Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-27
u,DGE sroRY's CENTENNIAL AID
DRESS,


saws the Salem Observer, when he descanted
on the "ooor Indians" lot, will not forget, with
what intense interest they accompanied, him
throu oh the scenes, which make up the follow
ing beautiful picture.
There is indeed, in the fate of these unfor-
,unate beings, much to awaken our sympathy,
and much 10 disturb the sobriety OF our Juds-
mept. much which may be urged to excuse
their own atrocities; much in their characters
which betrays US into involuntary admiration,
VIVA, can be more melancholy than their his
tory? By law Of their nature they seem oes-
tined 10 a slow, but sure extinction. Every
who're a, the approach OF the white man, they
sade away. We hear the rustling OF their loot
sr.ns. like that of the wi,hered leaves oil au-
,ump. and they al gone for ever. They pass
mournfulIy by US, aud they return no more
Two centuries ago, the smoke oil their wig"ams
and the fires Of their councils rose In every val
lev from Hudson's Bay 10 the tarthest Florida.
from the ocean TO the Mississippi and the lakes
The shouts Of victory aud the war dance
rung through the mountains and the s:aoes.
The thick arrows and the deadly tomaha"k
wb;srl,d thro' the forrest, s. the hunters trace
and The dark encampment startled the wild
beasts TO their lairs. The warriors stood forth
in their glory The young listened to the songs
Of other DAYS. The mothers played with their
infants s. eazed on The scene with warm hopes
of the f,ture. The aged sat down: but they
wr,t not. They should soon be al rest in faii-
.. rev;ons wht re- the Great Spirit dwels, in
nome prepared for the brave beyond the Yves
tern skies. Braver men never lived, truer men
never drew the bow. They had courage, and
fori,ude, and sagacity, and perseverance be-
yona most of the human race. They shrunk
from no dangers, and they feared no hardship.
m they had the vices OF savage life they had
the virtues also. They were true 10 their tribe,
their friends, and their homes. If they forgot
rr,.iaiiary- peither did they forge, kndness.-
generosity was unconqaefapIe slso. i heir
hate stopped not on this side oil Inc grave
But where are they! Where are the villages,
and warriors, and youth? The sachems and
the ,ribe.l-The hunters and their families?-
rhey have persisted. They are consumed
The wasting pes,iience has not alone done the
m,ob,y work. No,-nor famine, nor war.
There has been a mighlier power, moral cans
ker which hath eaten into the heart cores-a
plague which the touch Of white man COM
inunicated-a poison, which BETRAYED them in
to lingering ruin.-The winds OF the Atlan>
tic fan not a single region, which they may
now call their own. Already the last feeble
remnants Of the race are preparing Tor their
tourney beyond the Mississippi l SEE Them,
leave their miserable homes, the aged, the
heiplsss. .he women, and the warriors, few *
faint. vet fearless stili' The ashes are cold on
their native hearths.-The smoke no longer
curls round their lowiy cabins. They move on
with slow unsteady step. The white man Is
upon their heels, for terror or despatch; out
thew heed him not. They turn to take last
look Of their deserted villages. They cast a
last glance upon the graves OF their iathefs.-
,hoxy
hraye no groans There is something IN their
hearts which passes speech. There is some
thing in their look, not Of vengeance or sub
mission; but Of hard necessity, which STILES
both: which has no aim or method II is cour-
age absorbed in despair They fingered but
for momen,,-Their look is onward. They
have passed the fatal stream. II shall never
be repsssed by them,-no never. Yet there
lies not between US and them, an unpassable
gull. They know and feel, that there is tor
Them still one remove father, rot distant, nor
unseen. 1t is to The general burial ground OF
their race.
Reason as we may, II is impossible not to
read in such fate, much, that we know not
how to interpret; much Of provoca'ion to cruel
deeds and deep resentments; much OF apology
for wrong and per6dy; much OF pie,y mingiing
with Indignation; much Of doubt and misgiv-
inps as to the past: much of painful recoliec-
tions; much Of dark torbeoding. Il
This eloouen, review Of our early history
concludes with an inquiry, which "went home
10 the bosoms" Of all who heard, "tchdt IS to
be The desiiny of this Repu6hc9" Notwithstand-
ing the very liberal quotations which we have
already made from this discourse, we cannot
w;,hsold from the reader the reflections which
this interesting question excited in the mind of
the speaker.
When we reflect on what has been, and is,
how is it possible not to feel aproiound sense
of the responsibilities Of this republic to all tu-
,ure ages What motives press upon US for
lofy efforts. What brilliant prospects invite
our enthusiasm. What solemn warnings at
once demand our vigilance and moderate our
confidence.
Tn. old world has already revealed to US in
ire unseaIed bucks the beginning and end Of all
IFS own marvellous struggles in the cause OF