Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-09-04
SpOHTTIGAMo

~ of the Indian Board the emigration, preserve
ton and improvement of the Abor igines of America
~ The head oi which is the Hon stephen Van Itenssc-
iacr The objects OF lhis Board sufficiently and
correctly designated by its title.
IL Is not 20 be Disguised that public sentiment is -
present much divided the interesting and very i'm
portan' question, what is TO h, of the remaining
hborignes OF this country? On the side, is ccu@
teuded bat they ought 10 remain where they now ac
while the ohtr il is urged, hat they ought 10 re
beyond the Mississippi, where the general gov
offer to provide them land fee TO erect
them into territory with their form OF government
and TO extend TO them parental guardianship Tor 'ciT
preservation aud improvement The latter plan, u Is
believed, has the cSunieneGcc aud sanction oil the pre-
sent Executive.
Both parties agree in the gcnerai posi,io; taat ms
permanent welfare OF the Indian trhcsis the great
Ject in view; they differ only TO tho best OF
accomplishing IT. There certain subordinate points
about which II would honest difference vi oIn-
ion hardly exist; such instance as that no force
Is TO be used 10 compel removal, that since the trst
discovery of ,his country the Indian population has
iy decreased and is in danger of total cxtincion,
and that the erection of separate government by the
Aborgines within the territorial limits OF any of the
listing States, never be tolerated. This would h.
"'PT."" az WPeFt0,a sovereignty wIthih so''-
regtity. which no civilized government can sanction,
as IT would oh iously contain the elements of perps at
turmoil, il not of seli-destruction.
IL Is not pretended that th hasty sketch presents a
full view OF this very Interesting question. Whatever
course may be adopted, il he free from serious
embarras ments, and national character probably
Will in the estimate OF cnlig hened poserity, be ma,ci
aiiv involved in the issue.
Those who wish for further information, are invited
IL
tanning address delivered Icy Col. Ni'Kenny tho
Indian department. during the last week, before the
Board at public meeting of our citizens. This eo-
quent and judcious address, il is understood, is in
cordance with the views OF the national executive IL
contains much use fl information, and the of
reasoning which i, adopts, and the deductions which,
1t makes appear to be both candid and conclusive.
The idea OF removing the Indians from their long-es
iablished homes, their accustomed hunting grounds,
and ie sepulchres Of her and placing them
IN lar distant land IL calculated AT FIRST view make
an uniaVornbIc impression upon an ingenious mind. <
correct and full view OF the subject becomes nispen-
SABLE, IN order to remove this impression and SUBJ
siute in its place conviction OF the Justice and expe
dtency IF the measure recommended This informa-
non VIII he found embodied in the address in manner
both pleasing and orchle and probably salstacto
~ Than can be elsewhere found nv y. E. Post
Extract from the Address deiirered by Col aPRen-
Ney, an y: York on the l2h .dugast, 1929, in pvr
sttdncc Of dreSoi,On of"Ihe Indian Board for the
Emigration, Preservation, and Improvement Of the
.fboyigineS Of .ancY cd.''
lher- problems. which in the language of 4
distinguished citizen al Virginia remain ed vet 10 he
Soived-both having, far, puzzled ingenuity OF
the politician and bafed tn wisdom of the SAGE one
OF these relates TO the black population in our toom;
the other TO the red population, back. Tho TO-
quiry is how shall we, upon principles Of sound policy.
work cut solutions that shall provide remedy for the
evils oi the one and plan for the civilization aud pre-
SCI walton OF the other These questions it must be
admitted OF grave import They full cf interest,
ana demand the unrng eSCTtion OF the wise and good
70 answer them practically, and satisfactorily.
onr business on the present occasion, is with rcd
populaion-the remains Of once lofty, and indenen-
dent hut now degraded racea people who arc in all
respects entitled ympates, and not 20 ours on
~ but those also, OF the civilized world Any appeal
which can be made in behalf of the Aborigines of A.
merica, we consider entitled TO the privilege of pass-
ing, not the bounds of neiGhborhood only. & Of tho
republic Every heart. matter what spoil of cart!
pnlsaes must feel, il have become humanized the
deepest interest in any proposition that looks their res
cue from the savage and elevation into the civilized ana
Christina state
Nothing, think, can be more clear, Than that
there has been, and yet ia something radically atali
A. ~ oil afint,a 4. a..
pie We have seen that jealous efforts were made in
times past, aud with villa, effect, reform them Ana
our knowledge Of those of later times insties the
conclusion, That has been avourte design Of orr gov
eminent, and large portion citizens TO impTov
their destiny That spirit enimaes the councils of this
haon at this moment; and Is more extensively felt a.
mong citizens than ct any other period. Tie faber
OF his country scarcely seated in the chair of state
eore he fixed kind and constant eve upon L;s raJ
children He counsel!ed them zealously, and with
wisdom equalled only by lis benevolencc These
couhses sustained by large appropriations of money 10
make them, ii possible effective have been continued la
ihis day, by every succeeding President, and by al
most every Congress, varying only in some instances
oihe course which under all circumstances cons
dered best for the Indian pursue But the great oec,
has been the same in ALTO make better, not wors.,
their condition. Those plans OF improve nen however
could never have contemplated the carving ont from
tie members Of our confcderacy against Their ,,:j;
portions Of their territory which separate and
independent Indian states. No such design could have
been medated; and apart from all abstract reasonn on
the subject the Indication OF lite years NAV be rc
ierred to, as demonstrating that if it had been II u,,
not III accordance win Ptihcr The OF inst
tons or the prosperity of Inc Indians. And IL NAV he
assumed thai whatever system shall not harrponze win,
The sckuowl edged prime pcs OF union must he dr.
JeciirC; and 10 suppose that any weaker power coulJ
withstand their opposing actions would be adverse NOT
only to conceptions Of The high bearing of cur svs
TEN upoa tc hopes and destiny of man bat 20 our no
ons OF the relations Of power, and applicable TO Tho
resent question, altogether unreasonable. AS well
might IL be assumed q right inherent in the Seneca
and the other REGIMENTS Of Tribes Of This state 10 orec
themselves into soyereignties, anJ under
a constitution and lave Of their own, exercise The cor
responding attributes and thus attempt the invasion 6r
Ue sovereignty of Ills STATE fer The same Iight In
be argued ia favor Of any one all of the fragments OF
tribes residing within the Jurisdiction of The states in
the sch The question j. cmbarfas ing bur the bear.
ing OF IT, in any emergency in which Che angry feelings
fnay DO excited Is wholly upon the Indians; hence tie
constant anxiety which has manifested itself every
where but especially in government 10 devise eopS
plan That should maintain :he harmony Of our beou1jf,1
SYSTEM and save laosc who irur the pecuIinrfvo
relations, every day liable 10 come into coor ..
B and from the fatal consequences, to them Of s,,cb 49,
event "'
In message of The President of The Jo;,sd &C..
TO Congress IN 1875. may be seen the evidence f -
anxieiy-'Bcing deeply impressed SAYS the r,cs,,
with The opinion That the removal OF tile Indian trii
from nc lands which they occupy within die Inn
us OF TIC several states anl territories 10 the coinfr
lying westward aud nOrthward thereof within our ar
knowlcdRed boundades, is Of very high Importance r.
our Union, and may be accomplished conditions aud
w manner 10 promote lie interests and happiness a;
hese iibes; the attention oG the government has Lcrr
OHg Os0tcn, with qTCdS sOliciftfdc. 10 ffe suhect a.