Newspaper Page Text
V
UL.*f*. \ .
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end not till then, may liO|)e, in her vi
sions, dream of success in^eforining
'and improving the red man of the for
est. Their improvement is certainly
greatly to he desired, but for the pro
se i" it most be riven in into the hands
of care ami time. — Vt any rate it
shoo Id not be essayed at the expense
of the Constitution, which secures
and promises to every State of the
Union a republican form of govern-
m nit within her.prescribed limits.”
We shall at this tinie' make rm fur
ther comments We am willing
that this argument shall pass for what
it is worth.
Troai the Massachusetts Journal and Tri-
bauo.
The following letter from one of the
most intelltyent and respectable citi
zens of tins Commonwealth, afforded
tie so much gratification and encour
rgoment, and was so pleasing to the
fi reads of Indian rights, who have pe
rused it, that we think proper in com
pliance with their wishes as well as
our own, to publish it.
Amherst College, /
Nov. 16, 1830. \
J) nr Sir,—In yonr remarks upon
the late Message of the Governor of
Georgia, I observe a sentence, which
seems to indicate that you are sonv-
wh it a'raid of exhausting the patience
of your readers, by your continued at
tention to the subject of the Indians.
N r.v my Dear Sir, although l am ve
ry much pressed with business, I can
not any longer refrain from sending
you my tribute of cordial approbation,
for the noble spirit, with which you
li.ivc espoused the cause of the Cher-
I had thought of stopping tny Subscrip
tion, on account of my heavy expens
es. But I have.concluded, that I must
not leave you yet, especially as May
better half?, would ply me with very
urgent r^ihortstaiictjs, if i should not
encourage a weekly' 1 visit from the
Journal.
etcees. I don?l know how the rest of
your subscribers and patrons feel; hut
for myself 1 can say, that yonr efforts
to save an oppressed people from the
machinations of ferocious avarice,
have given me a most thrilling satis
faction. A plainer case in respect to
’tiUnra! right, plighted faith, common
humanity, to sov nothin:* of the obliga
tions of gratitude and religion, never
was presented for the decision of a
community, than is now furnished in
the controversy with Georgia and the
Chorolceos. The argument is truly,
c nil on one side.’ How is it possible,
then, that so iinny editors of respect,
mlile journals can he almost if not al
together silent, when measures are in
operation, which if successful, will
denati-malize an independent comm i-
nity, and make the people of the IJ.
States a proverb of porfi ly and a
standing theme of derision through the
whole civilized world? It is not with
out much reading and reflection, that
I assert, that the Georgia policy is
utterly indefensible, except by -men
who br eathe the spirit of a Cortez
l’izarro. or who have thrown their
reason, conscience, and humanity un
der the wheels of our American Jug
gernaut. If there ever was a crisis,
which demanded a full and unequivo
cal expression of (he public sentiment,
a crisis exists now. All that is dear
to us in the associations of justice, of
independence, of patriotism, of phi-
laniiiropv, of religion, is involved in
the decision of the question, whether
Georgia shall he suffered to accom
plish her designs of robbery and ex
termination. !’ say robberv, for
she !i s no more light to th" lands of
the llierokecs- tIt n the pirate has to
th° goo J 9 of the merchant wliosa ves
sel lie plunders And I say exter-
l.f in as ion, for there cannot he a ‘shad-
0 v of a shade’ of doubt, that the ‘re-
c j‘ legislation was deliberately plann
ed to effect the com dote expatriation
of those, whose lands ‘she must and
■.WILL HAVE.’
I do not despair of success in op
posing the measures of Georgia. The
cause of the Indiafs'is not yet hone-
1 »s: by no mem* Let thc« public
min i he property aroused.^ml the In
ch i.iS will be sarved Go on then
Prom the National Intelligencer Extra.
EXTRACT FROM THE PRESI
DENT’S MESSAGE.
It gives me pleasure to announce to
Congress that the benevolent policy of
the Government, steadily pursued for
nearly thirty years, in relation 1.0 the
removal of the Indians beyond the
while settlements, is appoaohing to
a happy consummation. Two im
portant tribes have accepted the pro
vision made for their removal • at the
last session ol Congre s; and it is be
lieved that their example will induce
the remaining tribes,‘also, to seek the
same obvious advantages.
