Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-05-04
'sINrX NATION.

w Y arc NuucE ODliEdtlOHk ~ tTlCN0 Tor
the following interesting communication
which comes from a person who ha- long had
opportunities, for accurate knowledge OF the
sus3ect on which lie treats. n. Y. Coiusnb;an.l
" Prairie da Chiea, May 10th, 1915.
SIR,-ChrISiianity cannot lie prepayated
BY Missionaries in country OF pagaes uHtil
they arc civilized; because Missionaries in
seuerai teach not a simple system, but many
doctrines OF opinions uniutelligible, not found
IN scripture, bnt fabricated by The pre iudi-
ees aud passions OF men.
Christianity isl rational system, aud re-
CURE, intellectual faculties 10 use il rationale
~ the arts and scieuces which the paCans
want prevent the rational use of their nieilcc.
tuai faculties. This i verified by the A thcni-
ans and other pagans, who being greatly civil
ii@ed, we're ready To exchange organism for
me Dement'S OF Christianity, as soon a. offer
ed.
salntaryts civil society; its promises OF ano-
ther lite ATE comfortable to all, its precepts
are agreeable 10 human reason. and the pa
cams never have and never will despiSe it.
vi consequence, II is a Christian duty (bv le-
nent msthods) 10 propagate Christianity "a
monS The pagaus; but the success of the un-
uertaking will depend on the publication of
christianity from all its mysteries, and on the
moral iiveS of The teachers OF Chrisiianit,-
ioi me paganS are lovers Of morality and are
pious ivers ; they have consciences which ac-
cuSe ana excuse them before their Great Sui
RI tor God TO whom they bow down with sra-
,,'"ue anu praise When the sun rises above tho
horlZpn, ana When he goes down below IT,
he pagans the river St Peter have
no knowledge of the Bible, but they believe
III Great Spirit. who lives for ever in Il nal
ace above all clouds; and that he made the sun.
the earth, The lakes, rivers trees cattle f,h
eS, bilGs: and all things, and gave them all
TO the Indians, who are like him in shape i'm
6eherolence and goodness; aud they believe that
" they are moral and piouS, they will be seut
ior by The Great Spirit TO live with him in his
palace q nd ant l,I,s
SO ihey believe in the following revelation and
laws sent to their ancestors BY the Great Spi-
rit. by one OF his servanis-namely. l. Fear
love anu praise the Great Spiri; - BE honest
5.Love one another 4. BE charitable s. InIure
10 man d BE me,cifui 10 all animals All
indians obeyns the above laws shall be haDNy
~ time, AMI iniintely happy in the palace OF
me Great Spirit beyond The blue sky
nus live the Sioux Nations on the ives.
slde OF mississippi 10 the shining mountains
~ p"riecl orthodoxy no ways troubled abnut
the opinions Of fathers, councils hishnps
churches, bmi cOntented with their shori
creed and divine rules
MY dear siI, since residing here among
many pagan tribes. who are the most innn-
cent, beneN client and moral part OF The human
rare. ever saw. have thought much on tho
DIVISIONS, heie>ies aud orthudoXes i'm the
Chrlsilah Church, whose systems are derived
from ihe sophistry aud opinions OF men as lit
lie inspired as those myriads of pagans The
moral perfection of these Indians and their
creed, nave brought me to join with them in
SAVING, their articles are as good as the Arti-
clcs OF the mnltiformed Churches in Christen-
dom since the Apostolic age, which we knoy.
are not OF divine authority; and vet. ,uhoer.,.
DoHid be Saced, mas. tetiere in all contradictions
among seCts
-, These pagans have high prejudices against
ChfiNiians, and believe The Spaniards are the
Only me Chri 'iians, whose crnelties, murders
and robberieS IN South America of lac Indians
are well known by tradition among the SiouX
tfiDes; and when any white traders cheat and
ueceiNe Il sioux pagan, they are called SDDni-
aTdS ana Christians; hence the French and
English traders among the Sioux Nations have
moi Denehtied Christianity or the Spanish int
rest IL the Americans ever should ATTEMPT to
introduce Christianity among the Sioux tribes
fhey must send honest traders sensible and
moral men. 10 deal with them and make use
OF 40 severity, MIlduess heyevolence and
plouS example must be used among the Sioux
NatichS, TO induce The nI 10 adopt life of civil
II ana ne use - to be made of the word
Christian SDaniard
Military cOmpusioh will not be useful in
ci'IiIz'ng lndlnns the Sioux Nations believe
iheE are the sole owners OF the land by vjrtue
OF Inc sift OF the Great Spirit. by long possess
sion ana occupancy and no white peopie have
"a right 10 bni!d forts, houses, and cnItjya
iheir lands nntiI they obtain from The Indians
a figGt by purchase, and consent Of the owners
anN present pDssesSors
This doctiine is not pIeasine tn rn;ii,.r
commanders, bur hust he attended TO ID, our
government, TO prevent gar with the msnv
tribes OF Indians IN this western territory For
TWO years past no crime has been conln,itrd
among all the Indian tribes.-Use this comm.
nication as you please.
&c am, &c.
"CLERICUS."