Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-12

1
tenn Of our Indian affairs, as proposed
now to be reorganized, would be pros
trated and unhinged by the encourage
ment of such societies as the authors OF
this petition. If the object of the petit
ton was proper one, which he did nos
say or deny, it ought to come in aid OF
such measures as the committee on In
dian Affairs should think proper. II a
grant ofpublic land were to be made to
them for the purpose specified in the
petition, it would put them beyond the
control of all measures which might
emanate from that committee. Mr.. L.
said he wished to see our Indian affairs
put on a tangible footing, such one az
should tend to the real advantage of the
Indians, and at the same time to the eco.
nomy of the public money. Atpresent,
he would only say thus much of the pre-
sent system it has cost us at least five
millions of dollars since The year 1890,
one million of which has been ex-
pended within short time back. The
christian religion, we all know, is the
best, said Mr.. f. but we cannot make
all these Indians religious at once. Such
system ought to be adopted as is APP
plicable to the whole race, and no mea-
sures ought to receive the sanction of
Congress, which should operate partial
| ly Oh a few, and exclude all the rest.
Mr.. BALDWIN said he was sorry that
the course which he proposed to give
| this petition had been objected to. Look
ing at the object of this memorial, it was
the most harmless that could be asked
of Congress. 1t asks of Congress a
grant of piece of public land, or OF
presumption to piece of public land,
for the purposes of benevolence, and of
extending the arts OF civilized life, and
OF christianity, among the Indian tribes.
Such purpose could not interfere ia
any manner with any attempt of the go
vernment to effect the same object; and
the simple question presented by the
petition was, whether Congress would
grant piece OF land for this purpose, as
they had sometimes done for other OBJ
jects. II these petitioners were known
10 his friend from Virginia, he would
know that they were the last men in the
world to have improper views or mo-
tives. There were not in the country
any better or more public spirited men;
and it was very far from their wish in any
manner to interfere with the policy of
The government.
Mr.. WRIaiIr said, as he understood
the proposition embraced by this memo"
rial, it was to give to this company q
quantity fland, to enable them to settle
in the neighboIhood Of the Indians, and
teach them the Christian religion. He
was sorry to sec any proposition introdu-
ced into the House connected with rcli-
gion. He protested, tofis vari6nes
against any legislation on that principle,
The God who created those Indians, Mr..
w. said, had inscribed on their hearts his
law, Could any man presume to exact
from them obedience to a law which IS
not written in their hearts He be-
ieved, he said, that those people are as
religious that they worship with as
much ardor and zeal the great unknown
Spirit, as any other sect whatever; and
that we do no good by converting them
from their faith, because we unhinge
their principles al the same time. The
great legislator for the world has written
his law ON all hearts, and on all things.
Look at all creation, said he---every orb
moving in his own sphere, or revolving
on its own axis, and filing the functions
for which it was created. Look at the
animals, whose instinct is astonishing,
and shows The work ofthe Creator. The
pig, said he, no matter what distance he
be removed frOm his usual place OF
abode, without compass or logalithms,
can find his way home through the path
less woods and wilderness. A robin was
once taken from Duck Creek to Phila-
delphia, and left there making its es-
cape it Immediately flew back to the
place from which it was taken. How
did it find its way the great Jehovah had
written His law in the hearts ofthese ami
mails, and instructed them how they
should so; and, if we looked at the scrip
lures, we should find that He imprints on
all hearts the way in which they should
so. He has done the same by the In
dams, said Fir. Wand there are no
human beings but have the law of God
in their hearts. Any measures taken BY
this government 10 change their religion,
would be in the teeth of the Constitu-
ton. These missionaries sent among
the Iadians, he apprehended were little
better than spies among them to learn
how TO cheat them, sc. How do we
know said Mir. w. that the Indians have
not for their guidance better law than
We ? Do We see them with their whip