Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-09


Considering it an act Of legislation, I suspend
I'd S operation as soon as ] was informed tina
it had commenced. Before this period, how
ever, apple ions under the new regulation:
had been preferred, 20 the number of ONE hun.
dred and 6fty-four; of which, o. the 27h oil
March, the date offs revocation, eighty seven
were admitted. For the amount, trere was
neither estimate nor appropris alton land besides
tins deficiency, the regular allowances, accord
ing 20 the rules which have here ofore govern
ed the Department, exceed ,hr estimate of its
late Secretary. by abou, Fifty thousand dollars:
for which an appropriation is asked
Your particular attention is requested TO ,ha,
part of the report of the Secretary of War
which relates % The money held in tru.t for
the Srneca tribe of Indisns. II will be perceived
that, without legislative aid, the Executive can
not obvia,e the embarrassmeGts occasioned by
the diminu ion Of the dividends ON that fund ;
which originally announced to enc hundred
thousand dollars, and has recently been invest.
ed IN United states three per cent. stock.
The condition and ulerior destiny Of the In.
dian Tribes within the limits Of some Of our
States, have become objec,s Of much interest
and importance. 1t has long beru the policy
Of Government TO Introduce among them the
arts Of civilization, in the hope OF gradually
retaining Them from wandering life This
policy has, however, been coupled with another
wholly incompatible with its success Profrs-
sing desire to oivilize and settle them, We
have, at the same time, lost no opportunity 10
purchase their land and thrust them further in
20 the wilderness. By this means they have
nor only been kept in wandering state, hui
Seen led to look upon US as unjust and indifft-
rent to their fate. Thus, though lavish in its
expenditures upon this subject, Governm. ut
has constantly defeated its own policy; and he
indians in general receding further and further
TO the West, have retained their savage HABITS.
4 portion, however, Of the Southern tribes,
having mingled much with the whites, and
mace some progress in the arts Of civilized life
have lately attempted 10 erect On indep' ndent
government, within the limits oil Georgia aud
Alabama. These States, claiming 10 be the
only Sovereigns within their territories, ex-
tended their laws over the Indians; which It's
ducrd the later TO call upon the UnInd States
for proie
Under these circu an,es, the question pre-
senied was, whether the general Government
mad a right TO sus' ain those people in their pre-
tensions! The Constitution declares. thai "nn
new S ave shall be formed or erec,ed within ,be
Jurisdiction Of any other State" without The
c0uscn, Of is Legislature. Ii the General CO.
vernmtnt is not permitted 10 tolerate the erec-
ton Of confederate State within the teIri,ory
of on OF The IN mbrrs of this Union, against
her consent, muc n less could il allow fore gu
md ind prndcn' government TO establish Itself
there Geofg aecame member 81 he Con
rederacy which even,uated ~ our federal union
IS sovereign STATE, always asserting her
claim 10 GER ain limits; whic having been or
N Il. II, kG. al oh. md
suns, qu-n,iy recognised in The treaty Of peace,
she has ever since con inued 10 enjoy, except
as thew have been circumscrbed by her own
voluntary transfer Of a portion OF her Ter
ri,ory to The Uni!rd States, IN the arli-
cles Of &c ssion Of 500. AL rbama was admitted
into the union on the same footing with hr or
ipinal S,ates, with boundaries which were pre-.
,crlbed by Congress. There is 10 constitution
al, C. venlionai, or legal provision, which al,
lows hem less power over the ln1ans within
ter ho,tegs. than is possessed by Name or
New York. Would he people Of Maine per.
nit he Pepobsco, ,ribe To erect an lndcren
de nj Govprnmtn, within heir ae? AID unless
they did, would il not be the duty OF he Gen
r,ai Government TO support hem in resisting
such a me lsurel Houd the people at New
York perm't'each remnant OF The SIX Ni'lHn,
within her bort er. 20 declare itself IN ~ DEEPEN
dent people uuGrr the pr"tec'lon ut 'hr Ublt-
ed States! Could the indians rsab ish a Sc
pars,e republic On each of their reser' atoms II"
Ohio? And if ,hev we're 30 disposed, would 1t
be ,he duly Of this G".ernment 20 protect
IN, m in the a,,emaH II IN. 2rlocipie involved
la The obvious an wrr To those Questions be a
band med, 1t will follow 'ha, he objects Of this
Governments arr reversed; and hat II hiss be-
come par, Of is day" aid IN destroying the
State which it was established 20 proIrcl.
Ac,ua,ed by this view of the subject, ! in
formed the InGians inhabi,Ing paris OF Georgia
and Alabama ina, their attempt 20 establish an
independent government would no, he counie-
nanced by the Executive Of the United States,
and advised ,h.m to emigra,e beyond he Ms
si,sippi, or submit TO the laws of those States.
Gu, CONDUCT towards these people Is deeply
interesting to our ma ional characlee. Their
present condition, contrasted with what they
once were, makes a mos powerful appeal rc
our sympathirs. Oar ancestors found hem
the IN, on,rolled possessos OF these vast re-.
pions. By persuasion and force. they have been
= L. -, rs,irs from river IN rivpr and from