Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-12-15

asked. "
Your particular attention is requested to
that part OF the report of the Secretary of
War which relates to the money held in
trust for the Seneca tribe of Indians, II
will be perceived that, without Legislative
aid, the Executive cannot obviate the EN-.
barrassments occasioned by the diminu-
ton ofthe dividends on that fund which
originally amounted to one hundred thous.
and dollars, and has recently been invest
ed IN United States three per cent. stock.
The condition and Interior destiny of
the Indian tribes within the limits of some
OF our States have become objects Of
much interest and importance. 1t has
long been the policy of Government to in
troduce among them the arts of civiliza-
ton, in the hope Of gradually recIaiming
them from wandering life. This policy
has, however, been coupled with another.
wholly incompatible with its success.
Protesting desire to civilize and settle
them, we have, at the same time, lost no
opportunity to purchase their lands and
thrust them further into the wilderness.
By this means they have not only been
kept in wandering state, but been led to
look upon US as unjust and Indifferent to
their fate. Thus, though lavish in its
expenditures upon the subject, Govern
ment has constantly defeated its own poll
cy; and the Indians in general receding
further and further to the West, have re-
tanned their savage habits. A portion,
however, of the Southern tribes, have
mingled much with the whites, and made
some progress in the arts of civilized life,
have lately attempted to erect an inde-
pendent government within the limits of
Georgia and Alabama. These States.
claiming to be the only Sovereigns within
their territories, extended their laws over
the Indians; which induced the latter to
call upon the United States for protection.
Under these circumstances, the ques-
ton presented was, whether the General
Government bad right to sustain those
people in their pretensions The Con-
stitution declares that emo new State
shall be formed or erected within the iu-
isdiction of any other State, without the
consent of its Legislature. If the Gener-
al Government is not permitted 10 toler.
ate the erection of confederate State
within the territory of one of the MEM
bers Of this Union, against her consent,
much less could it allow foreign and
independent government 10 establish itself
there. Georgia became a member of the
Confederacy which eventuated in our
federal union, as sovereign State, al
ways asserting her claim to certain limits,
which, having been originally defined in
her colonial charter, and subsequently re-
cognised in the treaty of peace, she has
ever since continued to enjoy, except as
they have been circumscribed by her own
voluntary transfer of a portion of her ter
ritory to the United States, in the articles
of cession of 1902. Alabama was admit
ted into the Union on the same footing
with the original States, with boundaries
which were prescribed by Congress.
There is no constitutional, convention
al, or legal provision. which allows them
less power over the Indians within their
borders, than is possessed by. Maine or
New-York. Would the people of Maine
permit the Penobscot tribe to erect an In
dependent Government within their State ?
And unless they did, would it not be the
duty OF the General Government to sup
port them in resisting such measure
Would the people Of New-York permit
each remnant of the Six Nations within
her borders, to declare itself an independ-
ent people, under the protection Of the
United States :! Could the Indians es-
tabllsh separate republick on each of
their reservations in Ohio? And if they
were SO disposed, would it be the duty of
tins Government to protect them in the
attempt If the principle involved in
the obvious answer to these questions be
abandoned, it will follow that the objects
of this Government are reversed and
that it has become part of its duty to aid
IN destroying the States which it was es-
taDilshed to protect.
Actuated BY this view of the subject,
informed the Indians nhabiting parts of
Georgia and Alabama that their attempt
10 establish an independent government
would not be countenanced by the Exec
ltive of the United States. and advised
hem To- emigrate beyond the Mississippi,
Or submit TO the laws of those States.
Our conduct towards these people is
deeply interesting to our national charac-
Ter. Their present condition, contrasted
with that they once were, makes a most
powerful appeal to our sympathies. Our
ancestors found them the uncontrolled
oossessors ofthese vast regions. By per-
'uasion and force they have been made
% retire from river TO river, and from
mountain to mountain, until some of the |
RIDES have become extinct, and others
lave left but remnants to preserve, for