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HI— ill I wiimnwB————
(wilderness, to the exclusion of the
xv.mdering savage, was in no instance
Solely relied on; ami never'was it as
serted in the history of either coloni
al or independent British America,
that the aboriginal had no tide to the
soil. This doctrine was confined to
the Ovandos and Sepulvedac of Spain;
and while the horrible cruelties,
which grew out of the carrying this
principle into practice in violation of
the rights of the natives driven to
tesistanee by all the feelings of in-
sulte * and outraged nature, have ele
vated these men to pre-eminence in
the annals of crime, the moderation
and equity which characterized the
conduct of our ancestors, have made
us recur with pride to the names of
Carver, Winthrop, Williams, Balti
more, and Penn, as men worthy of
being (he founders of a free nation.
These enlightened patriots t of human
ity came lo this continent to establish
i istitutions for the preservation of civ
il and religious freedom, and they
knew that their work could not be
permanent if its foundations were laid
in unjust and violent conquests, and
cemented with the blood of the na
tive inhabitants.
More, however, was required of
them than abstaining from injustice.
As civilized men, and as Christians,
they were hound to extend the bene
fits of their superior knowledge to the
Indians. The s preservation of the
Savage from extinction, and his ad-
vaheemeht in the scale of creation,
depended, in a great degree, upon the
conduct of his civilized neighbors.—
This duly was rendered more imper
ative, by the unauthorized wrongs to
which the aboriginals were sub-
< jected by individual rapacity, provok
ing, as they frequently did, contests,
were, from the hard necessity of the
case, the Indian, though not always
the aggressor, was invariably the suf
ferer. Whilst the British govern
ment claimed the sovereignty over the
country, an adequate excuse was per
haps offered for not adopting any gen
eral plan for the improvement and
civilization of the aboriginals. In
dividual efforts were not wanting, and
the names of Elliott and Brained a-
lone are sufficient to rescue our an
cestors from the charge of indiffer
ence on this important point
Upon the assumption of independ
ence, however, the whole responsi
bility devolved upon those who found
ed the American Government. A
wide field was opened for the exer
cise of all the noble and exalted qual
ities which distinguish those who ad
minister the government for the ben
efit of society, from those who usurp
it for themselves. By settling a-
inongthe aboriginals and by elevating
their country to the lank of an inde
pendent power, our ancestors charged
themselves with all the responsibili
ties, which grew out of the relations
existing between educated and civil
ized Christians, and the ignorant and
Savage heathen who surrounded them.
A principle had, indeed, been a-
dopted by all Christendom, which
vested, so far as European consent
could vest, the sovereignty of the
country in the first European nations.
This gave to the United States, upon
the acquisition of their Independence,
the sovereignty, within certain limits,
as against any adverse Eur pean clai-
ment. This was but a qualified sove
reignty. It was a right of sovereign
ty as against foreign nations, and the
government also assumed authority
to prevent the American citizens
from interfering with the territory in
possession of the Indians, which, upon
thj extinguishment of the aboriginal
title, it claimed as public property.
It did not, however, claim the
right to appropriate the soil, without
tbe consent of the aboriginal inhabit
ants. The Indians were not subject
ed by any right of conquest; and the
abominable doctrine of the ancient
Papal Church, that the property and
persons of the heathen were the law
ful prey of Christians, had been long
rejected, as one of the maxiins of a
barbarous age. The Indians were,
therefore, to be treated as a separate
and independent people, governed by
their own customs and laws, and oc
cupying their own territory. All in
terference with them, on the part of
the whites, was iegulated by treaty, &
their territory was to be acquired on
ly by compact. Such were the prin-
c * n le» adopted by the government of
the United States, at its formation.
regard to the aboriginals; They
hVl b *eu generally conformed to by
the Colonial governments; but the na
tional sanction then given to them was
of a more deliberate and solemn char
acter. At the same time, they un
dertook the fulfilment of the duties
growing out of the superior relation
in which they stood. In the moment
of impending peril, at the commence
ment of their desperate struggle with
the mother country, when they knew
that years of suffering and trial must
be endured before the attainment of
self-government, they forgot not their
obligations towards the aboriginals;
hut deliberately adopted, as a part of
their national policy, a plan to im
prove their condition. They exhort
ed them to stand aloof during the ap
proaching contliet.
An Indian department was organiz
ed, to be administered by commission
ers, and in the same year when the
declaration of Independence received
the sanction of Congress, resolutions
were also adopted providing for the
protection and improvement of the In
dians, and recommending measures for
the propagation of the gospel, and the
cultivation of the civil arts among
them. As philanthropists and as pat
riot, watchful over the national char
acter,they sought to rescue the abori
ginal from extinction, & to elevate him
to the rank of civilized man. Whilst
they were laying the foundations of
the American republic, they were not i
regardless of the untutored savage
within its limits. They intended if
possible, to raise him to ail equality
with themselves, and at all events, to
show to the world, in case of his ex
tinction, that they had no participa
tion in hastening that unhappy result.
