connected with
high intellectual and moral endowments.
Clearness, force, and earnestness nre th
qualities which product conviction. True
eloquence, indeed, does not consist in
speech. It cannot be brought from far.—
Labor nnd learning may toil for it, but
they will toil in vain. Words and phra
ses inny be marshaled in every way, but
they cannot compass it. It must exist in
the mini, in the subject, nnd in the occa
sion. Affected passion, intense expres
sion, the pomp of declamation, nil niuy
aspire after it—they cannot reach it. It
conics, if it come at all, like the outbreak
ing of a fountain from the earth, of the
bursting forth of volcanic fires, with spon
taneous, original, native force. The gra
ces taught in the school, the cosily orna
ments, und studied contrivances of speech,
shock and disgust men, when their own
lives, and the fute of their wives, their
children and their country, hang on the
decision of the hour. Then words have
lost their power, rhetoric is vain, nnd all
elaborate oratory contemptible. Even ge
nius itself then feels rebuked, and subdued,
as in the presence of higher qualities.—
Then, patriotism is eloquent; then, self-
devotion is eloquent. The clenr concep
tion, outrunning the deductions of logic,
the high purpose, the firm resolve, the
dauntless spirit, speaking on the tongue,
beaming from the eye, informing every
fenturc, and urging the whole man, on
ward, right onward to his object—this,
this is eloquence ; or rather it is something
greater und higher than all eloquence, it
is notion, noble, sublime, godlike action.
“ Let us, then, bring before us the as
sembly [the Congress of 1776] which was
about to decide the question thus big with
the fate of empire. Let us open their
doors, nnd look in upon their delibera
tions. Let us survey the nnxious care
worn countenances, let us hear the lirin-
toned voices of his band of patriots.
“ Hancock presides over the solemn sit
ting ; and one of those not prepared to
pronounce for absolute Independence, is
on the floor, and is urging his reasons for
dissenting from the Declaration. [Here
Mr. Webster gives the supposed argu
ments made by Mr. Dickinson.]
“ It was for Mr. Adams to reply to ar
guments like these. We know his opin
ions and we know bis character. He
would commence with his accustomed di
rectness nnd earnestness:
[“ ‘ Sink or swim, live or die, survive
or perish, I give my hand, and my heart,
to tins veto. It is tru«j isdaedj Uuttiu the
swaimv’us oojevroK.fiSik.
SECOND SESSION.
I
would not rather see a general conflagra
tion sweep over the land,or nil earthquake
shake it, than one jotortittleof that plight
ed faith full to the ground. For myself,
having, twelve months ago, in this place,
moved you, that George Washington be
appointed commander of tlie forces, rais
ed or to be raised, for the defence of Ame
rican liberty, may my right hand forget
her cunning, nnd my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth, if I hesitate or waver,
in the support 1 give him.—The war, then,
must go on. We must fight it through.
And if the war must goon, why put off’
longer the Declaration of Independence ?
That measure will strengthen us; it will
give ns character abroad. The. nations
will then treat with us, which they never
can do while we acknowledge ourselves
subjects in arms against our sovereign.—
Nay, I maintain that England, herself, will
sooner treat for peace with us on the foot
ing of Independence, than consent by re
pealing her acts, to acknowledge that her
whole conduct towards us has been a
course of injustice and oppression. Her
pride will be less wounded, by submitting
to that course of tilings which now predes
tinates our independence, than by yielding
the points in controversy, to her rebellious
subjects. The former she would regard as
the result of fortune; the latter she would
feel ns her own deep disgrace. Why
then, why then sir, do we not ns soon as
possible, change this from a civil to a na
tional war? And since we must fight it
through, why not put ourselves in a state
to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we
gain the victory ?
If we fail it can be no worse for us.—
But we shall not fail. The cause will
raise up armies ; the cause will create na
vies. The people, the people, if wc arc
true to them, will carry us, and will carry
themselves, gloriously through this strug
gle. I care not bow fickle other people
have been found. I know the people of
these colonies, and I know that resistance
to British aggression is deep nnd settled in
their hearts and cannot he eradicated. E-
very cslony, indeed, has expressed its wil
lingness to follow, if we but take the lead.
Sir, the declaration will inspire the people
with increased courage. Instead of n long
& bloody war for restoration of privileges,
for redress of grievances, for chartered im
munities held under a British king, set be
fore them the glorious object of entire in
dependence, and it will breathe into them
anew the breath of life. Read this decla
ration nt the head of the army, every
sword will be drawn from its scabbard, and
the solemn vow uttered, to maintain it or
perish on the bed of honor. Publish it
from the pulpit; religion will approve it,
and the love of religious liberty will cling
round it, resolved to stand with it, or fall
with it. Send it to the public balls ; pro
claim it there ; let them hear it, who henrd
the first roar of the enemy’s cannon ; let
them see it, who saw their brothers nnd
their sous fill on the field of Bunkerhill,
and in the streets of Lexington and Con
cord, Hiid the very walls will cry out in its
support.
