The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-09-02
WORCESTER:
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 1929.

The INDIANS. We continue the publication,
from the National Intelligencer, of the numbers
on the present crisis in the condition of the
American Indians" and would commend them
to the serious and candid consideration of all
our readers, to whatever party they may belong,
or by whatever name distinguished; trusting
that neither the length Of the articles, nor any
"ther confederation, may prevent their giving
them an attentive perusal The subject Of
which they treat, is one possessing deeper
interest, and more nearly affecting our nation.
al character, than any other of political ma.
ture which now agitates the public mind. A
we'll devised and systematic attempt is now in
operation, to wrest from the Indians, by fraud
and violence, the small remains of their once
extensive patrimony, to drive them far AWAY
from the graves of their fathers, and the land
with which are associated all their fondest recol.
lections, or to exterminate them from the face
Of the earth. 1t, therefore, becomes of vital
importance to us all, as members of the great
body polite, having one common interest, az
guardians of the public veal, to see that the
national faith is not violated, and that the roy.
eminent which we have established for the pro-
lection of our own rights, does not become the
agent of oppression to others. In q govern.
ment like ours, where the power resides in, and
emanates from, the people, we are all individ-
ually, as moral agents, to certain extent, re-
sponsibc for the acts ofour rulers 1t, therefore,
becomes US to watch vigilantly over them, and
to exert whatever Of influence we may possess.
on the side of right, and in support of the inn
mutable principles of everlasting justice.
When the professions of Georgia, to the
right of the soil of the Cherokess, were first set
up, it may be recollected with what burst Of
honest Indignation they were heard by almost
the whole community. Yet, as the claims were
considered too preposterous ever to be serious.
ly pressed, those feelings gradually wore away.
The national government, under the venerable
Monroe, gave them no countenance, and tho
same views then entertained were adopted by
the succeeding administration. Still the claims
were persisted in, and the case is now essential.
ly changed. The present administration, ceas.
ing to be the friends Of the oppressed, and the
guardians of their rights, have lent their infu.
ouCO " UPVEerboIsJ anu nave 1Oned with
them in advocating their unfou nded claims.
Under such circumstances, nothing, but n
strong and unequivocal expression of tho pub.
lie feeling, can prevent the doing of acts Of
monstrous injustice, toward the Indians Of
acts, which will leave a stain on our national
character that time can never efface, nor anv
subsequent conduct atone for.
One would suppose that the aborigines had
already suffered enough from the whites.
their wide domains wrested from them--their
morals corrupted, and their numbers reduced
to a handful,--to let them now remain in quiet
enjoyment Of the remains Of their possessions,
cultivatng the arts Of peace, and introducing
among themselves the customs and improve.
ments Of civilized life. But, shonld IL be de-
termined otherwise, and should our government
be accessory to the act Of despoiling them OF
their territory and their rights,-then, we
should hope never more 10 hear the injustice
of other nations censured; for even the Turks
and Algerines would rise up in judgment
against us, for the people whom they subjuRato
are left in possession of the soil they occupy,
on submitting to the laws Of their conqueross,