With this view, provisions were made
regulating the Indian trade, and a de
liberate scheme of policy adopted for
their gradual improvement arid civili
zation. Treaties were made with
the principal tribes, defining the boun
daries between their territory and
that belonging to the whites; and the
United States agreed to furnish at
their expense the principal tribes
with domestic animals, implements of
husbandry, blacksmiths, and, in some
instances, “suitable persons to teach
them to make fences, cultivate the
earth, and such of the domestic arts
as are adapted to their situation.”
The object of these treaties cannot lie
misunderstood. It was an offer on the
part of the national government to
the aboriginal of civilization. It was
a manifestation of one of the most glo
rious attributes of superior intelli
gence, and breathed the purest spirit
of a religion, which proclaims peace
on earth, good will among men.
'1’his offer was accepted on the part
of tlie Indians. Amidst all the degra
dation which had attended their inter
course with the whites, they had al
ways manifested an earnest wish to
preserve their race from extinction,
and to partake of the improvement of
their civilized brethren.
Upon this footing matters stood at
the commencement of the independent
existence of this Republic. The
whites claimed sovereignty over the
whole territory, to the exclusion of
foreign nations, hut did not assume to
exercise any of its rights over the In
dians. The tribes were treated as
distinct and independent; arid the
boundaries between the respective
territories of the two parties, were
marked out by treaty. Congress,
under tho old Confederation, did not
presume to extend its jurisdition over
the territory which the Indians had
reserved to themselves; and it strenu
ously denied that the State Govern
ments had any right to interfere with
Indian affairs. The United States
were also seeking to civilize the In
dians, and t > render them a stationa
ry people, depending for subsistence
on the cultivation of the soil. All
this, however, was attempted by the
moral influence of precept & example.
It must be borne in mind, that, in
establishing these relations, the white
man was the lawgiver, and the In
dian acceded to them, because he
was made to believe that they would
result to his benefit.
It was implied that they would ul
timately eventuate in the establish
ment of the aboriginals, as a civilized
community, within the territory se
cured to the tribes by treaty. On
no other supposition can tho national
government escape from the imputa
tion of holding out deceptive expecta
tions to the Indians.
The good faith hitherto manifested
by the federal authorities, conclusive
ly shows, that this was the result
which was desired. The first section
of the act making an annual appropri
ation for the civilization of the adjoin
ing tribes, affords a memorable proof
of the sincerity of its intentions:—“For
the purpose of providing against the
further decline and final extinction of
the Indian tribes adjoining the frontier
settlements, and of introducing among
them the habits and arts of civilized
life, the President of the United States
is authorized, when he shall judge im
provement practicable, and that the
means of instruction can be introduc
ed with their own consent, to employ
capable persons, of good moral char
acter, to instruct them in the mode of
agriculture, suited to their situation,
and for teaching their children,” &o.
The talk of Mr. Madison to the In
dians, in 1812, affords another proof
of its sincerity; and, as the manifesto
of the American government, we shall
submit a part of the document to the
public:—
“I have a further advice to my Red
children. You see how the country
of the eighteen fires is filled with peo
ple. They increase like the corn
they put into the ground. They all
have good houses to shelter them from
all weathers, good cloths suitable to
all seasons; and as for food, of all
sorts, you see they have enough and to
spare. No man, woman, or child, of
the eighteen fires, ever perished of
hunger. Compare all this with the
condition of the Red people. They
arc scattered here and there in hand-
fulls. Their lodges are cold, leaky,
and smoky. They have hard fare,
and often not enough of it.
“Why this mighty difference? The
reason, my Red children, is plain.—
The white people breed cattle and
sheep. They spin and weave. Their
heads and their hands make all the
elements and productions of nature
useful to them.
“It is in your power to he like
them. The ground that feeds one
lodge by hunting, would feed a great
hand by the plough & the hoe. The
Great Spirit has given you, like your
while brethren, good heads to contrive,
and strong arms and active bodies.—
Use them like your white brethren of
the eighteen fires, and like them, your
little sparks will grow into great fires.
You will he well fed, dwell in good
houses, and enjoy the happiness for
which you, like them, were created.
These are the words of your father lo
his red children. The Great Spirit
who is the father of us all, approves
them. Let them pass through the
ear into the heart. Carry them home
toyour people; and as long as you re-
membei this visit to your father of
the eighteen fires, remember these
are his last and best words to you!”
