Elizabeth-Town gazette., 1819-01-12
INDIANS.

which excites deep interest among the
People OF the United States; and the SEN
timents it expresses, aud the facts it re-
lates, cannot fail to be agreeable to them
generally. The Senate ordered it printed
and it is believed our readers will be
pleased to see.it.-T'rue Amer.
To the Senate and House of Representa-.
tives Of the United States, in Congress
assembled.
The memorial and petition Of the repre-
sentatives Of the Religious Society of
Friends in the states OF Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, and the adjacent parts OF
Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectfully
represent !:
That your memoriaIists, viewing with
sensations of deep commisseration, the suf-
ferings OF the aboriglnes of this country
arising from their uncultivated and savage
mode OF life, have been engaged Tor seve-
raj years with the permission OF the execu,
tive, in attempting to diffuse the comforts
OF civilization among some of those tribes
which are scattered along our northwest
ern frontier. In the prosecution of this
important undertaking, we have acquired
"a knowledge Of their habits, their suffer-
ings, and their susceptibility of improve
ment, which has increasingly excited our
sympathy and more deeply interested our
feelings. Under these impressions, and
with solicitude to promote their advance
-ment towards that condition in which the
mind is expanded by reason and instruc-
tion, and dignifed by the influence of re-
ligioD, while the resources of nature are
rendered subservient TO the comforts of the
rational agent, we are induced respect
'ully to call the attention of Congress to
he subject.
From the habit of depending on game
for a precarious sustenance they have
been naturally led TO adopt an itinerant
and wandering mode Of life, and the con-
tinual pressure of an overwhelming Whit
population, has successfully driven them
from situations on which they might pos
sibly have been induced TO form perma-
nent settlements. Thus the darkness in
which they have been involved has been
protracted, while the same causes have
evidently tended to the extermination OF
the race.
We are sensible that the general gov
ernment, by adopting more humane and
liberal policy, has 10 some measure conn
teracted this tendency, and eDdeayoured
TO meliorate their condition by securing to
them reservations of land, granting them
annuities, and by taking other measures
TO promote their civilization. But tn
power Of habit long formed, and descend
ing from father to son through series of
successive generations, cannot be sup
posed TO be removed, hut by time and ps-
tient perseverance. These habits, how
ever, are beginning to lose their influence,
and an evident progress towards civiliza-
lion has been made by those tribes to
which our attention has been more partic-
uIarly directed, and others are desirous OF
obtaining similar assistance. But the
funds which your memorialists possess,
are altogether inadequate to accomplish
those benevolent purposes which the
present situation of those tribes so loudly
demand, and for the accomplishment OF
which we believe the present an auspi
cious period.
They are convinced of the utility, and
desire the opportunity ofacquiring school
education; and the scarcity of game on
their reservations, renders it indispensably
necessary that they should find some
other resources, from which to draw the
means of subsistence. But this resource
they cannot fipd in agriculture, without
the application Of more funds than have
heretofore been provided for their benefit.
As objects of charity--as human beings
involved in ignorance and want their
condition appeals loudly 10 the benevo.
Ience of the general government. As the
late proprietors of extensive fertile tracts
of country, from which the nation is de
irving vast emolument, and on which in-
dividuaIs are enjoying the bouDties of ma
ture, they might appeal TO our justice and
liberality.
The fostering hand Of government must
be extended for their relief or, we ap
prehend. the greater portion will not only
remain in their present state of intellec-
tual darkness, but ere long, they must
be reduced to accumulated miseries, from
the pressure of want.
At one Of their towns, we have built
them mills, assisted them in opening
farms, furnished them with farming uten-
sils, and placed family OF our friends
among them, to Instruct them 10 useful,
domestic arts, and we have the satisfac-
ton to observe their condition improved,
by their forming habits Of increasing in-
dustry and ssbriety, and obtaining the