Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-07

woad nnly say thus much ofthc present svs- II
tenn it has COS. us at least five millions of
dollars since the year 1890, one million of
which has been expended within "A short time
hack. The christian religion, we all know, is
he hest, said MIR. r. hut we cannot make all
these Indians religious al once. Such sys-
ten ought la he adopted as is applicable tn
the whole race, and no measures ought Ia re-
ctivc the sanction of Congress, which should |
operate partially ou Il few, aud exclude al! the |
rest.
Mir. BALDWIN said he was sorry that the |
course which he proposed Ia give tais petition,
had been ohicc,cdt 10. Looking at the object
oi this memorial, Il was the most harmless tina, |
could he asked of Congress. /, asks of Con !
Sress grant of piece OF public land, or of
the right of presumption In piece of public
land, FOR the purnoscs of oence, and of
! extending the arts OF civilized life and chris
| tlaniiy, among the Indian tribes. Such pur-
pose could not interfere in any manner with
any attempt OF the government To effect the
same object; and the simple question present
ed by the petition was, whether Congress
would grant piece Of land for this purpose,
| ms they had sometimes done for other objects
| Ii these petitioners were known To his friend
from Virginia, he would know that they were
The last men in the world to have improper
views ar motives. There wcr., NOT i'm the
| country any better or more public spirited
| men and II was very far from their wish in
any manner to interfere with the pulcy of
| the government.
Mr.. WRIGHT said. as he understood the
proposition embraced by this memorial it was
10 give To this company quantity of land 10
enable them to settle in the neighborhood of
! the Indians, and teach them the Christian
religion. He was sorry TO see any PROPOSE
ton introduced into this House connected
with religion. He protested, totis ririLus, a
gainst amy 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 obedi-
ence 10 law which is not written i'm their
hearts He believed, he said, that those peo-
pie are rs 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
iaith, because we unhnge 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--eye-
~ orb moving in its own sphere or revolving
on ITS own axis, and filling the functions for
which 1t was created. Look AT the animals
whose instinct is astonishing, and shews the
work of the Creator. The biz. said he. no
matter what distance he be removed from his
usual place Of abode, without compass or 10
garithms, can find his way home through the
pathiess woods and wilderness. robin was
once taken from Duck Creek TO Philadelphia
ana left there; making its escape, it ilnme-
dIately flew back 10 the place from which il
was taken. How did it find its way? The
great Jeho' ah had written His law in the
hearts OF these animals, and instructed them
now they should so ; and, five looked AT the
scriptures. we should find that He imprints on
all hearts the way in which they should go.
Inv In Ipli "a
Mr. W.-and there are no human beings hut
have the law of God in their hearts hny
! measures taken by this government to change
their religion, would he in the teeth of the
constitution. These missionaries, sent among
the Indians, he apprehendcd, were little better
than spies among them TO learn how To cheat
them, &c. How do we know, said Mr.. w.
i'iat The Indians have not for their guidance
a better law than we Do we see them with
their whippnG-posts ard iails in every settle
ment No, the law or God has given them
property in common, and so they enjoy it in
freedom and with pleasure. Mr.. ". said he
believed that the savage life which they en-
Joy, for he was very f1&d of the chase him
seli-was more favorable 10 the happiness of
the Indians than any new order Of things
winch would be introduced by the ecclesias-
tics. He believed he said, that we were do
ing wrong to those people by disturbing their
| generations which have passed before them ?
IL would he a libel on the Creator to say that
he had cXactcd from his creatures an Obed-
ence to his law without inscribing his law on
| their hearts. These missionaries Mr. w.
SAID, might as well be sent into Maryland, or
any other state, to convert the people, as a
mong the Indians-Congressh having as much
right 10 regulate the religion of the one as of
the other. He hoped this proposition would
not succeed, TO give land to these missionaries |?
| What do they seek, said ha-thc good of
souls Motley are pursuing that law which.
| binds individuals TO their interests and il is
| their own interest, and not that of the Indians.
| winch they are in pursuit of, &c
| MIR. BALDWIN declined entering into this
sort of discussion, assuring himself that re-
ference ofthis respectful petition would not
be refused.
The question 10 refer it 10 the committee
on Public Lands was nrgalived, and the pc
tition was referred to the committee on In
dian Affairs.
The SPEAKER presented communication
from tie Chamber of Commerce of the Civ
OF New York, expressing their opinion of the
lnPXped'ency of repeating the restrictive sys-
| tenn; which was read and referred to The
Committee Of Commerce.
Mr.. PLuMER, of N. n. laid on the table the
following resolution:
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary ofihe Treasur, he
directed 70 lay before this House the amount of the
public funded debt Of the L. States held in FOREIGN
c"un's, Tor the last five years respectively; stating
| tie k'nds and amount of stock held in each
Mr.. CAHNoH called for the consideration Of
a resolution he had Submitted on the 11th
uli. directing the Committee on Military AZ
fairs To inquire into the expedeacy of dimi
nishlng the number Of Cadets at the Military
Academy at West Point. That Academy
was established by an act of Congress in the
| year 1892. II then consisted Of IN Codpts