The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-12-17


large addition 10 tho list of PeDsioneri
has been occasicned by an Order Of the
late Administration, departing materially
from the rules which had previously pre-
vailed. Considering 1t an act of legisla
ton, / suspended It's operation ss soon as
was informed that il had commenced. Be
fore this period, however, applications On
der the new regulations had been prefer
red TO the number Of one hundred and fifty
four, Of which on the 9th Of March, The
date ofhs revocation, ,eightyseven were ad
mitted. For the amount, there was nelih
er estimate nor appropriation; and besides
this deficiency, the regular allowances, ac'
cording 10 the rules which have hitherto
governed the Department, exceed the es.
innate Of its late Secretary, by about iiiy
thousand doliars-for which all appropria-
! ton is asked.
Your particular attention is requested 10
that part Of the Report Of the Secretary OF
War. which relates TO the money held IN
trust for the Seneca tribe of Indians. IL
will be perceived, that without legislative
aid, the Executive cannot obvate the en-
barrassments occasioned by the dlmunltlon
Of The dividends on that fund which orig
! inally amounted 10 one hundred thousand
dollars, and has recently been invested IN
| United States three per cent. stock.
The condition and ulierior destiny ofthe
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 introduce a
mong them tie arts Of civilization, in the
hope of gradually reclining them from q
wandering lie. This policy has, howev-
er, been coupled with another, wholly in
compatible With its success. Processing Il
desire to civize and settle them, we have,
at the same time, lost no opportunity to
purchase their lands and thrust them fur
,her into the wilderness. by this means
they have not only been kept in wander.
ing state, but been led to look upon US as
UNJUST and Indifferent TO their fate. Thus,
though lavish in its expenditures upon the
subject Government has constantly defeat
ed It's own poliey--and the Indians in gen.
eral receding further and further TO the
West, hayo retained their savage habits.
4 portion, howeyer,of the Southern tribes,
having mingled much with the whites, and
made some progress in the arts Of clvilze d
life, have lately attempted 10 erect an in
dependent government within the limits OF
Georgia and Alabama. These States
claiming to he tho only soVereigns within
thoir territories, extended their laws over
the Indians which induced the latter to
call upon the United States for protection.
Under these Circumstances, the question
presented was, whether the general gov
eminent had right TO sustain those peo-
pie in their pretunslons? Tue Constltu-
ton declares that "no new State shall be
formed OF erected within the jurisdiction
OF any other State," without the consent
of It's Legislature. lfthc General Govern
mont is not permitted to tolerate the eroc-
tion Of confederate State, within the ter
rtory Of one of the members Of this Union.
against her consent, much less could it al.
low foreign and independent government
10 establish Itself there. Georgln became
4 member of the confederacy hich event.
uatcd in our federal union, rs 4 soyerei ign
State always asserting her claim 10 Ger.
tan limits which. having been originally
defined in her colonial charter, and subse-
quently recognized in the treaty Of peace,
she has ever since continued TO enjoy eX-
cept MS they have been circumscrIbcd by
her own voluntary transfer OF portion OF
her territory TO the United States, IN the
articles Of cession Of 1909. Alabama was
admitted iuto The Union on the same foot
ing with the original States, with boundo-
rics which were prescribed by Congress
There is no constitutional, conventional
or legal provision. which allows them less
power over the Indians within their hor-
ders, lhNn is possessed by Maine or New
York. WouIS the people o.! Maine per-
nit the Penobseo ot tribe TO erect nn indie
pendent Government within their State
and unless they did, would it not be the
duty of the General Government to supper,
them in resisting such measure? Would
tho people Of New York permit each rem
nant Of the Six Nations within her borders.
to declare itself an independent people ,un-
der the protection Of the United States
Could the Indians establish separate re-
public on each of their reservations in O.
! hio ?-hnd ifthey were so disposed, would
| it be the duty of this government to pro-
tect them IN the attempt: the principle
involved in the obvious answer to these
questions be abandoned, i, will follow that
the objects Of this Government are revers-
ed and that it has become part Of its du-
ty 10 aid in destroying the States which il
was established to protect.
Actuated by this view of the subject
informed the Indians inhabiiing parts o'
Georgia and Alabama, that their attempt
to establish en- independent government
would not be countenanced by the Execu.
tive ofthe United States, and advised then
to omigra,e beyond the Mississippi, OF
submit TO the laws of those States.
Our conduct towards these people is
deeply interesting to our national charnc
ter. Their present condition, contrastet
with what they once were, makes a mos,
powerful appeal TO our sympathies. Our
ancestors found them the uncontrolled pos.