Pile consequences ol a speedy re
moval wiil be important to the Uhited
States, to individual Stales, and tbi
tiie Indians th<*mselvesi The pecu
niary advantages which it promises to
the Government are the least of its
recommendations. It puts an end to
all possible danger of collision be
tween the authorities of the General 1
and State Governments, on account
cf the Indians.' It will place ii dense
and civilized population in large tracts
of country now occupied by a few
savage hunters. By opening the whole
territory between Tennessee on the
north, and Louisiana on the south, to
the settlement of the whites, it will
incalculably strengthen the south
western frontier, and render llie adja
cent States strong enough to repel fu
ture invasion without remote aid. It
'will relieve the whole State of Mis
sissippi, and the western part of Ala-
la t ma, of Indiaiyjceupaney, and ena
ble those State# to advance rapidly in
population, wealth and power. It
will separate the Indians from imme
diate contact with settlements of
whites; free them from tiie power ofl
the Slates; enable them to pursue
happiness in their own way, and under
their own rude institutions; will re*
tard the progress of decay, which is
.lessening their.numbers; and perhaps
cause them gradually, under the pro
tedion of the Government,and through
the influence of good counsels to cast
tiideSi, as it docs to the extinction of one
generation to make rou:n lot' another, in
the monuments and fortresses of all un
known people, spread, over the extensive
regions of the West, we behold the memo
rials of a once powerful race, which was
cxterminat««fe~or has disappeared, to make
room <jffe/tf$"al|isting savage tribes. Nor
tire wit. 1,1 this, w hich, upon a
* he gonfersd interests
‘ ‘j“Js to be regretted,
rhiianthidpy wish to Sec this
continent restored to the condition in which
it was found by our forefathers. What
goodilnan would prefer a country covered
witrr forest, and ranged by a few thousand
savages, to our extensive republic, studded
With cities, towns, and prosperous farms
embellished with all the improvements
which art can devise, or industry execute;
occupied by more than twelve millions of
happy people, and filled with .ill the bless
ings oi liberty, civilization,and religion!
The present policy of the Government is
but a continuation oft became progressive
cha.tge, by a milder process. The tribes
which occupied the countries now const-
Hitingtlie Eastern tMates were annihilated,
or have melted away, to make room for the
whites. The wavesof population and civ-
lization are rolling lo the Westward; and
we now propose to acquire the countries
occupied by the red men of the South and
West, Ijv a fair exchange, and at the ex
pense ofthe United Slates, to send them to
•i land wiie.-e their existence may be pro
longed, and (“perhaps made perpetual'—
Doubtless it will bp painful to leave the
X av<?s of tlwir fajjje'fc; but what do they
more than our ancestors did, or than our
children are now doing? To belter their
condition in an unknown land, our Corefa-
.liprs left all that was dear in earthly oh-
ip.ct^ OUr children, by thousands, yearly
tyire' the land of their birth, to sees new
iqmes in distant regions. Does humanity
.wifcpat these painful separations from eve
rything, animate &. inanimat , with which
tii: young heart has become entwined?
TV from it. It is rather a source of joy
tlut our country affords scope where our
yiung population may range nnconstrain-
ec in body or in mind, developing the pow-
e and faculties of man in their highest per-
U'ction. These remove hundreds, and al
most thousands of miles, at their own ex
pense, purchase the lands they occupy, and
pupp >rl themsel "s at their new home froi
(the monv'nt of their arrival. Can it be
cruel in his Government, when, by events
which t cannot control, th" Indian is made
discontented in his ancient home, to pu -
(chase his lands, to give him a new and ex
tensive territory, to pay the expense of his
removal, and support luma year in his new
abode? How Many 4housattiJs of our Own
people would gladly embracCrhe opportu
nity of removing i o the wcslop2§ucli con
ditions! If the offers ma .c to wEc Indians
were extended to them, they would be hail.,
ed with gratitude and joy.
■ An ■ is it supposed that the wandering
savage has a stronger attachment to lrs
honi , than the settled, civilized Christian?
Is il mote affl cling to him to loave the
graves of hia fa.hprs, than it is toon; broth-
intercst ing, civilized, and Christie,*
ronton unity. These consequences,
toiRii of them so certain, and the rest
so probable, make (lie complete exe
cution ofthe plan sanctioned bv Con
gress at their last session nil object of
much solicitude.
Toward the aborigines of the coun
try-no one can indulge a more friend
ly feeling than myself, or would go
i ofthe forest to their true I them; and the coiifient danger of a dl-
, by a speedy removal, to re- reel and violent controversy wifh the
lieve them lrorn the evils, real or npagina- Gem)rili Government-all of Which
ry, present or prospective with which they 1
those chilli
condition,
may be supposed to be threatened.
ciijejiokjse jpudSNix.
