The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-08-31

sentatiVes OF the American people, aud
cali upon them to rescue them from de-
graeation, exile, and death. They have
right to a kind and attentive audience.
They are men like ourseIves-more ig-
norant, less civilized and powerful, but
still men. To their present state they
have beeo redaced or adpanced, accord
ing to the decision of this question, byl
the arrival of the Europeans. The few
comforts, hopes, and pleasures they have,
they highly value. Their apparent in
sensibility is the result of education, and
not of apathy. II does not prove the alb
sence of passion, but the power Of self
control. II is the frozen surface of a
volcano, under which the fire hurns more
fiercely, because suppressed. With their
natural passions unsubdued, they love
aud hate more strongly than the whites.
Above al! other things, they are attach
ed TO their native soil. To that they
cling with all that tenacity, SO peculiar
TO the Indian character, Their love of
life sinks into insigpifcance, when COM
pared with the overpowering influence
OF this principle and with their ancient
recollec;ions and present feelings, throng-
ing upon their minds, almost with one
voice they cry, g Let US peacefully pos
sess our country, or give US death. How
Can we say to the bones of our fathers,
rise and go with us into foreign land %
Let Congress answer this strong and
irresistible appeal, as the nation would
answer it, by annulling the treaty, and
putting the Creeks in the same situation
they held before it was made. No 9TH
er course is compatible with fair dealing,
or national honour. Instead of driving
them from their lands, let the govern
ment Continue its efforts TO civilize and
attach them TO the soil, and they will love
and cherish the white rr en- as their bene-
factors. Their posterity will rise up
and call us blessed, and community of
civilized aboriginals will exist 10 the bo-
som of this country, as the proudest EVIL
dence of the benehceDce of this govern
ment, of an unstained rational character,
and of the power Of civilization.
Before we close this article, ii is, per-
haPs, necessary 10 examine two topics,
which are incidentally connected with
this subject. The treaty has been for
mally ratified on our part; and it may
he Uo1eUIcu; ny ttT0se-WnO are dcIerInIn-
ed on It's execution, that it cannot be re-
| sclnded without the consent of those
Creeks who signed il; and that the sole
tribunal to Judge of its validity is The
] Senate. Those who raised this latter OBJ
tJection, do not advert TO the fact, that the
treaties with the Indians, though formal
ly sanctioned by the Senate, are rather
internal regulations, than treaties, prop
erly so called, which are between pow
ers entirely independent. 1t is the right
of the House, if it should deem it neces-
sary, TO extend its guardian shield for the
protection of the Indians within our lin
lis, from all hardship aud injustice. The
representatives of the people are as
much interested in The preservation of
our national character, as the represen-
tatives of the States; and if they should
find, as they will in this case, that the
treaty ought to be rescinded, they may
refuse TO. carry it into effect. The ces-
sion of a large tract OF public lands, and
the stipulation 10 pay sum of money,
give peculiar strength TO the co-equal
right of the House to examine the sub
Iject.
! This objection, however, is put at rest,
together with that founded upon the
rights vested in the Creeks, who made
the treaty by the fraud at the bottom Of
the transaction. If the instrument be
| tainted with fraud, it is void, and either
branch of Congress may declare it TO be
so. lfthere should be any difference of
opinion on the subject between the two
Houses, 1t will then remain with the ex-
ecutive to say, whether, under existing
circumstances, he will carry the treaty
into effect.
Such power must necessarily exist,
OF the United States would be subject TO
imposition, the republic liable to disgrace,
and the Indians would be defrauded and
extermiuated, without the right of inter-
ference on the part of the government
to prevent any of these catastrophes.
Precedents for similar exercise ofpow-
er may be found in the short history of
our present government.
| Under the administration of Mr.. Mon
roe, treaty of this sort, concluded with
a portion of the Menominees, for the
purchase of large portion Of their land,
was declared void by the President on
this very ground. Nearly all the real
acknowledged chiefs Of the tribe were
opposed TO the cession. Quarrels be-
tween those who signed and those who
opposed the treaty, Immediately follow
ed the sale; and, as in the case of M'ln-
tosh. one of those signing the treaty. WAS