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

From the National Eatetigencer.
PRESENT CRISIS IN THE CONDITION
OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.
No. l.
Gentlemen,-Every careful observer oil
public affairs must have seen, that a crisis
has been rapidly approaching, for several
years past, in inference to the condition,
relations, and prospects, of the Indian tribes,
in the southwestern parts of the United
States. The attention of many of our most
intelligent citizens has been fixed upon the
subject with great interest. Many others
are beginning to inquire. Several public
documents, which have recently appeared
in the newspapers, serve to awaken curiosi-
ty and to provoke investigation.
Still, however, the mass of the community
possess but very little information on the
subject and, even among the best inform
ed, scarcely a man can be found, who is
thoroughly acquainted with the question at
issue. Vague and inconsistent opinions are
abroad and however desirable the people
may be of coming at the truth, the sources
of knowledge are not generally accessible.
Some persons think that the Indians have
perfect right to The lands which they occu-
py, except so far as their original right has
been modified by treaties fairly made, and
fully understood at the time of signing.
But how far such modification may have
taken place, or whether it has taken place
at all, these persons admit themselves to be
ignorant. Others pretend, that Indians
have no other right to their lands, than that
of tenant at i0iU that is, the right of re-
naming where they are, till the o,oners Of
the land shall require them to remove. 1t
is needless to say, that, in the estimation of
such persons, the owners of the land are
the white neighbors of the Indians. Some
people are puzzled by what is supposed to
be a collision between the powers of the
General Government and the claims of par
ticular States. Others do not see that there
is any hardship in bringing the Indians I'M
der the laws of the States, in the neighbour
nOUS within the h tasS h thew Re sSome
consider it the greatest kindness that can
be done to the Indians to remove them, even
without their consent and against their will,
to a country where, as is supposed, they
will be in q condition more favorable to
their happiness. Others think, that if they
are compelled to remove, their circumstan-
ces will be in all respects worse than at
present; and that, suffering under a deep
sense of injury, and considering themselves
crushed by the strong arm of physical force,
they will become utterly dispirited, and sink
rapidly to the lowest degradation and to
final extinction. So great diversity of
opinion is principally owing to want of cor
rect information. 1t is my intention, Messrs.
Editors, to furnish, in a few numbers of
moderate length, such materials, as will
enable every dispassionate and disinterest-
ed man to determine where the right of the
case is.
In the mean time, | would observe, that
the people of the United States owe it to
themselves, and to mankind, to form cor
rect judgement in this matter. The ques-
tons have forced themselves upon US, as a
nation :-WhGt is to become of the Indians ?
Haze they any rights If they have, What
are these rights and ho,o are they to be Sc
cured ? These questions must receive q
practical answer; and that very soon.-
What the answer shall be, is subject of
the deepest concern to the country.
The number of individuals to be affected
by the course now to be pursued, is very
great. 1t is computed, that there are with
in our national limits more than 10000
Indians; some say 100000; and, in the
Southwestern States, the tribes whose i'm
mediate removal is in contemplation, have
an aggregate population gilmore than 10000.
The interests of all these people are impi-
Gated in any measure to be taken respect
ing them.
The character Of our government, and OF
our country, may be deeply involved. Most
certainly an indelible stigma will be fixed
upon as, if, in the plenitude of our power,
and in the pride of our superiority, we shall
be guilty Of manifest injustice to our weak
and defenceless neighbors. There are per-
sons among us, not ignorant, nor preiudic-
ed, nor under the bias of private interest
who seriously apprehend, that there is dan
ger of our national character being most
unhappily affected, before the subject shall
be fairly at rest. If these individuals are
misled by an erroneous view of facts, or 10y
the adoption Of false principles, free dis.
cussion will relieve their minds.
1t should be remembered by our rulers as
we'll as others, that this controversy, flor il
has assumed the form of regular contro.
versy,) will ultimately be understood by the
whole civilized world. No subject, MOI
even war, nor slavery, nor the nature o.
free institutions, will he more thoroughly
canvassed. The voice Of mankind will be
pronounced upon it "a voice, which will
not be drowned by the camor of ephemera
parties nor silenced by the paltry consider.
atoms Of private interest. Such men as
the Baron Humboldt and the Due de Brog.
lie, on the continent of Europe, and q
host of other Statesmen, and orators, and
powerful writer's, there and in Great Brit
ain, will not be greatly influenced, in de-
Gliding grave question Of public morality
by the excitements of an election, or the
selfish views of some little portions of the