NEW liCIIOTA: DEC. 25, IWtO.
\ye were in hopes tve should have re
ceived our supply of paper before this time,
but we have been disappointed. After
stopping the presr- one week, we are com
pelled to collect the remnant of our old
a tock, and print on it, such as it is.
PRESIDENTS MESS AG E.
We publish this week the whole of tha ;
part of the Presidents M -usage which re
lates to Indian affairs.' We may notice it
further next week.
off their savage habits, an t become an <fcs and children? Rightly considered, tlv
policy of the General Government towards
the red man is not. only liberal hut gener-
Hn is unwilling to su’nmfl toth laws
of the Stages and mingle w,ti» their popu-
lat.on. To save him from this akornat v ,
or perhRps utter annihilation, the General
Government kindly offers him \ new home,
and proposes to pay the whole expanse of
bis removal a:vd settlement.
In the consummation of a policy origin
al;;.,g at an early period, and slra :ily pur
sued bv every administration within the
further in hi templing to reclaim them j n.-esTa* century—so just to the States, and
from their wandering habits, apd aia^e
them a happy and . prospjr ous piApfu.
I have endeavored to impress upoa
them my own solemn convictions of
the duties and powers of the General
Government in relation to the Stale
authorities. For the justice of the
|aws passed by the States within Ihe
scope of their reserved powers, they
are not responsible to tLis Govern
ment. As individuals <ve may enter
tain and express our opinions of their
acts; hut, as a Government, wc have
as litth right to control them as we
have to prescribe laws to foreign na
tions.
With a full understanding ofthe subject,
th* Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes have,
with great unanimity, determined to avail
lh’m*elves of th'* ibnral offer presented hy
the act of Congress, and liavo agreed to
remove beyond the Mississippi river.—
Treaties have been made with them, which
in due season, will he submitted for consid
eration. In negotiatng ihese treaties,
they were made to understand their true
condition; andthey have preferred^ maih-
theirifmep
1 iva e not ‘to call upon
ermuuit and people of this con
for •>.• election to lliosc ill-foled,
confiding children
taming their mrte’pend-nee jo Uie Western
forests to submitting to the laws of th’e
States in which they now reside. ThtfK 1
rii!
reaties being,probablv the Inst which
go generous to the Indians, the Executiv
'feels it tias a right to e<per.t the co-opera
tion of C ingress, and of ail good and disin
terested men. The stales, moreover,
have a right to deman it. It wassubslan-
It appears, from the following letter ad
dressed to the editor of he August^ Chron
ic, trim a co respondent'in Jtfillcdge-
ville, that many ol the people of Georgia
are not prepared t go at alt lengths in re.
gard to the Cherokees. Although the
bill which ihe wrjter deprecates so much
finally pass d the House, not by a very
great majority, and n the shape in whidh
it was first introduced by Mr. Hayne..
Wc will not say much until we hear what
the S nate has done on the subject. We
believe the Cfieroire s axe indifferent so to
speak, what course the legislature takes.
If those for coercive measures prevafi, be
it so. li the moral sense of a Clu-isUan
Slate, and the moral seme of the people of
the U. States, will permit them to see lh<
Oh ro.,e :s ex ,ell :i from .he r fire sides,
ana it they resist, to see them slaughtered,
we say, be it so.
AllLLEDGEVILLE, NoV. 21, 1830.
1 avail myself of a few leisure mo
unts, to give you a sketch of the
snioss prevailing here The In
dian question is the alt-absorbing suu-
ject ol the time; and since it was tlik
en up, scarcely any thing else has been
talked of or thought of,"in the liousi
or out of it. It has been discussed in
the House, almost without interrup
tion^ for several days pas.', and the
consideration of ii was postponed there
this afternoon, a short lime before ad
journment, till Monday next, when it
will again be taken up, and will no
doubt ue under debate, in some shape
or other, for the yvhole of ,he week.
