Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-09-24

OF the Greeks, the United STATES, aud the
state Of Georgia.
The Creeks, on their part, had bound
themselves not 10 sell Their land, except
to the United S ates, and they had &C.
kDowledged themselves under the pro
lection OF our government. The Unied
States had encouraged them TO com
meuce the work of civilization, and TO
rellnquisb their vagrant habns; and the
Greeks inconIormily with that benevolent
policy, had begun to put on the charac-
ter OF civilized people.
Again, the United States asserted a
right TO prevent any European power
from purchasing the Indian utle. This
right was respected by the European
powers; ii WAS sanctioned by their prac-
tice, and the Greeks had con6rmed 1t by
the treaty OF New York. But this was
only contingent right of properly, de-
pending upon the consent of the Indians.
minion of the soil, q. e. the sovereign y,
to the exclusion OF civilized nations, and
the absolute property upon the eXun-
punishment oil the Indian tile. TIE CO.
lonles, before the revolution, aud the
states since the event, never conceived
that they had right to approprla the
soil Mlhon. The consent oil the aborieI,
nal inhabilan,s. Treaties were MADE
with them Tor that purpose, from The
earliest settlements OF the country. In
some OF the prev nces, the Indlan title
was considered as comp lele, SO that II
might be transferred from an Iodian to
white man without the consent OF the
government; and The determination OF
Address 10 subject those titles IN New
Eng land to GU -rsnt or patent AK,
caused rebellion, which ended in his de-
position and Imprisonment. In other
parts OF the country, the colonists were
compelled to purchase through the 60
vernmenls. But in no province did the
colonlsls conceive their title to be good,
SO long as the Indian title remained I'M
extinguished, TO the honor OF the coun-
Try ~ it recorded, that IN no instance
did the public authorities sanction the
abomlnable doctrine, that civilization
gave to The white man the right to ex-
tlrninate or ensiave the aboriginal, or
To conhscaie OF appropriate the property
or land OF his tribe. These Indians,
| whatever may be thought OF the WIS dom
OF that providence who go ordered it,,
we're the original occupants and owners
OF the country. They had enjoyed j.
from immemorial time. Osr ancestors,
indeed, had a right to land on this conf
| nent, and to occupy as much Uacant
! soil as was necessary for their accommo-
dalon; but neither they, nor any other
men, bad right to drive the aboriginsis
from their possessions. This right OF
accomno dating themselves, by occupy
ing vacant land in a wilderness, must be
SO exercised as not to interfere with the
rights ct others. II is founded upon a
presumption, that the Deity intended
the soil for cultivation; but the Deity
also created the Indian to ENJOY the soil
after his manner; and unnecessarily to
deprive him Of his limited enjoyment,
would not only be unjust, but cruel
such are the great aud immu,abe prin-
ciples Ut morality and natural lu,ispru-
deuce.
Ii, then, we could not, when unshack-
led by treaties, expel these people from
their possessions surely we cannot nov
alter defining their boundaries, acknowI-
edglng and guarantylng their right le
his and, encouraging them to quit lheir
vagrant habits for those of cultivation,
and when we have land in abundance
without interfering with them. Should
we not, by such an act OF cold b!ooded.
deliberate, unnecessary perlidy, lus,I,
incur the scorn and Indignation OF man.
kind This question is not answered b,
a reference 10 the articles OF agreement
between the U. S. and Georgia. The u.
States only had the right to purchase
the Indian title when they were willing
10 sell II, and this was all they could
transfer 10 Georgia. On the other hand
this right was encountered by an obiga.
lion to respect and guaranty that tile.
The Indians he'd right, by treaty, to
our protection and guaranty, and to our
assistance in the great work OF civihzing
themselves. They also had right OF
hroherty, by the law of nature, to the
soil, modified, indeed, by our right to
occupy such portions as they did not
need but as to what was necessary for
them, their right was absolute, ard not
TO be affected by any claim of civilized
man. This RICH, has been so far chang.
ed by treaty as to become an absolute