Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-12-14

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From the risnr of this sy stem, however.
as pra ticcd by Great Britain. and all tn. -.
liner European powers il, America, the hu>
mans and liberal p9iicy OF the u. State. has
Voluntarily relaxed. A celebrated writer
on The laws of ~uations, to whose authority
british Iurists have aiken particular salts.
tae'ion IN appealing. a:,er stating, in the
mos. exi'ci. manner the legitimacy uf CO.
iona. Settlements in America, the cxclu-
son oil all rights OF unciyiiizsd Indian tribes.
mas taken orcasion TO praise the first set
Tiers OF New England. and the founder of
Pennsylvania, in having purchased Of the
Indians the lands they resolved to cultivate
notwithstanding their being furnished with
with q Charter from their sovereign. Il il
TINS example which the United States. since
.hsy p~scaIne, by their independence, the
sovereign o. the territory, have ad~sotedsSr
organized into a political SYST m. Unjer
that system, the. indians resi:ing wrthjn the
United States are so tar independents. that
tney live under their own customs, and IN.
oer the laws OF the United States . that their
rights upon the lands where they inhabit. or
nunt. are secured to them by Boundaries
eenhed IN amicable treaties between the u.
states and themselves ; and that whenever
those boundaries are varied, it il also bv
anicable and voluntary treaties, by which
they receive from the United States ample
compensation for every right they have to
tue tanas coded by them They are SO far
dependent as not to have the right to div
pose OF their lands to any private persons
nor TO any power other than the u. S. and
10 oe under their protection alone, and not
under that of any other power. Whether
GATED subjects. or by whatever name desig-
mated, such Is the relation between them and
Inc United States, That relation is neith-
er asserted DOW for the Grst time, nor did IL
originate with tie treaty of Greenville.-
1hesc principles have been uniformly r..
coEnizsd bv the indians themselves. moi. ON.
~ by that treaty, but in all the other pre.
vions as well as subsequent treaties. beween
them and the United State..
he treaty of Greenviile neither tool
from the Indians the rights which thew had
net, OF selling lands within the iurisdict;on of
the US to foreign governments or subjects.
nor ceded to them the right of exerci,ipr
exclusive jurisdiction within the bounaarS
line assignes. 1t was merely declaratory
OF the public law, in relation to the parties.
founded on principles previously and uni.
vsrsaiiy recognized. 1t left to the United
o'ates the rights of exercising sovereignty
OF the proposition of G. B. which REQUIRES
the abandonment of both
The British plenipotentiarics state in their
last note, that Great Britain is ready to. en-.
ter mto tne same engagement with resnect
70 the iadians living within her line Of de.
markauon, as that which is proposed to the
y. otates- The undersigned will not dwell
on the Immense inequality Of value between
the Two territories, which, under such an ar
ransement, would be assigned, by each ma.
nsh respectively, TO the Indians, and which
alone Ssuld make the reciprocity merely
nominal. The condition which would be thus
imposed on Great CritaiR not to acquire
lands III Canada from the Indians, would be
productive of any advantage to the IT 8.
and is, therefore. not equivalent for the sac-
riHce required of them. They do not consi.
uer that It belongs to the Uaited States in
any respect to interfere with the concerns
VI u. Britain ih her American possessions, or
Win her policy towards the Indians res;d>
ing mere: and they cannot consent to any
intcfierace, on the par of G.. britain wich
tnetr own concerns. and particularly With
inc Indians within their territ rlcs. II
may DC the interest Of Great britain 70 Limit
Der settlements in Canada totheir presenter.
tent, and to leave the country to the west a
perpetual wilderness, 10 be forever inhabi-
ted oy scattered tribes of hunters; but it
would iniiict a vital injury on The u. States
to have a line through their territory. be-
yond which their settlements should forever
De precluded from extending, thereby arr
resting the natural growth of their popula,
ZION and strength; placing thc Indians sub.
stantia'iy, by virtue of the proposed guarau.
tee, under the protection Of Great Britain:
booming them to perpe.al barbarism, and
leaving an extensive frontier forever expos.
ed to their savage incursions.
With respect to the mere question of
peace with the Indians, tn u dersigned have
explicitly assured ,de British pleni,
pots %Dtiaries, that so far as it depended ON
The United States, it would immediately and
necessarily follow a peace with G.. Britain.
II this be her sole object, no provision in the
TO that effect is necessary. Provided
the Indians will now consent to il. peace
be Immediately made With them. and
they vii; be reinsated in the same situation
in which they stood before the commences
ment OF hossiIiies. Should a COZ tinuance of
the var Compel the United States to alter
their policy towards the Indians, who NAV
still take The part of Great Britain. they a.
lone must be responsible fer the conseauen,
ces OF her own act in having induced them
to withdraw themselves from the protection
the United States. The employment Of
whose known rule Of warfare is
the D~discriminate torture ard butchery of
women, children and prisoners, is, Itself, a
departure from the principles of humanity
observed between all civilized and Christian
nations, even in a war
The United States have constantly pyos
.ested, and still protest against IT,, as an un.
aggravation of the calamities and
iorrors OF war. OF the peculiar atrocities
lf Indian warfare the oltiea rs C,aot Pei