The particular question now, and for
several days rftist. before the House,
h tile adoption of Mr. Hayne’s sub
stitute to the bill reported by Judge
Schley, from the committee on the
state of the Republic. This con
templates, as you are aware, ihe tak
ing i rn in ^iate possession ofthe Indian
lands, ana forcibly driving the Indians
therelromi How such a bill can be
the syhject of a moments considera
tion in a Christian loud, is to inc.a sub
ject of the deepest astonishment--and
yet many intelligent men believe and
fear that it rnay he successful! For
my ow* pa it, I will not believe it pogr
silile*— and, indeed, should scarcely
are direefly opposed to this measure- qj
the faith and honor of the State stands
openly and .irrevocably pledged against
il! But for this pledge, given by our-
Representatives, Mr. Wilde & others,
on the floor of Gongress, last session,
against the exercise of any force a-
gainst the Indians—any effort to drive
them forcibly from their lands—the
hill to encourage their emigration to
ihe west of the Mississippi would not
and coaid not have been passed. This
then, I must believe, though it were
1 he only argument against il, will be
nil sufficient lo’. ave us from the mea
sure, when it comes ,to its last test;
for surely few, I would fain say none
will violate this sacred pledge ofthe
State. However, the subject is a
serious one, and demand, the opposing
efforts of every citizen of the Stale,
vho is sensible of the dangerous con-
seq'uences ofthe success of this mea
sure. As I have already observed,
many intelligent men, who look upon
it as one of the most important and
dangerous questions that lias ever agi
tated the Slate,.are deeply fearful of
the result; and therefore? every citi
zen, however small his influence*
should instantly exert that influence
of writing to the Representatives of
his county and urging them to forbear.
There is certainly nq danger in for
bearance—no possible injury, but in-
fruit a good, .may veqfe: sUfettjy result
lrorn it. ■ ■ -
I think the great 'danger llbs ia this
—that a largo portion of the people,
not fully aware ofthe exact nature of
Ihe Indian question in all its various
important and intricate considerations,
have decisively instructed their re
presentatives lo make every posihle
effort lo effect the survey and occu
pancy of the land, and ultimate settle
ment of this long troublesome and pur-
plexing question, as speedily as possi
ble; and that ihe Representatives so
instructed, who might otherwise, pos
sibly have pursued a different couise,.
do not feel themselves at liberty to.
vote against a measure which they
i consider in accordance with the ex
pressed will of their constituents..
The people, then, should arouse-
themselves, and examine the subject
irefiilly, and if any of theq^ find that
ually a part oi (Ik- compact which ma il credit the evidence of my own senses
them members oi our coul - rracy. With -j. , ,, r . ■ . r' l • i
Gcoigi i, tinre is an expro.'S coairact; witb-j «ch were the fact. God forbid
111 - nw States, an implied on*, of equal
obligation. AVhv, in authorizing Ohio,
Indiana, Illinos; Jtf.ssouri, JU.asissippi,
an 1 Alabama, to form constitutions, and
become separ ite Slates, did Congress in-
clu lo within th°ir limits, exti-nfive tmets
of Indian lands, and, in some instances,
powerful Indian tribe*? Was it not un
derstood by both parties that the power of
(be Slates wa;,to-be co-extensive w.tirtheir
limits, and ihat, with all*convenient des
patch, the General Government should ex-
linguisn th" Indian title, and remove eve
ry obstruction to the complete jurisdiction
ofthe Slate Governments over the soil?
Probably'not one of those States would
have accepted a separate existence—cer
tainly it would never have been granted by
Congress—had it been understood that
they were lo be confined forever to those
small portions of their nominal territory,
th* Indian title to which had at the time
been extincuiseed.
fenceless,
tu re!’
I have said enough to secure
ubj ct of t Ids letter. My heart . 7
full to overflowing, and I could cast
pe.’ijpv rnu< h more of.your time.~
B .1 I forbear May God reward you
mu! aH otb. rj, wh'vlal)or to save the
cp:yes.v'(| from destruction.
With sentinicnta of |ii?h iespeef,
Yours, &c.
David T.oe (’hilil, Etq.
I
8* I would just add, flint I read
s’OHi' paper with iucrcasing interest.
eil by gre’atJihM^lity ou>ihe part of the
^wernmertid^Hvey give (he Indians a
liberal sumderation of their remov
al, andgiMfcforta'tle subsistence on their ar-
xlval flHFrir new homes, ff it fie their
rcajjfint^^tto maintain a separate exist
ence, thefH^there be at liberty to do so
JhoitULbCiRMSivetnences and vexations
ffJAvhidilflfe^tinld an avoidably have been
subject in^Msba^^^d M ssissip|«i. ‘
it\ has*^. yv-'pt over
of s oftlus country; and pT.«.*
lau^| H^nasv n-en hng busily employed in
devising mejans to ayert it. Bui ts pre-
gres* hasdwi’ for a moment been arrested;
and one by one have many |K>werfuJ tribes
disappeared from the earth. To follow to
the tomb ihe last of his race, and to tread
on the graves of extinct, rations, excites
melancholy reflections. But 1rue philan
thropy reconciles ihe mind to these vicissi^
It is, therefore, a duty which this Gov
ernment owes to the new States, to extin
guish, as soon as possible, the Indian title
aitfl ' ■ ' “
m
be made'with them, are cliaracter-Tio aif-lands which Congress tbems"lver
havUIbcluded within their limits. When
this is don", th" duties ofthe General Gov
ernment in relation to the Slates and In
dians within their limits are at an end.—
The Indians may leave the State oi not, as
thay choose. The purchase of theii*lands
j does’not alter, in the least,* heir personal
relations with the State Government. No
act ofthe General Government has ever
been deemed necessary to give the States
jmnsiUctionoverth" persons of the Indians.
