The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-20

ludes IN the House, which ought not
TO overlook. On Saturday, Mr.. Bald
win presented memorial from the
" Western Mission Society,"" in the
State of Pennsylvania, praying for the
grant or prescription of attract of land
in the neighbourhood of the principal
Indian settlement, to aid the object of
extending the knowledge Of the Chris
tian religion and the arts of civilized
life. Mr.. B. wished. it 10 be referred
to the Committee on Publick Lands !;
but Mr.. Floyd preferred reference to
the Committee on Indian affairs. The
latter thought that the whole system of
our Indian affairs, as proposed to be
recognized, would be "prostrated and
unhinged' by the encouragement of
such societies. The Christian religion.
he said, we all knew was the best but
we cannot make all these Indians re-
ligious at once.
Mr.. Baldwin, in reply, contended that
the object of the memorial was the
most harmless that could be asked of
Congress-the petitioners were among
the last men in the world to have i'm
proper views or motives-there were
not in the Country any better or more
publick spirited men-they aimed at
extending the arts of civilized life, and
Christianity, among the Indian tribes
such a purpose could not interfere
with any benevolent attempts of the
government.
Mr.. Wrights of Maryland, followed,
with speech, upon which | am 10th
even to touch, SO extrayagant and I'M
becoming was it, in its whole purport.
He asserted that the Indians were as
religious, and worshipped with as much
ardour and zeal the great unknown
spirit, as any osker sect whatever-that
no good was done by converting them
from their faith, because their principles
we're mhinged at the same time. God
having written his law in all hearts and
all things, nothing now was to be done.
He illustrated his theism, by the case
of-the pig, which, "no matter at what
distance he be removed from his usual
place of abode, without compass or
logarithms, can find his way home
through the painless woods and wilder
ness" He ayerred that any measures
taken by the government to change the
religion of the Indians, would be in the
teeth of-the Constitution The mis-
slonaries sent among the Indians, were
little better than spaes among them, to
learn how TO cheat them! ssHow do we
know, said Mr. W. that the Indians have
not for their guidance better lnw than
we Do we see them with their
whipping and jails in every settle-
ment? No: the law of God has given
them property in common, and so they
enjoy it in freedom and with pleasure.
Mr.. w. said, he believed that the say
age life which they enjoy, (for he was
very fond of the chase himseif,) was
more favourable to the happiness of the
Indians, than any new order of things
which would he introduced by the &c
clesiastcks. He believed, he said, that
we were doing wrong to those people,
by disturbing their habits and feelings.
ltwould be libel on the Creator, to say
that he had exacted from his creatures
an obedience to his law, without inscrib-
ing his law on their hearts,
1t might be asked at distance, after
this was read, whether Congress were
really considered as representing
Christian country, that such doctrines
we're suffered to be preached in that
body, without universal cry of indig-
nation ? 1t happens that the utterer is
universally regarded as not less stricken
in mind than he is in years. But what
must astonish You and every one, is, that
his district should not feel ashamed of
placing him in the legislature--that
when he addressed himself TO his con-
stituents for their votes, they did not
give him an answer like that of Henry
the With. to Falstaff-
C We know thee not, old man: Fall to
thy prayers, &C."
When Voltaire returned thanks to
Rousseau for his dissertation in honour
of savage life. he told him that he felt
inclined, for the first time since his
childhood, to go on all .foavs. MIR.
Wright's discourse, though not quite as
eloquent as that of the mad philosopher
of Geneva, must raise in every mind
~ = s-.s.iv c-.--Ftg was
happily chosen among his analogies.