Mir, I know the uncertainty of liumnn
affairs, hut I see, I see clearly, through
this day’s business. You and I, indeed,
may rue it. We may not live to the time
when this declaration shall be made good.
We may die; die colonists; die slaves;
die, it may be, ignominiously and on the
scaffold. Be it so. Be it so. If it be
the pleasure of Heaven that my country
shall require the poor offering of my life,
the victim shull be ready, at the appoint
ed hour of sacrifice, come when tho hour
may. But while I do live, let me have a
country, and that a free country.
But whatever may he our fate, be assur
ed, be assured, that this declaration will
stand. It inay cost treasure and it may
cost blood; but it will stand, and will rich
ly compensate for both. Through the
thick gloom of the present, I see the
brightness of the future, us the sun in
Heaven. We shull make this* a glorious,
an immortal day. When wc are in our
graves, our children will honor it. They
HOUSE OF HEBREWENTA l’IVEd.
February 18,1829.
Mr. McLean, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, to which the subject had been refer-
ed, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Indian Affairs, to which
whs referred so much of the President’s
Message, transmitted to Congress nt the
commencement of its present session, ns
lias reference to our Indian relations, with
the document* from ihe War Department,
accompanying the same, on that subject:
audio whom was also referred the com
munication from the War Department of
ihe J2th instant, transmuting reports froni
the Commissioners appointed under the
net of Congress, passed at the Inst session,
authorizing an exploration of the coun
try west of the Mississippi, report:
That, on a review of the subject touch
ing our Indiun relations, the committee
are confirmed in the belief that the Gov
ernment of the United States cannot, in
justice to this dependent race of human
beings, cease to exercise over them a par
ental guardianship, nnd thut no meuns
should lie left unemployed wiiich promise
an elevation of theif character, and an in
crease of their Imppiues!) and prosperity
This position is so clear as to render un
necessary any reference to the history of
our relations with the aborigines of this
country to sustain it. A very small portion
of this history can be contemplated with
pleasure. We have, it is true, legislated,
and doubtless with a view to the welfare
of tho Indians, but our legislation does
not appear to have tended even to ameli
orate their condition, much less to elevate
them to the level of their more fortunate
while brothers. It would seem that our
chief business had been to trade and bar
ter with them, not for their interest so
much as our own. Wc give them annui
ties for their lauds, and have occasionlly,
by some feeble efforts, assisted a few of
them to rise from the vices into which they
have been led by our example into better
life nnd better hopes ; but, in doing this,
we have not fulfilled our obligations wiiich
grow out of our relations to them.
Without further reference to the past,
the committee will proceed to consider
the present condition of the Indians, es
pecially those tribes and parts of tribes
whose country is embraced by soms of
the States and organized Territories.
It is well known that the condition of
the four southern tribes, the Chiekasaws,
Choctaws, Cherokees, and Creeks, has be
come extremely critical. There docs ap
pear to have arrived a crisis in which the
salvation or destruction of those tribes is
involved. Some of the States within whose
limits they are situated urge their remov
al, while many of the Indians cling to
their soil. Repeated efforts have been
made by the General Government to re
concile the parties, nnd to obtain the con
sent of the Indians to remove, but some
Of them still persevere ill their refusal to
go, and call upon the Federal Government
for protection. No force has been em
ployed on cither side, but the right of
sovereignty in the States is proposed to be
exercised over all the Indians within cer
tain of the States, by making them ame
nable to their laws, and answerable for
any violation of them before their courts
of jurisprudence. This policy, it is fear
ed, would prove destructive to the Indians.
The question then recurs, IIow are
they to be preserved ? The committee can
perceive but one way, and that is, by a-
dopting the policy proposed by the Gov
ernment for their removal and collocation
upon lands without the limits of the States
and organized Territories. The policy
of urging them to leave their country for
another would be deplored, if it were not
believed to be the only effectual measure
to secure the prosperity and happiness of
themselves and their posterity.
It will be seen by the documents accom
panying this report, that the persons ap
pointed by the President, under the act of
Congress passed at the last session, au
thorizing an exploration of the country
west of the Mississippi, have performed
the duties assigned to them, and furnish
ed satisfactory evidence of the fitness, ex
tent and even desirableness of the country
upon which it isproposed to locatetbe In
dinns, a considerable proportion of whioli
is now possessed by parts of the Choc
taws, Cherokees, and Creeks, who are
anxious to receive their friends front the
east.
