The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-26

baton of intelligent men, not only in the
present age, but in all succeeding times
, And with equal confidence it may be said
II. IN the language of Mr.. Jefferson, the
feopfe OF the United States should Sc feel
J power, and forget right ;"-if they should
resemble a powerful man, who, Astounding
IN wealth of every kind, and assuming the
ottlce of law-giver and Judge, declares
himself to be the owner of his neipbbcr's
little farm, and then elects the same neigh
Dor as troublesome incumbrance If
with land enough, now in the undisputed
possession of whites, to sustain ten times
our present POPULATION, we should compel
the remnants Of tribes to leave the places
which, being received by inheritance of
their fathers and never alienated, thew have
long regarded as their permanent homes :
II, when asked to explain the treaties
which we first proposed, then solemnly exc
cuted, and have many times ratified, we
stammer, and prevaricate, and finish by
stultitylng, not merely ourselves, but the
ablest and wisest statesman, whom our
country has yet produced and if, in pur-
suance of narrow and selfish policy, we
should Mt this day, in time of profound
peace and great national prosperity, amidst
all our professions of magnanimity and be-
nevolence, and in the blazing light of the
nineteenth century, drive away these rem
nants of tribes, in such manner, and under
| such auspices, as to ensure their destruc-
ton ;-if all this should hereafter appear
to be fair statement of the case then
the sentence of an indignant world will be
uttered in thunders, which will roll and
reverberate for ages after the present ac-
tors in human affairs shall have passed
away.
1t has been truly said, that the character
which nation sustains, in its intercourse
with the great community of nations is of
more value than any other of its public pos
sessions. Our diplomatic agents have nui-
formly declared, during the whole period of
our national history, in their discussions
with the agents of foreign powers, that we
offer to others the same Justice which we
ask from them. And though, in times of
national luminosity, or when the interests of
different communities clash with each other,
there will be mutual reproaches and re-
examinations, and every nation will, in its
turn, be charged with unfairness or inius-
tice, still, among nations as among individ-
uals, there is a difference between the pre-
cious and the vile; and that nation will I'M
doubtedly, in the long course Of years, be
most seduously cherishes a character for
fair dealing, and even generosity, in all its
transactions.
The Great Arbiter of Nations never fails to
take cognizance of national delinquencies.
No sophistry can elude his scrutiny no
array Of plausible arguments, or of smooth,
but hollow professions, can bias his iudg-
ment; and he has at his disposal mos.
abundant means of executing his decisions.
He has, in many forms, and with awful
solemnity, declared his adherence of OPP
preston in every shape and especially of
injustice perpetrated against the weak by
the strong, ichen strength IS IN fact made the
only rule O faction. The people of the Uni
ted States are not altogether guiltless, in
regard to their treatment of the aborigines
of this continent; but they cannot as yet be
charged with any systematic Legislation on
this subject, inconsistent with the plainest
principles of moral honesty. At least, am
not aware of any proof by which a charge
could be sustained. Nor do |, in these pre-
liminary remarks, attempt to characterize
measures now in contemplation. But it is
very clear, that our Government and our
people should be extremely cautious, lest,
IN Judging between ourselves and the In
dams, and carrying our own judgment into
effect with strong hand, we incur the dis
pleasure of the Most High. Some very
| iudcious and consderate men in our coun-
try think that our public functionaries should
stop where they are ; that, in the first place.
we should humble ourselves before God and
the world, that we have done so much to
destroy the Indians, and so little to save
them; and that, before another step is
taken, there should be the most thorough
deliberation on the part of all our constitu-
ted authorities, lest we act in such man.
ner as to expose ourselves to the judgments
of Heaven.
would have omitted this topic if could
suppose that majority of readers would
regard its introduction as matter of course,
or 40 an affectation of rhetorical embellish-
ment. In my deliberate opinion, it is more
important, and should be more needed,
than oil other considerations relating to the
subject; and the people of the United
States will find it so, if they should unhap-
PLY think themselves above the obligations
to do justly, loue mercy, and ,caLk kumbty
ucith their God
close this Introductory number, by stat
ing what seems to be the present controver-
sy between the whites and the Indian
Tribes of the Southwestern States say
the tohites, THAT is our country generality
because certain positions are taken by the
Government of the United States, and GER
tain claims are made by the State of Geor-
gia, and certain other claims made by the
States of Alabama and Mississippi. The
Indians do not admit the validity of any of
these positions or claims and if they have
a perfect original title to the lands they oc-
cupy, which title they have never forfeited
nor alienated, their rights cannot be affect
ed by the Charters of Kings, nor by the
acts Of provincial Legislatures, nor by the
compacts of neighhoring states, nor by the
mandates of the executive branch of cur Ma