Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-12-02

The INDIASs--coEcLUDED. We conclude our
abstract of Mr. Fints view of the traits of the Abo-
rhymes of this country, with the following, his clos
ing remarks
cater all, that which has struck us
in contemplating the Indians with the
most astonishment and admiration, is the
invisible but universal energy of the oper-
alton and influence of an inexplicable law,
which has, where it operates, more GER
tain and controlling power, than all the
municipal and written laws of the whites
united. There is despotick rule, without
any hereditary or elected chief. There
are chiefs with great power, who cannot
tell when, where, or how they become
such. There is perfect unanimity in a
question involving the existence Of tribe,
where every member belonged to the wild
and fierce democracy of nature, and could
dissent, without giving reason. A case
occurs, where it is prescribed by custom,
that an individual should be punished
with death. Escaped far from the con-
troll of his tribe, and as free as the winds,
this invisible tie is about him; and he re-
turns, and surrenders himself to Justice.
His accounts are not settled, and he is in
debt; he requests delay, till he shall have
accomplished his summers hunt. He
finishes it, pays his debt, and dies with a
constancy, which has always been, in all
views of Indian character, the theme of
admiration.
A serious question occurs in conclu-
sion. What is the prospect of bringing
to these rugged and comfortless beings,
apparently the outcasts of nature and
civilization, the moulding, the guidance
and hopes of the gospel THE gloomy
fact must be admitted, that but little has
yet been done. Pious and devoted Catho-
lick missionaries have carried their lives
in their hands, have renounced all earthly
hopes, and have lived and died among
them, to carry them the gospel. The
Protestants have not been behind them in
these labours Of love. But after the lapse
of more than a century, scarcely an adult
savage can be found, west of the Missi-
sippi, who will pronounce himself Chris
tan. There are many that have crosses
suspended from their necks, which they
show, as they do their medals. They
seem to think that the profession of Chris
tianity gives them additional claims upon
US. While we were writing, some APP
palachy Indians applied to the Judge of the
district where we resided for redress.
They spoke of the aIleded outrage in
terms of indignant feeling. Nous SOM
mes bdptises,' we have been baptized, said
they; and appeared to feel, as if this gave
the outrage greater enormity. We are
sure that if any effort can have marks of
moral ho-oisn,, aud IIobfeuess of scifatfe-
votion beyond another, the selEdevotion of
missionaries among the savages is the no
blest of all. Surely, if any merit earnest
wishes and prayers for their success, it
must be those men, who have left the pre-
cincts of every thing, that is desirable in
life, to go into these solitudes, and take
in hand these uniformed children of ma
ture.
There are some circumstances which
invest the present missionary efforts with
stronger probabilities of success than
any that have preceded them. The num-
Der of Indians that are half breeds, or
mixtures of the blood of the whites, is
great, and continually increasing. These
generally espouse, either from conviction,
or from party feeling, the interests of civ
ilization and Christianity. 1t is more
universally than it once was a conviction
that Christianity is the religion of social
and civilized man. Instead of relying
much on the hope of the conversion of
adult hunting and warrior savages, the eff
fort is chiefly directed towards the young.
Schools, the loom, the anvil, the plough,
are sent to them. Amidst the comfort,
stability and plenty of cultivation, they
are to be imbued with taste for our in
situations, arts, industry, and religion, at
the same time. Every benevolent man
viii wish these efforts of benevolence all
possible success"
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