Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-05

nAr;son. Hence, toe, amid the greatest SUI
perauity, they often live in want OF the most
romnen accommodations, in the most sordid
nastiness and meanness. They are basely ava
ricious and niggardly. They scruple at no.
thino. TO profit by the misfortune OF others f.
ven neriurv becomes to them quite matter
of course, at which they never once boggle-
if there be aught to be gained by It.
Such are the masters under whose sway
the poor patient Indians OF those parts nave
so long lived They languish tor liberty, Whieh
however they want spirit and talests to ylndi-
cate to themselves. Yet they are not dehclcht
in natural sagacity, or prudence respecting
the common affairs of their simple mode OF
life. Sometimes, too, the wrongs which they
suffer force them to break out into transient
gusts of remonstrance and complaint.
It's the kings desire to make his American
as happy as his Spanish subjects. WINE
was in Peru several royal mandates were there
received, of which the object was to mitigate
the distresses of this unhappy race OF men.--
But on account of the great distance OF the
mother country, those mandates were at inc
pleasure and for the convenience OF the ON
GERS of the colonial government, either not
made public and carried into actual execution,
or if published, yet, by one continuance or an
other, frustrated and eyaded. Nay, II any
thing SO generally disagreeable to the ruling
mart of the community, should be Carried INTO
effect: the consequence would De hnrtful TO
the agents and beneficial to none but the poor
Indians, and the true interest OF the govern
ment. Every governor now does as seems
GOOD to himself; the public revenues are d.
unfinished and the inhabitants OF the country
are reduced to state of poverty and despair.
The Indians are the only productive labor
ers among the king Of Spain. subjects in
these parts. All the gold and silver which
comes from Spanish America, are procured
by the labor of these unfortunate VICTIMS. NO
European, nor even the negroes themselves,
are SO we'll able, as the native Indians, 10 en-
dure fatigue and toll usder the climate OF 5.
America All that these valuable sub ects to
the Spanish crown, are allowed to retain for
their Subsistence, consists of yams or potatoes,
and little maize, simply boiled in water, and
without the addition of aught that might serve
to render them ssvory.
Ofthe native inhabitants Of those regions,
Mr.. Helms gives the following account:
Ever since the discovery of South Ame-
RIGA the Indian sasages, have regarded with
terror all European arms, especially tlre arms.
They continue so to do still 1t is not difficult
therefore, even for thirty soldiers, and these
no heroes, TO put to flight force OF 1900 Or
5000 savagcs, who have no better arms than a
sling or spear, SIX ellis III length, and polnted
at the end with sharp stone or piece OF
metal. Yet SO expert are the Indians In the
use of the sings, and In managing their
horses, that on hors back, and at tull gallop,
they rarely miss their aim.
These southern wild Indians, having no
friendly intercourse with the Indians who live
in degree of settled civility, nor with the
Spaniards, whom they regard with mortal la
tired as the enemies OF their liberty, In their
manners gross, savage, and OF beastly filth
ness : hardy, indeed, stout, and enterprising,
but inconstaDt, and, before any very serious
danger, cowardy, and besides, treacherous
and immeasurably suspicious, on account OF
their passionate attachment to their freedoms,
All this seems to be a natural consequence
from the conduct Of the Spaniards which, ii
it we're directed more to promote The public
good, and less by sordid views of private in.
terest, might, without much difficulty, bring
the treacherous sayages, by the way OF kind
and gentle intercourse, to the same peaceablc-
ness as that OF the settled Indians, and to the
same submission to the authority of the Spa
nish government. But such conduct would
imply skill in civil policy, and disccrnmenl
into the principles of human nature, which
however eminently they may be possessed in
Spain. are unknown in America"
TRANSLATED.
For the Free,uan's Journal