Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-18

they will venture to attack our peacesbIe
inhabitants. A strong hope is entertained
that this measure will likewise be pro.
ductive Of much good to the tribes them.
selves; especially in promoting the gra,
object of their civilization. ExperieDc.
/. has clearly demonstrated, that indeDe,
dent savage communities cannot long e,.
list within the limits of a civilized Dole
lation. The progress ofthe latter Ia,
ALMOST invariably, terminated in the e,.
tinction of the former, especially of ID,
tribes belonging TO our portion Of tn,
hemisphere, among whom, lof,ineS Of
sentiment, and gallantry in act on, hsr.
been conspicuous. To civilize them,
and even to prevent their extinction, !,
seems to be indispensable thar their ind..
pendence, as communities, should cea.
and that the control ofthe United State,
over them should be complete and uuds.
puted. The hunter state will then be
more easily abandoned, and recourse will
be had to the acquisition and culture Of
land, and to other pursuits tending to dis.
solve the ties which connect them togrth.
eras a savage community, and to give,
new character to every individual. |
present this subject TO the consideration
of Congress. on the presumption that i,
may be found expcdicnt and practicable
to adopt some benevolent provisions, Ia.
wing these objects in view, relative to The
tribes within our settlements.
1t has been necessary, during the pre-.
sent year, to maintain strorg nava iorc.
in the Mediterranean, and in the Gulf Of
Mexico, and to send some public ships
along the southern coast, and to the Pa.
cIfic ocean. BY these means anicatls
relations with the Barbary powers hav.
been preserved, our commerce La, bttn
protected, and our rights respected
The augmentation Of our navy is ad,u.
cling, with steady progress, towards the
limit contemplated by law.
communicate, with great satisfaction
the accession Of another state Illinois, 10
our Union; because l perceive, from the
proof afforded by the additions ALREADY
made, the regular progress and sure
contamination OF a policy, of which his
tory affords no example, and of which tn.
good effect cannot be too highly estima.
ted. BY extending our government, co
the principles of our constitution, over
the vast territory within our limits, 90
the Lakes and the Mississippi, and s
numerous streams, new life and vigor arc
Infused into every part of our system
BY increasing the number Of the states,
the confidence of the state governments
in their own security is increased, and
their jealousy Of tbs national government
propertionably diminished. The imprac
ucability Of one consolidated governmeE
to- this great and growing nation, will b:
more apparent, and will be universally
admitted. Incapable Of exercising local
authority, except for general purposes,
the general government will no longer
be dreaded. In those cases Of local
nature, ond for all the great purposes fox
which it was instituted, its authority will
be cherished. Each government will &C.
quire new force anG a greater freedom
OF action, within its proper sphere. Oh.
er inestimabIe advantages will follow:
our produce will be augmented to an in.
calculable amount in articles OF the
greatest value for domestic use and To-
reign commerce. Our navigation will,
in like degree; be increased and, as the
shipping Of the Atlantic states will be
in the transportation Of the
vast produce of the western country,
even those parts of the United States
which are the most remote from each
other will be further bound together BY
he strongest ties which mutual interes
IAN create.
The situation Of this District, it is
thought, requires the attention Of Con.
5ress. BY the Constitution, the power
'f legislation is exclusively vested in
ne Congress of the United States. In
he exercise ofthis power, in which the
people have no participation, Congress
egisiats In all cases, directly, on the 10.
al concerns of the District. As this Is
departure, for special purpose, from
he general principles of our system, it
nay merit consideration, whether an ar.
better adapted to the prinei.
pies Of our government and TO the par.
ocular interest OF the people may no!
'e devised, which will neither infringe
he constitution, nor affect the object
which the provision in question was IL
ended 10 secure. The growing popula'
ion, already considerable, ard the In
business Of the District, which
I is believed already interferes with the
deliberations of Congress on great n'
ional concerns, furnish additional mo-