The beneficent policy which is
here so simply, but beautifully recom
mended. has partially succeeded with
many tribes. In the Cherokee nat ion,
however it has produced the most
triumphant results—results which es
tablished the practicability of civiliz
ing the Indians. It has been the
good fortune of the Chcrokees to have
had born among them some great men.
Of these, Charles Hicks, lately a
chief, stood pre-eminent. Under his
guiding counsels, and aided by the
policy of the national government,
they have outstriped the other tribes
in the march of improvement. They
seek to be a people, and to maintain,
by law and good government, the se
curity of persons and the rights of
property. That they have made
great advances in civilization, is gen
erally understood; hut, in order to
present an exact picture of their con
dition, the following account, extract
ed from a letter of David Brown, re
sident in the tribe, dated September
2d, 1826, and published among the
official documents of the government,
is here inserted:—
“Horses are plenty, and are used
for servile purposes among them.
Numerous flocks of sheep, goats, and
swine, cover the valleys and hills.
The natives carry on considerable
trade with the adjoining States; and
some of them export cotton, in boats,
to Netv-Orleans. Apple and peach
orchards are quite common; and gar
dens are cultivated and much atten
tion paid to them. Butter and cheese
are seen on Cherokee tables. There
are many public roads in the nation,
and houses of entertainment kept by
tho natives. Numerous and flourish
ing villages are seen in every section
of the country. Cotton and woolen
cloths are manufactured here. Blank
ets of various dimensions, manufactur
ed by Cherokee hands, are very com
mon. Almost every family in the
nation grows cotton for its own con
sumption. Industry and commercial
enterprize are extending themselves
in every part. Nearly all tho mer
chants in the nation are native Cher-
okees. Agricultural pursuits engage
the chief attention people. Diflercnt
branches in mechanics are pursued.
The population is rapidly increasing.
In tlie year 1819, the Cherokees, east
of the Mississippi, were estimated
at 10,000 souls. In 1825, they amoun
ted to 13,568 native citizens; besides
220 whites, and 1,277 slaves.”
They have also established a Con
stitution whose provisions are better
calculated, as it is expressed in
preamble, to “establish justice, en
sure tranquility, promote tho common
welfare, and secure to ourselves and
posterity the blessings of liberty,”
than many of the more elaborate con
trivances of their European brethren.
The government is representative in
its form, &. is divided into executive,
legislative and judicial departments.
The trial by jury is establised; and the
particular provisions of the Constitu
tion, while they are calculated to ac
custom the Chcrokees to the princi
ples of our system of jurisprudence,
arc peculiarly well adapted to the
anomalous condition in which the na
tion is placed. The whole is well
suited to secure to the tribe the im
provements already made, and to sti
mulate them to further advance in ci
vilization.
[To be concluded in our next.]
IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE!!
The Columbus Enquirer, received
by last night’s mail, furnishes us with
the following important intelligence
from our Indian frontier. In addition
lo what is given below, the Enquirer
states, that Col. Crowell, the Agent,
notwithstanding he had written lo the
War Department on the subject, had
neglected to apprise our Stale Ex
ecutive ot the hostile attitude which
the Indians are assuming. We would
hope that the Enquirer is misinform
ed in this particular, as we should re
gret to learn that Col. Crowell had so
far forgot his feelings as a man, and
his duty as an Agent. The informa
tion, however, we farther learn from
the Enquirer, was communicated to
Governor Forsyth, by Col. U. Lewis
of Columbus.
We deeply lament the rash and mad
policy, which appears, from the above
intelligence, lo actuate the Councils
of the Creeks and Cherokees. If they
persist in it, their utter annihilation
will be the consequence.—Jiugusta
Chronicle.
Columbus, July 18.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Much alarm has been excited in
this place by some recent movements
of a iios: ile character among the Indi
ans. Several secret Councils have
been held in the Creek Nation, with a
view, it is beli< ved, of concerting
warlike operations against the Fron
tier Settlements. In consequence of
the general apprehension of danger,
some of our citizens on Wednesday
lust visited the Creek Agent at Fort
Mitchell, for the purpose of obtaining
whatever information he might possess
in relation to the anticipated difficul
ties. The following is furnished us
by one of the gentlemen who held the
conversation with him.
