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

! power: But the people Of these States,
ana OF every State actuated by,feelings Of
justice and regard for our national honour
submit to you the interesting question,
whether something cannot be done, con-
sistentiy with the rights of the States, to
preserve this much injured race
AS means of efecting this end, / sug-
gest tor your consideration the proprieiy
OF setting apart an ample district west Of
the Mississippi, and without the limits of
any State or Territory now formed, to
be guaranteed to the Indian tribes as long
as they shall occupy it; each tribe hav-
ing a distinct control over the portion de-
s'gna'ed Tor its use. There they may be Sc
cured In the enjoyment of governments of
their own choice, subject to no other con-
troll from the United States than such az
may be necessary to preserve peace on
Inc frontier. and between the several
tribes. There the benevolent NAV en-
deavour to teach them the arts of civil
cation; and by promoting union aud har-
mony among them, to raise up an inter-
estIng commonwealth, destined to perpet-
uate the race, and to attest the humanity
and justice of this Government.
This emigration should be voluntary :
for it would be as cruel as unjust TO COM
pei the aborigines to abandon the graves
OF their fathers. and seek home IN dis
tant land. But they should be distinctly
informed, that they remain within the
limits OF the States, they must be subject
to their laws. In return for their obedi-
ence as individuals, they will, without
doubt, be protected in the enjoyment of
those possessions which they have i'm
proved by their industry. But it seems to
me visionary to suppose, that in this state
OF things, claims can be allowed on tracts
OF country on which they have neither
dwelt nor made improvements, merely be-
cause they have seen them from the noun
tain, or passed them in the chace. Sub
hitting to the laws of the States, and re-
celvlng, like other citizens, protection in
their persons and property, they will, ere
long. become merged in the mass of our
population.
The accompanying report of the Sec
rotary ofthe Navy will make you acquaint-
ed with the condition and useful employ
nent OF that branch of our service, during
the present year. Constituting, as it
does, the best standing security of this
country against foreign aggression, it
claims the especial attention of govern
ment. In this spirit, the measures which,
since the termination of the last war, have
been in operation for its gradual enlarge
ment, were adopted; and it should con-
tlnue to be cherished as the offspring OF
our national experience. 1t will be seen,
however, that, Notwithstanding the great
solicitude which has been manifested for
the perfect organization of this arm, and
the liberality ofthe appropriations which
that solcitude has suggested, this object
has in many important respects, not been
secured.
In time of peace, we have need Of no
more ships of war than are requisite to
the protection of our commerce. Those
not wanted for this object must Law in the
harbours, where, without proper covering,
they rapidly decay and, even under the
best precautions for their preservation,
must soon become useless. Such is al
ready the case with many of our finest
vessels; which, though unfinished, will
now require immense sums of money to
be restored to the condition in which they
were, when committed to their proper ell
ement. On this subject there can be but
little doubt that our best policy would be
to discontinue the building of ships of
the first and second class, and look rather
to the possession Of ample materials, pre-
pared for the emergencies Of war, than to
the number of vessels which we can float
in season of peace, as the index of our
naval power. Judicious deposites in Ma
w Yards, oftimber and other materials,
fashioned under the hands of skiIful work.
men, land fitted for prompt application to
their various purposes, would enable us at
all times, to construct vessels as fast as
they can be manned, and save the heavy
expense of repairs, except to such vessels
as must be employed in guarding our COM
merce. The proper points for the estab-
lishment Of these yards are indicated with
so much force, in the report of the Navy
Board, that, in recommending it to your
attention, | deem it unnecessary to do
more than express my hearty concurrence
in their views. The Yard in this Dis
trict. being already furnished with most
ofthe machinery necessary for ship-build-
ing, will be competent to the supply of the
two selected by the Board as the best for
the concentration of materials and from
the facility and certainty of communicate
ing between them, it will be useless to
incur, at these depots, the expense of sim
liar machinery, especially that used in
preparing the usual metallic and wooden
furniture of vessels.
Another improvement would be effect
I L.. ia Al