Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-03

parriciue:
More than once, however, in the progress ~
our history, have the People and The Iepi,l,'
lures Of one or more States, in moments Of ~.
element, been instisated to this conhic,: and
the means Of effec,ing thi, impulse have beer,
allegations that the acts Of Congress TO be r.
sisted were unconstitutional. The People Of M
one STATE have ever. delegated 10 their LeeisI,.
ture the power Of pronouncing an act Of Con,
sress UNCONSTITUTIONAL; but they have delee,tr5
to them powers by the exercise Of which n.
execution Of the laws Of Congress within N,
Stale my be resisted. IL we suppose the cas-.
Of such conflicting legislation sustained by II,
CORE nonding Executive and Judicial author.
tiles, Patriotism and Philanthropy turn the,
eyes from the condition in which the par,iss
would be placed, and from that Of the Deone
OF both, which must be its victims.
The Reports from the Secretary OF War
and from the various subordinate offices Of N.
resort Of thar Department, present an expos,
lion Of The public administration Of affairs con.
nected with them, through the course of n.
current year. The present state Of the army
and the distribution Of the force of which il Is
composed, will be seen from the Repor, Of H..
Major General. Several alterations in the dis.
posal Of the troops have been found exppden
in the course Of The year, and the discipline Of
the army, though not entirely flee rom e1cep
ton, has been generally good
The attention OF Congress is particularly in,
,ied to that par, Of the Report of the Secr,.
tary Of War which concern. he existing system
Of our relations with the Indian tribes the
establishment Of the Federal Go, eminent, uu>
der the present Constitution Of the United
States, the principle was adopted Of consIde.
ing :ham a, foreign and independent powers
ond also as proprietors OF lands They were
moreover, considered as savages, whom it was
our policy and our duty to usc our inAurnce in
converting to christianity, and in bringing
within the pale Of civilization.
As Independent Powers, we negotiate with
them by trea.irs, as proprietors, we purchased
of them all he lands which we could prevail
| upon them to SELL as brethren Of the human
race, rude and ignorant, we endeavored to brns
them to the knowledge Of religion and OF LEI,
trrs. The ultimate de.Ign was to incorporate
in our own institutions tina, portion of them
which could be converted 10 the state Of civil,
zation. In the practice of Europeun States.
before our Revolution, they had been consider.
ed as children TO be governed; as tenant. a:
discretion, to be dispossessed as occasion nigh!
require; as hunters 10 be Unidentified by trfng
concessions for removal from the grounds up,
on which their game was extirpa,ed. In chang,
ing the system, it would seem as if full con,
temptation of The consequences Of the change
had not been taken. We have seen far mere
successful in the acquisition Of their lands
than in impariing to them the principles, Or
inspiring them with the spirit Of civilization.
But in appropriating 10 ourselves their hunt
ing grounds, we have brought upon ourselves
the obligation Of providing them with subssl.
encr, anu when have had The rare good
fortune OF teaching them The arts of cisiliza>
| ton, aud the doctrines Of christianity, We have
unexpectedly found them forming, in the mids.
of ourselves, communities claiming 10 be inds
pendent Of ours, and rivals Of sovereignty
within the territories Of the members Of our
Union. This sta'e Of things requires that 4
remedy should be provided. A remedy which,
while it shall do justice to those unfortunate
children OF nature, may secure TO the members
Of our confederation their rights Of sovereign,
! " and Of soil. AS the outline of project 10
that EFFECT, the views presented in The Report
Of tn. Secretary OF War are recommended to
The consideration Of Congress
The Report from the Engineer Deparlmsr:
presents comprehensive view Of The progress
| which has been made in the grea, systns
promotive Of the public interest, commend
and organized under the authority Of Congress
and the effects Of which have already eonrl'
buted TO the security, as they will bereaiei
largely contribute to the honor and dignity Of
| the nation.
The frs, Of these great systems is ,ha, Of
iorti6cationa, commenced Immediately afti
the close Of our last war, under the salu'aT
experience which The events Of that war haG
Impressed upon our coun,IJmen Of its neces'
sity Introduced under the auspices Of my I'M
me diaie predecessor; it has been continued WITH
the persevering and liberal encouragement o.
the legislature; and combined with CORES
ponding exer,ions for the gradual increase and
improvement Of the Navy, prepares Tor our
extensive country a condition Of defence adap!>
ed to any critical emergency which The varying
course Of events may bring forth. Our 40,
vances in these concerted systems have Tor 'nS
last ten years been steady and progressive, a'G
in few years more will be so completed as"
leave no cause for apprehension that our So
Coast will ever again offer theatre oil ho'"''
invasion.
The next Of these Cardinal measures Of po"'
md