“The agent staled that there had
been several secret councils held by
the chiefs; that he had been informed
by several Indians, that they, the In
dians, in these councils, had resolved
to slay and die upon their soil; that
they had also resolved to kill him, the
agent, and wage a war of extermina
tion up«n the frontiers, and assassinate
every white west of the Flint river,
and when troops should be sent to fight
them they would retire to the swamps
and die to a man fighting for the soil
,pf their fathers. The agent, not put
ting sufficient confidence in these re
ports, felt no alarm, until an old, res
pectable chief, in whom he had al
ways put the utmost confidence, and
who had always manifested for him,
the greatest friendship, came to hint
and told him in confidence that the re
port was true, arid that he himself
was a member of tlie secret council
which passed the aforesaid resolution,
and that ho voted for it, hut that he
had so great friendship for him, the a-
gent, that he could not reconcile it, to
his conscience so far to violate his faith
as to see him sacrificed without ap
prising him of his danger.
Thus much having heretofore be
come public, no injury can accruo
from the repetition of it; hut some
other communication which the chief
made to the agent, for prudehtial rea
sons perhaps had best not be made too
public, as they appertain to the safety
of the agent. The chief also slated
that deputations had been sent to the
Cherokees, the Choctaw's and Se-
minoles, to solicit their concurrence;
in sentiment and action with them, the
Creeks, but that none hut the Chero-
kees had beeu heard from, and that
they concurred; that Ross, the Presi
dent, was preparing a talk for his na
tion, advising them never to give up
their land, hut to kill every white mail
who crossed the line.”
By the same mail that brought to us the
foregoing “important intelligence,” we re
ceived the following letter from Colonel
Crowell:
Creek Agency, July 23d, 1829,
Dear Sir—A paper published in
Columbus Geo. has a publication on
the subject of Indian hostilities, in
which the Cherokees arci implicated;
this statement is given as coming from
trie. The object of this communica
tion is to ask of you the favour, should
that article meet your eye, & should
you give it a place in your paper;,
to stale that you are authorised by me
to say that the statement is entirely
incorrect, and that no such expression-
ever escaped me on the subject of
the determination of the Cherokees.
It is due lo the public as well as to
the authorities of (he Cherokees, that
I should correct the errors, which arc
in that publication, at least so far as I
ant concerned.
I have the honor to ho your ob’t,.
serv’t.
JNO CROWELL, Agt. for I.A,.
The Editor of the Cherokee Flicenix,
Echota.
We hope the communication of CoL
Crowell will be considered sufficient to
clear the Cherokees of the bi*e and false
charge, attempted to be palmed on tlie
credulity of the public. If any thing more
is necessary, we would declare the above
“important intelligence” utterly unfoundr':
ed as regards the Cherokees, and intended
to prejudice the public against the Indians,,
and, by criminal means, bring them to
some desired collision with the whites.—
We are confident many Georgians would
not lament to see the Cherokees and
Creeks resorting to “rash and mad poli.
cy,” nor she! a tear to witness tlieir
“utter annih ldtion.” Some plausible pre
text thus to annihilate the Aborig:nes of
this country is earnestly desired by the au
thors of falsehoods and misrepresentations
Which arc continually pouring forth to our
injury. We will here assure the public,
that the authorities of this nation will pur
sue the same course of prudcncce and for
bearance, which, be it said in tlieir favor,
they have un lb- n y observed, .f ,h: / a e
to be “annihilated” we believe it will not
be in consequence of a ‘“ash and mad poL
icy” on their part, but in consequence of
repealed insults and oppression, which
they are now receiving from their persecua.
ting neighbors.
In the last number of the Cherokee
Phoenix we find a letter to Elias Bou
dinol the Editor, from the celebrated
Ba ron Humboldt, dated at Beilin ip
Prussia, in November last, in which
the baron expresses his admiration at
the progress of the Cherokees in civ
ilization and learning, and desires that
his name may be placed on the list of
subscribers to the Phoenix. What
will this learned nobleman think of
our civilization and humanity when, in
the first numbers of the paper which
lie peruses lie finds, along with the
evidence of the wonderful improve
ment of the Indians, the documents
which announce the determination of
Georgia and the United States tci
drive them from their beautiful coun
try, and compel them to herd again
with savages!—JV. Y. Obs.
INDIANS IN MISSOURI.
Extract of a letter from a distinguished
citizen of Missouri to liis friend in Miu
r lilan-l (communicated to the editors of \
the National Intelligencer.]
Tlie Indians are prostrate and
crushed. We take their land first
and cheat them out of it afterwards. ,
We have already done so on the left
bank, and the right is too good a
country to expect a different fate.— -
The whites have now no fears of
them; they are cowed and subdued, .
and yet exhibit a touch of their con
dition that would awaken the bettep •
feelings of any man not hardened, as I
partly am, by the frequent occurenccr .
of the spectacle. They meet their
fate like the trapped wolf, with a sort .
of sheepish ferocity. - An overwhelm^
ing fear, and the absblrife certainty' or
of perdition, have deprived thfi* 1 ". of
that proud spirit of resistance which,
marked their primitive gharaoter, and.