That they possess, hy virtu® of their sove
reign power within their own limits, in a*
full a manner before as after the purchase
of the Indian lands; nor can this Govorn-
mentjuld to or diminish it.
Afhy we not hop", therefore, that all
good citizen-, and mine mot-c zealously than
tho«e who think the Indians oppressed bv
Mihjection to the laws ofthe States, wifl
unite in attempting to open the eyes of
such a fatal consequence, mid I will
confidently rely on his over-ruling
goodness and protection, to avert it —
toisavo the Indians—nay, tenfold more,
lo save our otoii State from ihe serious
evils which must inevitably foil >\v it.
I must not trust my feelings farther on
tliis point -llioy are perhaps too deep
ly and u necessarily wounded.- W«
will at least hope so. One thing is
certain, that no effort i6 or will be
spared to prevent the adoption of the
measure; and. I am proud to see a-
mong its opponents many, very many,
ofjbe first and ablest men of the As
sembly, of both parties. .-Indeed, it
is hy no inentts a party matter; none of
the old land marks cf parly are to be
discovered in any of ils considerations;
and one .would almost suppose, from
the pertinacity with which .members
of each party indiscriminately oppose
one another, that those land marks
were entirely rooted up and ihrcavn
away.
Numerous as are thL M ac]vocates of
this measure, Ihe array of talent a-
gainst it is very powerful, and the ar
guments exerted hy its opponents are
sound and incontrovertible. To say
nothing of humanity, the want of ne
cessity or expediency, the ingratitude
of opposing the President and the ad
ministration, which have long been &
still are making every possible effort
in our behalf; the folly ofnownecessa
nly arraying them against us, contra
ry to their will, and of indirectly giv-
llicy have given such instructions on
t oi>.hosty an> erroneous opinions, they
should instantly hasten to correct the
error before it be too late.
Plic memuers of the House, from
Richmond, Judge Schley and Mr,
Jenkins, have acquitted themselves
on this subject mnst ably, and lo tho
highest admiration of their friends and
coadjutors. Of the farmer it is al
most supererogatory to speak. Ills a-
bility, ,pnidefl£e, moderation and ex
cellent judgement, have long hoeu
well known to his constituents and ia
the Stale; and it is therefore needless
io say, that they have acquired for
him, in the Legislature, the utmost
respect and eonfiidenct, aid given
far more than ordinary weight to Ins
opinions and arguments. And ol the
Hitter, ! v can say with pleasure—-and,
perhaps,- as one of his constituents,
not the less pleasure, impartially, and
justice, because I did not vote for hint
—that lie has more than realized the
high anticipations of those who did.
Ho lias supported the interests of his
county, in all questions of a general or
lo< al nature in which they- are involv
ed, with an ability, faithfulness, dis
cretion, industry .and unassuming mo*
desty, which have gamed him many
admirers and warm friends, even a-
mong those who differ from him in
Mate politics—and though I too differ
from him in that respect, as a citizen
of his county, I .could not but be proud
to hear its representative so pften pnd
so highly spoken of. His speech orr
the Indian question, and against the
right of Georgia to take possession qf
the land, and the expediency of doing-
so now, even if she had such right,
has often been mentioned to me,
since iny arrival here, which was,
since its delivery, and uniformly as one
of the best, ’if not the best, that has.
yet bqen delivered on the subject.
On Thursday, the 25th, Judge Mc
Donald offered, as a substitute foiv
Mr. Haynes’ bill, a memorial to the
President, and a bill founded on the
memorial,—suggested, it is said, by
information received ‘from Wnshjng-
‘ ton City, that the Indians will preba-
j hly remove on condition that they
! shall he permitted to retail; some ext
tensive reserves—hut he withdrew
mg ihwir and our enemy. Mr. Clay. ■ . ,
•till further and greater power against 1 the,n to ' d reserving to himself the-