Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-11

letters. by your permission. 10 Governor Ca.s and
Cen CLARK. individuals alike distinguished Cor rem
eIai intelligence and great experience i'm InIi n
ahairs inviting their attendance at The Seat OF Go
vernment, for the purpose Of aiiing the Depart
ment in preparing the con.emplated systen, NJ re-
gusiions. They have both arrived. and are en-.
gagged on the work. which il is confidently expcct-
ed, VIII be completed IN time 10 be submitted TO,
and receive the deliberate consideration OF, Con
gress, during the commencing session.
While oil the subject Of Indian affairs, should
feel that did not discharge my whole duty were
| TO t'eglect TO call the atrn on Of the Government,
TO the eNpediency, it MT absolute necessity, OF
| more clearly defining. by legislative enac,tnr nts
the mature OF the relations by which we are ,o
stand allied to the Indian tribes; and especially 70
prescribe what, az between them and ourselves
shall be the reciprocal rights, both of property and
government, over the vast tracts of country which
they claim and inhabit.
Att commencement Of our present Govern
ment, these tribes, with few inconsid.rsbi, excep
tions occupied u country in the interior far beyond
the range OF our population and our relations with
them were the simple ones which exist between
remote and independent nations, they were ra
ther the relations oil war; and most OF our inter
course with them was carried on through the Off
GERS OF the Army, stationed along our frontier
posts; and 1t was, probably, to the posture in which
we then stood in regard to them, that the W ar
Department was irst indebted for the Superintc n
dency OF Indian Affairs. Since that period, our
white population in its rapid and irresistible pro-
gress to the West, has been sweeping past and
around thsm until now, a large proportion of
these tribes are actually embosomed within the
organized and settled parts of our States and Ter
ritories. In the meantime, we have been enter
ing into treaties with Them not Of peace merely,
but OF property of intercourse and trade; and have
actually contracted between them and ourselves
most OF the complicated relations which appertan
to the municipal state, without, however, having
fixed the boundaries of the authority by which
these relations shall be controlled.
" lille some of our citizens, who are the aivo-
Gates OF primitive and imprescripiible rights in
their broadest extent, contend that these tribes
are independent nations, and have the sole and ex
elusive right TO the property and government of
the territories they occupy, others consider them
az mere tenants at will, subject like the buffalo of
the prairies, to be hunted from their country
whenever il may suit our interest or convenience
70 aGe possession OF IT, These views of their right.
and disabilities are equally extravagan and un-
Just but the misfortune is, that the intermediate
line has never been drawn by the Government
Nothing can BE- more clear, to one who has mark
ed The progress oil population and Improvement,
ana Is conversant with the principles Of human ac-
ton than that these Indians will not be permitted 10
hold the reservations on which they live within
the States, by their present tenure, for any consi
nerahle period. Ii, indeed, they were not dis
tnrebd in their possessions BY us il would be inn
possible for them long TO subsist, as they have
heretofore DONE by the chase, as their game is al
ready so much diminished, to render it frequent
iy necessary TO furnish them with provisions, i'm
order TO save them from starvation In their pre-
sent destitute and deplorable condition, and which
is constantly growing helpless, it would seem
to be no, only the right, but the duty Of the Co
veTninen', to take them under its paternal care;
and to exercise. over their persons and property,
the salutary rights and duties of guardianship
he most prominent feature in the present poll
cy of the Government. as connected with these
people, il 10 be found in the efforts that are making
TO remove them beyond the limits OF The States and
Territories.
very extensive tract Of country, lying to the
" est and North OF the Arkansas Territory, re
markable for salubrity of climate fertility of soil
AID profuson of game, has lately been set apart Tor
the colonization OF the Indians. Liberal pecu-
mary inducements have been offered by Congress
TO emigrants. and many have already embraced
the offer But the ultimate succe of this project
has been grea!y endangered, and may yet De de-
teated, by the operation of another prominent mea-
sure OF Government. which, although suggested
ny the most humane motives, comes in direct con-
iict with the plan OF colonization.
The annual appropriation of $40 900 TO the pur-
poses OF educating Indian children, and teaching
them the mechanic arts, has had the effect
to draw 10 almost every Indian reservation, in adj
dition to The agents and interpreters, considcra
bic number OF missionaries and teachers, with
their families, who having acquired, principally
nv the aid Of this fund, very comfortable establish
Inents, are unwilling 20 be deprived OF them ny
the removal OF the Indians; and thus, we have
found, that, while the agents specially employed
by the Government for this purpose are engaged
in persuading, by profuse distributions of money
and presents, the Indians 10 emgrate, another sell
oil government agents are operating, more secret
y. to be sure, but not with less zeal and effect TO
prevent such emigration.
ihese remarks are not intended as a personal
reflection on the missionaries and teachers much
less on the pious and respectable patrons OF these
benevolent institutions, who, no doubt, are dis
posed to lend ready support to every humane
measure which tie Government may think prop
er TO adopt in favor Of these depressed people: but
are rather intended TO show the natural and una
voldabic tendency OF the system itself TO counter
act the leading policy Of the Government
u the project OF colonization be wise one, and
OF uuS, ociieve no one Anirr'ainS doubt, why
not shape all our laws and treaties TO the attain
ment OF that object, and inpart TO them and eff
riencY that will be sure TO effecti,,
Let such Of the emgratine Indians as choose
it continue, as heretofore, n dovot" Themselves
to The chase. ia country whore their tolls will
he amply rewarded. Let those who are WILLING
10 cultivate the arts of civilization he forrnd into
colony, consisting Of distinct tribes or cornmu-
mites, but placed contiguous 10 each other and con-
nected by general laws, which shall reach the
whole. Let the lands be apnoriioned among fam
HES ana individuals IN seyeraty, TO he held by the
same tenures by which we hold ours, with per-
iIaps some temporary and wholesome restraints
on the power OF alienation. Assist them in form
ing and administering code OF laws adapted to
state OF civilization. Let the S 10000 appropria-
ton be applied, within the new colony exclusive
ly, to the same objects for which il is now expend-
ed; and add 10 IL. from time 10 time so much OF
our other annual contributions as can be thus au-
piled without violation of public fifth
In regard TO such Ind ms as shall still remain
within the States, and refuse to emigratc. let an
arrangement be made with the proper authotities
oil the respective States n which they situated.
fer partiiioning out 10 them in severalty as much
nj 1tair ,ufst, a.