The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-12-15

on board OF American vcssels-the boundary
of the lniian territory had never been sub
ject Of difference between the two countries.
Neither the principles Of reciprocity, the
maxims Of public law, nor the maritime
rights of the British empire could require
the permaren, establishment of such booo-
Diary. The novel pretensions now advanced
could no more have been anticipated by me
government OF the L. States, IN forming in-
structions for this negocialion,than they seem
to have been contemplated by that OF Great
Britain in November last in proposing IT,
Lord Casllereagh's note makes the terminal
tion Of the war to depend on conciiasory
adjustment Of the differences then subsisting
between the two states, aud in no other con-
dlton whatever. Nor could the American
government have foresesn that @. Britain, in
order 10 obtain peace. for the Indians, rcslc-
ing within :hc dominions cf the u. States
whom she had induced 10 take part wiin her
in the war, would demand that they should
be made parties 10 the treaty between the two
nations, or thai the boundaries Of their lands
should be permanently aud irrevocabIy fixed
by that treaty Such a proposition Is contra
ry To the ac kno.ledged principles OF pubic
law, anc TO the practice OF all civilized na.
lions, particularly Of Gseat-Bri.aln and The
u. States. II is not founded ON reciprocity.
Ii is unnecessary Tor the attainment OF the
object which i. Processes to have IN view. No
maxim of public law has hitherto been more
universally established among the powers OF
Europe possessing terrliorics in America,and
there is none 10 which Great Britain has
more uniforu,ly aud iuIlcxibly adhered, than
that of suffering no ,eEposi.ion of foreign
power In the relations be!wecn the ackaowl-
edged sovereign ct the territory and the In
dians situated upon il. Without The admis-
sion of this principle, there would be no in-
teliisible meaning attached to stipula.ions cs.
,ablishing boundaries between tie dominions
in America of civilized natious possessing
territories inhabited b. Indian i.ibes. What
ever may be the te,a,ions OF Indians 10 the
nation in whose territory they are thus ac-
knowlcdged 10 reside, they cannot be consid-
cred as an independent power by the nation
which has made such acknowledgment.
That the territory of which Great. Britain
wishes now TO dispose, is within the domin-
ions OF the u. States was soiemly ucknowi-
edged by herself in the treaty OF peace Of
1883, which established their boundaries sand
by Which she relinQuished all claims TO the
government, propdsiy, and tcrritorisi rights
within those boundaries. No condition res.
pocting the Indians residing the rem, was in
serted in that treaty. No stipulation similar
TO that now proposed is TO be found III any
treaty made by G.. Britain,or within the knowl-
edge Of the undersigned, by any other nation.
The Indian tribes for which q. Britain pro-
posed now TO sipulate have, themselves, ac-
knowledged this. principle. BY the Green
willie treaty oG 1875, TO which the British
plenipo.e .en,iares have alluded, il i. expressly
stipulated, and the condition has been con-
firmed by every subsequent treaty, SO late as
the year 1910, That the Indian tribes shall
quietly enjoy their lands, hunting, planning
aud dwellings thereon, SO long as ,ncy please,
without any molcs,a,:on from .hc y. States
but that when those tribes, CT any Vi them,
shall be disposed 10 sell Their lands, they are
to be sold only to the United S,s,es lhAt uD-
iii such sale, the United States will protect
al! the said Indian tribes ia the quiet enjoy
lOens OF their lands agains. alIci;Izcn, OF the
y. States, and agsinst all other white per-
sons who intrude on the same, ard that the
said Indian tribes again acknowledge them
selves TO be under the protection of the said
. United States"
That there is no reciprocity in the propos-
ed stipulation is evident. In prohibiting G..
Britain and the y. States from purchasing
lands within part Of the doninions OF tho
latter power, while it processes to take from
Great-Britain privilege which she had not,
1t actually deprivcs the U. States Of a right
exclusively belonging to them.
The proposition is also Utterly unnecessary
for the purpose Of obtaining pac6calioR for
the Indians residing within tho territories OF
che United States. The undersigned have
already had the honor Of informing the Brit
ish pleDipotenliaries, that, under the system
OF liberal policy sdor,ed by the United States
10 their relations with The Indians within their
territories, an uninterrupted peace had sub
sisted from The year 1898, not oaly between
the United States and all those tribes, but also
amongst those tribes themselves for longer
period OF time than ever had been known
since the fitst settlement of North America.
ts. TnI. a. -. h.x