The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-02
Dm,eHie 5nselIiotitte.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIcENcER.
CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIANS.

CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIANS.
On no topic the mind of an American dwell
with more compacency than the conduct of his 90
veTnnient to the aborgnes of the foil In furveying
on the records OF impartial hffory, the origin and
Progseiiive Reps of conqueff we contemplate the
darkef picture which the developement of the human
character exhibits. Ii is here that we behold the H.
nted aud detructive force Of the WORT pafons. M
confronted by humanity, unchecked by policy Pow
er, avarice, and luft, which under other crcumnan
eeS keep each other in check by mutual colion,
here united pour In mighty torrent fweepinq in
its imPetuous eourie whatever oppoies their indul-
gence. Whether cat our eyes to the eaf or the
wet we behold the fame hideous and awful rne.la-
Gle; unofiending and happy nations, ENJOYING the
bountes oil nature, cut off by the iword of the mex
orabie conqueror, or doomed to abiea lavery
IL was fortunately referved for the United States
TO eiiab!i!h in the eoHquea of Nations and
to et an example, no lefs luxurious than beneficial in
Its effects. Our anceitors, coming to thefe flores,
principally to ecape religious or political perc,on
imbibed at an early period, feninen,s enlightened
and tolerant They found numerous tribes of hardy
avages icattered over the country. AmidR the inc
vitable colions aud wars that enfued thew never
dreampt OF following the example of determination
70 nglorioufy fet by other nations They nereeved
that bountiful providence had allotted land enough
Tor their accommodation, well as the accon,noda
ton OF the natives; and they foou learned that their
mile ltappeared, on the hand, that the force
OF the Europeans was inadequate to the Destruction
or iubeesoh OF the avages while that of the latter
was not equal to preventing the gradual and Aeadv
entertainments OF the former. A kind of tae;t cor.
vention arofe out of thcfe oonderations and il foon
became undcrfood that as the emgrant. increafsJ
and extended their ettements, the natives mutt re-
tire INTO the interior and that as compensation for
abandoning their iettlements they houd receive oc
caiional or regular donations in the Hape of goods
hories or implements of huibandry and that the 90
vernments with which they Contracted ihould main
tain them IN the enjoyment of their lands apainH rbs
| lavlefs aas Of individuals.
Under the aalpices of thefe rare and honorable
principles the intercourse with the natives eop,ue
ed, and has, with but little variation, been Gnce
| conducted. The conduct of the European Ce,,lers
may, in the frlt inlfanee, have been in GREAT de-
gree, the offspring of weakness. Blu, to the honor Of
the American character, in proportion as the nation
has acquired hrength, has The nanifened pbvIan.
throPy, indulgence, and even generoity to the ma
tives.-Commiferatug the unfortunate fituation II
which they were placed, expoed from inevitable mel
neeeiity to the gradual dlpoHeilion of their hndC
there has prevailed but entinent that it bee an
our duty, by every mean in our power to light I
their iuiferIngs, and while we deprived them OF {
foil, TO give them if pofiible, an equivalent Ia
| Hence has ariicn iyitem of intercourse, un
which iolemn treaties formed, BIZ which Z
natives lurrender to the United States their riqbo
portions Of fo and receive in return FROM then, h.
porary qualifications permanent fublides
With the growth Of the national reiourees diff
tenn has been extended; and it has not been deed
unworthy Of the philofophic fpiri that now piles
over the cabinetto employ the ben means Of gtal-
| ~ attaching the Indians TO the purfuits of eized
life. Already the effects of thefe efforts have bme
rsaneG and have effe2ualIy di(rroved the yefal-
" received opinion Of The ntraaibility of thdvage
fate to the arts Of civilized life The rccentd au-
thentic Placements, which have been pablilhprove !
that the talk is half 70 difficult as had b ina
| giued. Thsy demonGra,e that the fueeelatirey I
depends on tue means. they prove that ihndiais {
70 far from being lnfenible to the comforts tva-
uon, are gradually and readily embraeingem - {
and that Tome OF The tribes have already u: no in