Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-09

KVPV
been led to look upon as unus, and indifferent to
their fate Thus. though lavish in its expenditures
upon the subject Government has cons anlly defeat
cd its policy; and the Indians general recedinp
further aud further into the West have reained their
savage habits. portion however, of the Southern
tribes, having mingled much with the whites and
made some progress IN the arts OF civilized life, have
lately attempted TO erect an indie pendent government
hin tho limits Of Grorria aud Alapnnn Jhosc
States. claiming to be- the only Suveraiens wi.hlnI
Their territories. cx end heir law, over the Indians
@"e" i"uu'ed 'he natter To call upon the T. States
HrP otcction
Unur ~ sc Circumstances, the question presented
was, whether the neral Cove, unrnt had Il right
L! sustain those people IN ih'ir pre;c ls,onS1 The
Constitution declares that mo new State shall be
formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any her
Sta-c, WI bout the consent of It's Legislature. IT.
The Gcnerai Government is not permitted to tolerate
the erection of confederate State within the terri
tory OF one OF ihe members of tins Union against her
Consent, Ruch less could il allow foreign aud indie
pendant government 10 es'uUsh Itself there. Gror-
gia became inemdcr OF the Crniedcr0cy which
ventuatCd IN ic lcral union n sovereign 81 Ite
always usSrr ing hcT claim certain limits which.
having BEEN originally defined in her colonial cha-
ter aud subsequently recognized in the treaty of
peace, she has contin. I'd To eniov eyrert
they have en- cIrcunSc 'ibrd bv her own vountn-
~ transfer of portion Of her terri otv To- the United
states in the articles of ces,ion OF 1902. Alabama
admitted into the Union on the same fulinr with
thc Original States, with boundaries which were pres
Cribcd by Congress. There no constitutional con-
venional. or legal provision, whic! allows them less
power over the Indians within tn in borders than is
possessed by Maine New York. Would the pco.
pie of Maine permit the Peno6scot tribe To erect an
Independent Government within their State! and
unless they did, woAld it be h duty of the Gen.
cral government To support them in resisting such
IN a'ure: Would the people Of New York permit
each remnant of the six Nations within her borders
t. declare itself Independent reopc under the pro-
lection OF the United States Could the Indians es-
tablish separate republic each If their rcscrvn-
tions IN Ohio? And If they were So d.sposrL would
i be the duty of this Government 10 protect then, in
the attempt the principle involyc in the Obvious
answer To these quest ms be- abandoned, It vii FOL
low that the objects of his Cove uincnt ire rcvcrse
and that i; has become part o duty aid in d.
stroying the States which it established to pro-
tcct
Actunted b. this view ofth, subject informed
TIC indians inhabitlng pUrs Of ti"urgu and Alabama
that their attrmp to establish an independent cov.
crnmcnt wnnld nut hc cont-nlncCd by tic Executive
OF the United States, and advised hem To euIigrafc
byond the Mississippi, or submit to tie laws ofihose
States.
Our conduct towards these people is d-cnIv inter-
csing to- national character. Their present
condition, contrast"d with what they once wore
makes most powerful appeal TO orr syrnpathics-
Our ancestors found them The uncon'rolrd POSSES
scrS of these at reg ons BY persuo ion and force
they have been made retire from river Ia river
aud from m1uutain 10 mountain, until some of tho
tribes have become extinct and oihcts have len
nut remnants TO preserve, for while, thor once
terrible names. Surrounds - he whites, with
their arts of civilization, which bv DESTROYING tn, re-
sources of the savage doom him TO wlckedncss and
decay, the fate of the Mohegan, he Nirraransc;t
ana the Delaware, IS fast oy"rtakng the Choctaw
tle Cherokee, and the Crock. That this fate sure
ly awaits them, If they remain within the limits of
the States, does not admit of doubt Humanity
and national honor demand that every effort should
be made avert great n calamity L. i ton la, -
~ inquire whether il just ~ the United - MOS
to include them and their territory wi lin The bounds
Of the new States whose limits they could CONTROL
That step cannot be rotraccd State cannot be
disncmbcred by Congress, or restricted in the ex-
ercise Of her constitutional power. But the people
Of these States, aud Of every State acuated by feel
ings of justice and regard for our national honor
submit To you the inter 'stng question whether some
thing cannot be done, consistently with the riphts
OF the States, to preserve this much injured race?
AS means of e6eclmg this end suggest for
your consideration, the propricty of setting apart
ample district West of the Mississippi, and with
out the limits of any State or Territory, now form
ed, to be guaranteed TO the Indian trbs as long rs
they shall occupy II: each tribe having distinct
control over the portion designated for It's use
There they may BE- secured in the enIoymcr, of gay
crnments of their choice, subject to no other
control from the United States, than such as may he
necessary to preserve peace the frontier and be
tween the several trbus There the benevolent
may endeavour to teach them the arts of civilizations:
and by promoting union and harmony among them to
raise up an interesting commonwealth destined to
perpetuaie the race, and TO attest the humanity and
justice of this Government.
This emlgra ion should be voluntary: for it would
be as cruel as unjust to snpel the aboripincs 10 a.
bandon thu graves of their fathers, and seek home
IN
formed that, It they remain within the limits Of The
States they must b. subject to- their laws. In rc-
turn for their obedience, individuals they will
without doubt be protected in the enjoyment of
those possessions which they have improved by their
industry. But it seems TO visionary 10 suppose
that, in this Ftute ofthngs claims can be allowed on
tracts of country on which they have neither dwell
nor made improvements, merely because they have
them from the uiGJntuin, or pissed them in
the chace Submit ling to the laws Of the States
and receiving like other citizens, protection in their
persons and property, they viii, ere long become
merged in the mass W orr population.
The accompanying report olthc Secretary Of the
Navy will make ynu acquainted with the condition
and useful employment Of that branch Of our scr-
vice. during The present year. Constituting. AZ II
docs, the b'st standing security Of this county a.
gainst foreign aggression, II claims ;hc especial at
tenton Of Government. tn this spirit the measures
winch, since the termination of the last war, nave
been ~ operation for its gradual enlargement, were
adoPtedi and u should continue tO he cherished az
the offspring OF our national experience. II will be-
seen, however, that, Notwithstanding the great soil
ma 1f.lf ,rt ,,t r.,,.fc