Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-29
ARGUS.
RICHMOND
cfyiLIzATIoN OF The INDIANS.
SATURDAY. JUNE %. 1905

he conduct of his government TO m. .ho.
ig'nes OF the soil. In surveying on IN.
records OF impartial history, the or;c;,
and progressive steps of conquest. NE en-
template the darkest picture witch ~.
devclopcment Of the human cbaraessr 80
ro'ts. It's here that we behold the ~
nited and destructive force of the worst
passions. uncontrolled by humanity. nm
checked by policy. Power, avarice and
lust, which under other circumstapc.,
keep each other in check by mutual COLI.
sion, here united pour in one mighty tor.
rent, sweeping in its impetuous cours.
Whatever opposes their indulgence. Wbe.
ther we cast Our eyes to the east or m.
west we behold the same hideous and ay-
ful spectacle unofending and happy ma.
tons enjoying the bounties of nature. c,,t
off by the sword of the inexorable con.
qusror, or doomed 10 abject slavery!
1t was fortunately reserved for the o.
nited Statesio establish new ara in the
conquest ofnations, & to set an example no
less iliustrious than beniGsent in its effects.
Our ancestors, coming to these shores.
principally to escape religious or political
persecution, imbibed at an early period.
sentiments enlightened & tolerant. They
found numerous tribes of hardy savapes
scattered over the country. Amidst the
inevitable collisions and wars thai ensued
they never dreamt Of following the ex.
ample DISCRIMINATION so ingloriousIy set
BY other nations. They perceived ,ha,
bountifui providence had allotted land to
their accommodation, as well as the &C.
commodation of the natives; and thew
soon learned that their mutual happiness
depended upon spirit of compromise.
II appeared on the other hand, that the
force oil the Europeans was inadequate to
the destruction or subsection of the saya.
gees; while that of the latter was not e.
quail to preventing the gradual and steady
eDcroachments of the former. A kind of
tacit convention arose out of these consi-
dera,ions; and Lit soon became understood
that as the emigrants INCREASED and ex-
tended their settlements, the natives must
retire into the interior; and that as
compensation for abandoning their settle
nents they should receive occasional or
regular donations in the shape of goods,
horses or implements ofhusbandry and
that the governments with which they con-
tracled, should maintain them in the en-
joyment of their lands against the lawless
act1 of individuals.
Under the auspices Of these rare and
honorable principles the intercourse with
the natives commenced, and has with but
little variation, been since conducted.
Theconduct of the European settlers ysiay,
in the FIRST instance. have bssa 4, great
degree, the offspring OF weakness. But
to The honor ef the American character,
10 proportion as the nation has acquired
strength, has she manifested spirit of
philanthropy, Indulgence, and even gene
rosity TO the natives. Commisera,ing the
unfortunate situation in which they were
placed, exposed, from All inevitable ne
cessity, to the gradual dispossession Of
, their lands, there has prevailed but one
sentiment, that il became our duty, by c.
very mean in our power to Tighten their
sufferings, and, while we deprived them
Of the soil, to give them, if possible, an
equivalent.
Hence has arisen system OF inter-
course, under which solemn treatries are
formed. by which the natives surrender
TO the United States their rights to por;i-
ops Of soil, * receive in return from them
temporary qualifications temperament SUBJ
sides.
With the growth Of the national re-
sources this system has been extended ;
and il has not been deemed unworthy OF
the philosophic spirit that now presides
over the cabinet to employ the best means
of gradually attaching the Indians to the
pursuits Of civilized life. Already the eli
feels of these efforts have become mani
fest; and have effectuaIly disproved the
generally received opinion Of the iDtracta-
bility Of the savage state to the arts OF
civilized LIE. The recent and authentic
statements, which have been published
prove that the task is not half SO difficult
as has been imagined. They demon
strate that the success entirely depends on
the means. They prove that the Indians
so far from being insensible to the com.
forts ofcivilization, are gradually 6 stead
ly embracing them and thatsome OF the
tribes have already made no inconsidera
bic progress in agriculture and domestic
manufactures so much so that many ia
miles are we'll dressed, with the habits o
the civilized state, made by their own IN
dustry. Among the evidences Of this in