Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-04

time due TO the present session, and the
concerns of the Indians be thus crowded
out, yet let not the friends oflntian reform
throughout the union, who have so gener-
ously resolved to present the wishes of the
country to that body, relax in their eSer-
tions-rather let them he redoubled. 1t is
an affair of too much importance to be slf-
fered TO lay over any longer--it is one of
incalculable moment TO the Indians, nor
does it lose any of its importance in its re.
lation to us. Justice, hum. nifty, policy, all
combine, to urge our government into the
speedy adoption of some measures for the
security and preservation OF this unfortu-.
nate people. A point oftime, only, remains
to put it in tn. power of the historian to re.
deem what we have lost Ly our apathy in
this matter. A little while longer even if
it be not now too late, and this great blot
sriU be made As an American, therefore,
born and nurtured in this most favored land
apart from all the obligations imposed on
me by humanity, cannot but indulge
strong desire to see my country placed in
that honorable attitude in relation to this
subject, which becomes its dignity.
wish TO see it distinguished, and unin-
peachablc at all points-and when the no.
bleness ofits institutions shall be comment
ed on by the future historian; and the hon.
or of its name told. do not want it TO be
added-trBuT 1T NEGLECTED THE
INDIANS-It supinely permitted noble
race of men, the original propretors of lis
soil, to fall before that fell demon, ovdrice,
nor iaterposed by any spirited or com'nen-'
surate policy to relieve them. Their bod
ily distreSswas made more wretched by the
state of their mental darkness. They were
permitted to live, anu 10 die savagcs, save
only few whose good fortune it WIS to fall
into the hands Of benevolent citizens, and
these were moulded into civilized and chris.
tian men, and lived and died ornam nts TO
the human character, many Of them inita.
ting distinguished chief Of the Oneida
tribe, named Skenandon, who after having
yielded 10 the teaching of his minister, the
Rev. Mr.. Kirk land when in his ION year,
(hayins lived reformed man for 80 years
said. just before be died, Il ain an aged
hem,ock. The winds OF an hundred win
tiers have whistled through my brarc!es--
! am dead atthe top he was blind) why
yet live, the great, good spirit only knows
pray to my Jesus that may wait with
patience my appointed time to die-and
when l die, lay me by the SIDE of my mi.
mister and father, that | may go up with
Lin at the great resurrection" And yet
save only such as the bercyo.entp private as
socialions, founded for the purpose, lifted
into this high estate Of which the instance
just cited may serve as 4 specimen of what
these people were capable of being made,
they were permitted to linger out mise
rable existence, with no light to guide them
in their pilgrimage through this world; and
none to cheer their prospects OF the future.
Su ch were the returns made for the faith
fulness of old Somerset, who was pioneer
to, and defenders OF the fathers OF that peo-
pie, after their landing at Plymouth, and
for the magnanimity OF Pocahontas at James
Town, but Tor whose angel like Interior
ence, the colony there must have con-
tinued to struggle through Affections and
blood, 10 have attained a permanent foot
ing, if they had succeeded at all. For, in
the language, of one ofthe most eloquent
men Of those days, the writer of all inte-
resting little book entitled the British
Spy" which yet lives in all the splendor
of its fame" Maugre the patronage of
Pocahontas, there is the stro INCEST reason
in the world TO believe that, but for her
patronage, the anniversary cannon Of the
4th July would never had resounded thro'
these United States And yet notw it'll
standing so mighty debt, as this, part
from all the considerations of country, (for
the country was theirs) OF justice, and Of
humanity. tn were the defendants of
those very Indians whose degradation and
suffering were thus permitted and who
dragged out dismal existence, driven be-
fore the expanding population of the
, whites, bleeding and laneuishing as they
, went, till at last the period ftheiT exlinc.
ton arrived, and nothing is left to remind
US of their fate, but the sight oftheir native
rivers and mountains and the fragments