American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1825-09-13

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late America. To vacant territory The white conner
had as good right as the tawny native; but to oc-
cupled territory, to land appropriated TO the pur-
poses OF planting and hunting, the Indian had
right, which as valid as that of an English no.
beman to his extensive manor and vacant park.
The history of the early colonial settlements show
this right to have been generally respected and
purchases were made from lhe native Cbieiains by
the first settlers, of large Of land for which
valuable consideration was given. Notwithstanding
the fairness OF the public authorities, injustice was
occasionally praclised by individuals and the igno-
rant and unuored savage was often driven, by these
unauthorized wrongs. into ndiscrmnate hostililies
with the coonists. If, 10 the conflicts, their mum.
bers were wasted-and often whole tribes were ex-
terminated-.one could only lament the hard fate
which seemed inevitable. The peculiar situation
OF the coonists and the habits Of their foes. impcl
led them to that course. With the founder Of Car.
thage, they might have truly said,
Res dura ct rcgni novitas-talia cogunt Molri.'
In the lapse OF time, however, this necessity ceas-
ed and the phllanthropic who guided the
councils OF these States at the formation of the
Constitution, determined to make an effort TO pre-
serve the remnant of the American Indians from
the destruction to which they vsiby fastening.
A peculiar race OF men wasting away-a race,
distinguished for many noble and exalted qualities.
was daily diminished by the sword, the pestilence,
example of the Europeans, without adopting the
political and social system, which deprived those
wees OF their exermnating qualities In few
more generations, unless some effort should be made
Tor their preservation, they felt that the aborginals
would cease exist, and the race be numbered with
those whose language and habits only afford scope
Tor the speculative inquiry OF the antiquarian. This
decay. too, had commenced upon the arrival of the
Europeans and seemed 20 be consequence Of their
contiguy As philanthropsts, therefore, and as
patriots, watchful over the national character they
were derrous to rescue the Indian from extinction
and to elevate him to the rank OF civilized man.
They felt this be due not only 10 the savaees and
their own character. but il just tribute TO their
| ancestors, who had founded this Empire Of Civil
zed humanity in the American wilderness. to serve
as refuge from the oppression and injustice OF the
old world They could not bear that their fathers
should be reproached as the merciiess extirpators
of the aboriginal race. They had no ambition to
be ranked with the Goths and Vandals, who de-
st'oyed the Roman Empire, with the tevastators OF
Europe. with the unreenting conquerors of His
paniola and of Mexico, who laid the foundations OF
their sway in the destruction of the native irhabi
tants OF their several countries While they anx.
lously sought to perpetuate and extend the Anglo
American Republic, they not regardless of
the untutored ssvages within its limits. They in
tended, if possible, to elevate them to an equality
with themselves, by affording TO them all the helps
OF civilization and, al all events, preserve them
selves in case of their extinction, from all partci.
patton in fastening that unhappy result. The lib
era designs and feelings OF the revolutionary pat
riots towards these unfortunate people, may be
plainly understood from the agreemen, made with
the Delaware tribe. in 1878, whereby the Indians
were invited to form State, and send Represen-
taiiye to Congress.a The Cherokees were also
secured by the treaty of Hopewell, 1885, the right
of sending Deputy to Congressb These philan-
thropic offers cannot be misunderstood They
speak volumes in favor Of those to whose exaTnple
and exertlons all value most. With
this view, too, upon the establishment of the Ma
tional Government they entered into treaties with
the various Indian tribes, whereby the several rela
tions and obligations of the United States and the
Indians were specifically set forth and defined.
| The limits OF the territory reserved by the abort
ginas we're described. and the integrity of their
landed properly was guaranteed by The United
States. Other obligations assumed by the
National Government; but as the general policy
OF the U. States has been sufficiently developed,
and as this question relates chiefly to the Creeks, it
will be necessary to confne attention to the
treaties by which their condition was fixed. Short
ly after the accession OF the patriotic and venerable
Washington to the Chief Magistracy of The Re
public, treaty concluded at New York. in his
very presence, with the Creek Nation. These par
tcuIars are mentioned, that the sanction Of that,
great. apd good man to the humane policy OF the
EGoveThfAenl may have its due weight with all who
resPett Che purity and sagscy of the Father o.!
his cntntry. BY this treaty the United States
took ehs Creeks under their projections guaranteed
to tire tribes their land within specific limits !;
settled the manner in which offenders should be
punished and, in order " to lead them to greater
degree Of ciuilisaiion, and to become herdsmen and
cuHirators, instead Of remaining in the state ot
hunters,''c the United States agreed TO furnish
graluitously. the Greeks. from tine to time, with
useful domestic animals and implements Of husband
ry." This treaty bears date August 9TH. 1890.
Thus it appears, that the United States at that time