Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-10-25


the nation, whom ! have The bona, =;
serving.
irenew 10 you my distinguished con.
alterations.
May God preserve you many yesu.
HabanI 30h June, 1928.
FRANCISCO DIoNIslo WIVES
To Commodore DAVID Porter.
(1rus Copy.)
From the Washington City Ga:ettes.
INDEPENDENCE OF TIE INDIAN
NATIONS.
The war with the Aricaras has given
rise t" question which we'll deserve,
serious consideration. 1t 10 this VIVA,
Is the real character Of Indian Indel.p.
dence within The territories OF the il nj.
ted States? TO answer this question
it 10 necessaryto recspitulste the point,
OF political communication which our
government has maintained with the
Indians.
The boundary line which the United
STATES have established, and within
which they assert jurisdiction lc the
Pa, itir Ocean, had no special reference,
in their limits. to the Indian tribes or
nations. They had relation to the do.
m MON claimed on the A American Con-
tinent, by Great Britain and Spain
The exclusion of foreigners from INFER.
course with the aborigines within these
limits 10 preventative measure, 10 Sc.
cure our white population from savage
hostility, excitement to which has been
supposed - have proceeded from 70.
,eigners for interested purposes. There
10 no compulsion on the lodIans to re.
main within our national bounds ries,
Fhey may emlgrate, according to their
own will. either to the b I'ish or Spa.
nish territories, or elsewhere. In this
respect, therefore. they are perfectly
independent.
In treating with the Indian nations
for peace, or for any other object, we
negotiate through the medium Of Com.
IN ,ssioners, duly authorised and in.
strurted by the President. Here. again,
they are treated as an Independent, peo-
pie.
The treaties or conventions formed
with them are subject to the advice and
consent Of The Senate, are rattle 6y
the President, and publisheG a. other
treaties. In this, too. they are dealt
with like foreign independent power.
The only difference between an lncan
treaty and one with European power
is, that the latter is procIsmated, whilst
the former is not.
The Unlted Safes appoint, to reside
near the Indians with whom we have
friendly relations, agents, who are OF
the nature of public ministers. To this
particular, therefore, they are consider
cd 80 independent nations.
War, indeed, 10 never formally de.
clsued against them. 1t ishever waged
upon them except for the protection Of
our frontiers. The reason Of this, ho~-
ever. 10 to DO found in the circumstance
that they do not, like European ma
tions, present objec's Of controversy,
other than those of self preservation
on our part. Their feebleness, their
state of society, do not admit OF their
being capable Of disturbing the nation.
al tranquility Of the United States. Of
menacing their common safety, their
prosperity, or political institutions.
Vsttel lays it down - rule, thas
any community which governs itself oy
its own laws, is sovereign and indePen'
dent. Our government does rot inter.
fere with the municipal regulations Of
the Indians. They make their own
lave and are controlled BY their own
,psxims To this extent. Of course, tho
tribes are placed in tho light Of inde-
pendent nstions
Indian independently, consequently
10 tho same a. that of every foreign "a.
ton, differing only 10 the degree, but
not in the principle. Of recognition
To this. however there il ono 'mP''-
.ant exception; and that isasit concerns
The title to the Lands which they occupy.
The Indian title to lands has been
admitted in al our treaties with them;
and has been pronounced valid oys
IL H.