Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-08-21
r'r3et me .EdftOntt IatCilIScncsr.
To rHs EpiroRs.
PRESEN rCRI>iS III THE CONDITION OT
TIE AMERICAN INDIANS.


the condition. relations and prospects, ui the Indian
tribes IN the Southwestern parts oithc United States
The a'icntpn oimany ofouT most Intelligent citizens
hus been hycdupOn the subject with great interest.
Many others are beginning To inquire. Several pub
Inc Documents, which have recently appeared in the
uswsrapcrs to uwsirH curiosity en to rruvc!c
IN cstiwatiun
StD howetcr, the mass OF the community nos
scsS but very little information on the subject and
cVcn among Che host informed, sea rccv man can be
Ipdnd, who Is thoroughly acquainted with the QUCs-
itous 1T Issue. Vague aud Inconsistent opinions
ahfondi aed however DESTROYS the people may be ot
cpeiing az the truth, the Of knowledge arc
n9tgorraly accessible. Some persons think that
the INDIANS have perfect ri1lt 10 the lands which
they occupy except far their Original right has
hecn modified by trrdtics fairly made, aud f!Iy
GcrstDod at the time ofsirnnE. But how TAR such
lupdication may taken place. whether It has
t0b5n place At all these persons admit themselves TO
b.; Ignorant. Otlrrs pretend, that Indians have no
Uhcr nj 20 t'r lands. than tat Ola icnCl 10 lciL
Sh8t a., the right OF remaining where they arc, til
tao Of bte iind shall require them remove.
Ia IS ucedsss Go say that in The estimation O! such
pcTsops the owners o the land arc the white neigh
hrgs of the Indians some 'p,c are pnlllrd ny
what IS Supposed TO be coil ~ between the pow
Vrs q! the General t'Uvcrnue4t aud the claims of
particular States. Others do not see thlt there is
any hardsipin hf'ngn" TIE Indians under the laws
% The States, IA the nc.ghbOriood OF which they lives
or, as ne p"rase Is wit.u lie @H:S Of irLct they
1--we. Some consider U the greatest Kindness that ca,
e done 10 the indians ID rCnoyc them oven without
their consent and against their Will To a cauulr ~
more iovorubc to their happiness. q hers think
that il they compelled remove their circun-
stance. WI. b. III all respects than NJ present:
ana that, Suffering under deep c. injury, and
considering themselves crushed by the strouc arm OF
physical force they win become utterly G.sprited md
sunk rapidly TO the lowest dcyru liton and II iaal
extinction. So great diversity OF opinion is ur.n-
cipaly owing TO wart oil correct information. IL is
my intention, MessFs. Editors. t. furnish IN few
numbers "i u'& gate length, such .rgis as viii
enable every ID passionate uHd DISTINGUISHED man TO
IA ltr it.a rt,ris tt't no. g.
IA the mean time, would observe, that The oco
pc al Tie trod states owe At To taCus- and to-
mankind, TO form correct Judgment IN THIS matter
ne questions hdy" forced ID ,n-eIts anon us as "A
nation IDhf Is t. ber0a3e Of tie E.ijt.v' gI,-c
they my rigtl3 ifhoy have Fha; az. Gt,,e riiis,
dhd hOto are they 10 DE Srrj;r"H' These questions.
must receive practical answer: and that very soon
" hat 10 d.a' - Dial! be, sub yct Of Tic Gecpct
concern TO the country.
Tie number of individuals to be affected bv the
course now To be- pursued Is very great Il u. com
puted, that there within national limits more
than 100000 Indians: souIe say 100000: and i'm
the southwestern States, the tribes whose immediate
removal IS IN contemplation, have aggregate pon-
ulliiun of more than OCJ) The interests Of all
these people are Implicated, az any measure u b. tie
ken respecting them.
The character Of ouc Governments and of our
country, may be deeply involved. Most certainly am
indebie stigma viii be fixed upon u d. in the ploE
itndc ot our power and Il tie prl. Ct usr siucrl III
", sh1 be guilty OF manifest Injustice "a orr
weak and deIcnce,eas ncghDOi5. There persons
among not ignorant PREF IlccL, nor under the
basis of private interest, who seriously apprencnd
that there Is danger OF National character beng
most unhappily affected before rhc subject shall be
fairly at rCst. Ii these individuals are .lscd bv an
erroneous view of facts, or by the adoutun of false
principles, free discussion viii relieve their minds.
II should d. rcincHD 'rcd, by cur rulers as well "a
oilers that 1is controversy por It has assumed the
"rm o; regular ccntroycTsy) VIII ultimately De veil
understood by the whole civilized world. No subject
not even war, nor slavery nor the nature OF free
Institute !s will be more thoroughly canvassed. The
. al ..l.
voice, which will not be drowned by the clsmor Of
ephencra parties, sIIcnced by the paltrY consid
eratlons pl private interest such a. the Baron
Bumb dt and the Due dc Broolic on the continent IF
Europe, and q host Of other Statesmen and orators
and powerful writer's, there ana IN Great Britain will
10, be greatly n!lacnccd ~ Gliding crave question
ii public morality BY the cXci,cmcnts Of an election
or the selfish vc"H OF some little portions Ui the
American community. Any course Of measures IN
regard to The Indians, which is clearly air and rgn
erOts, and benevolent, Will command the warm and
decided appreciation OF intelligent men. not oAly in
lLe present age, but I'D all succeeding times. And
with equal confidence 10 NAV be said H. in t.r. Ian
euage OF MIR. Jefferson, the Pgop, of the United
states should feel power. and forget r 1T; IL tlo
should resemble powerful nan, who. abguudinr i'm
wealth OF every Bind, aud aasumin tic oicc OF law
gvcr aud Judge, first declares himself. to te the owner
81 hlS poor nlgibl Iic farm, and then elects tie
same neighbor as Troublesome iuciubrancc.--if
with itnd enough IN the uudispulcd posscssi0n
ui tho Whites, 10 sustain ten times present po1.
latlon we should compel the rcuuan'5 # tribes TO
leave the places which, received by Inheritance from
fACir fathers and never acuHtcj, they have louv re-
garded their permanent homrs.--.f when asked 10
Explain the tre"iirs. which fist proposed, then
tOicinnly executed and btye m1ny Times ratified. we
siamner aHd prcvmcic, and finish by siuuyiug
h1t merely ourselves, but g 1bCst and Wiscs' States
rn"n, whom country has yo' produced. and it,
30 purruance 81 Hulrroy 1ni selfish policy we should
Hl this day. d. tune oi p ofJIui pDIrs and Vrcaf
NH'load prosperity, aui 800 .ur prI,. usor mar
i'nimty and oaars 1.uce, 1ud u fh. blazing ght Of
lac nnoicci'h century, tsya ov1y ihrs. remnants OF