A part of tlie delegations from the dif
ferent tribes who accompanied the Com
missioners Imve returned, being well pleas
ed with’ the country, and ai“e desirous to
wiU aalehrato it, with thanksgiving, with emigrate!® it; especially the Creeks, whose
application to that effect is appended t*
this report.
It is believed that the great body of tha
Indians now residing within the States
nre willing to emigrate, but are deterred
from doing so by the fear of their Chiefs,
who are influenced to oppose the measure
hy interested traders, who speculate in In
dian annuities.
The proposed plan for the colonization
of the Indians has long since been suggest
ed, and indeed approved and acted on
by the Executive' and by Congress. In
many of our treaties with them, provi
sions have been introduced for their emi
gration to the West of the Mississippi, and
pledges given to ftirnish them with the ne
cessary aid in their removal. Those trea
ties hnve been sanctioned, and some of
them carried into effect by the Congress,
and for the fulfilment of the whole ofthem
the faith of the Government is solemnly
pledged.
The committee recommend that the lands
0,1011 which the Indians shall be located
be so secured to them, as thnt, in no fu
ture time, they may be dispossessed, or a-
ven encronclied upon ; tlint they he pnid
n just compensation for their improve
ments which they may abandon ; that pro
tection he affordcJ them in their new
homes; thnt, so soon ns circumstances
shall admit of and require it, they he fur
nished with all the helps necessary to form
for themselves a government of laws suit
ed to their condition, dtthe means of edu
cation in letters and the arts. In a word,
that they be, so far as the Government of
the United States may have the power, re
deemed from the evils of the past, and el
evated, so fur as possible, into rights and
privileges such as we enjoy. To such as
sliall prefer remaining where they are, and
come under the laws of the Stutes, (and
doubtless there are some such,) give am
ple reservations, under proper restrictions.
Thus would tlie parties, even among them
selves, be accommodated, and the great
object realized, in ridding the States of »
population wiiich they feci to be burden
some, aud in conferring blessings on th*
Indians.
The plan suggested by the Secretary
of War, in his report accompanying tlie
President’s Message to Congress at the
commencement of the present session, in
reference to the ludiuns, is thut they ha
encouraged and aided iu their removal to
the proposed country ; and he urges 'the
importance of the colonization plan in the
following language: “ If the project of
colonization be a wise one, and of this I
believe no one entertains a doubt, why not
Shape all our laws and treaties to the at
tainment of that object, and impart to them
an efficiency thut shall be sore to effect
it.”
The President of the United States al
so approves of, and reconitneuds, the b-
((option of this course, and among other
reasons by him assigned, is the unanswer
able one of the difficulty likely to arise
from tlie formation of independent Gov
ernments among the Indians within the
limits of sovereign States, “ claiming to be
independent of ours, and rivals of sove
reignty within the territories of the mem
bers of our Union.” The committee do
not perceive that the regulations adopt
ed hy the Cherokees, under tho forms of
a constitution and laws, change in any
manner their relations to the United States.
But it is easy to sec that a conflict must
arise out of this state of things, wheneve^
the States, by their laws, take cogni
zance of the acts of the Indians. It to
to avoid the calamities of such u conflict,
and to save the Indians from its heavy'
judgments, that tlie committee would urge
their removal.
In regard to the nnnual appropriation
of ten thousand dollurs to assist in civili
zing the Indians, the committee do not at
present perceive the necessity of a change
in the manner of its application. Up
wards of thirteen hundred children are
now enjoying the benefits of this appro
priation ; the rules for its distribution ap
pear to have been framed in wisdom; end
so far as the limited means have been
brought to bear upon the scheme of civili
zation, the results have been as favorable
as could have been anticipated, especially
taking into view thedisadvantagesattend
ing some of the missionary establishments
and schools from their contiguity to our
settlements. They are, therefore, deci
dedly opposed to the repeal of this law:
but would urge the importance of continu
ing ns far as possible to advance that por
tion of the Indian children who may re
main within tlie States and Territories,
as well ns those who may emigrate.
The committee approve of the estimate
submitted to them from the War Depart
ment, to aid the various Indian tribes in
their removal, and believe the sum of fifty
thousand dollars asked for not too much;
and they therefore report a bill.
Description by Mr. M’Cor, one or rnfc
Commissioners, or the Countrt exam
ined BY TUE EXPLORING PARTY OF IN
DIANS.
On leaving the State of Missouri, we
proceeded westwardly up the Osage river,
generally on the iforth side. Passing the
sources of Osage, we bore southwest across
the upper branches of Neosho, until we
intersected the main stream, at a point
eighty miles south and one hundred and
twenty-seven west of tha mouth of Kanza
river, nnd about twenty-five miles south
east of the road leading from the upper
settlements of Missouri to Santa Fe.-—
We then' l bore northwest until we reached
the road, whiyh was nt a point about sixty
miles from Arkansas, and ene hundred