Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-11

The necessary guns and carriages for sarnishinss
the different sortresseS of tic country. tisvos
thy Of consideration whether the APPROXIMATE
apple able to this service should not be increased
so as to provide suitable armament By IN, lin,
the different Notifications along the coast Shall h.
completed For the icrts which are finished
million of dollars will be necessary; but besides
these, others are progress. and will shortly h.
completed. With the annual APPROPRIATED of
100000 towards this purpose, it will reorir.
ten wears toaccomplish the object for thusc which
are in readiness. Should we BE- bIest with pcacc
no injury will arise; tut should war take place
the effect upon our country would be of seriop:
and prejudiciui character.
In all the disbursng branches connected with
the Wa, Department, am happy to say that
punctuaIity ard fidelity have strictly, and aImo
without exception, been regarded during th,
year.
A new era IN the history of this country ha.
within a few wears, arisen in relation to Indian
alfirs Under ike act ct 1902. and the pratt
ces of the Government resulting therefrom, pri0
! ciples have been introduced. the CORRECTNESS, Of
which deserves serious consideration. By this
ac Il is prohibited to any one to settle upon Indi.
an land. r. 10 enter their territory; and for is
I
ed to emr!oy tie military force of the country
| Ii is worthy Of reflection how far this act ,:s
circumstances exist is 10 be considered within
the pale of the Constitution. and obligatory IN.
| on the authorities Of the Government. Before
the States were members Of the Union, tb.,.
were sovereign. The L. States Government =,
lcgitimatcly exercise those rights only IL
which tic States parted under their general ccn
,I.ta .bo,r IN, al
ihority is privilege which has not been sur,an
dered. Among those rights is the mdispurabIe
one of controlling their citizens. and goyerrinc
them after their own mode with this exceplion1
that republican form Of Government is 10 no
secured to each. The States, Seins indcpe,d.
ent and sovereign within their owl limits. can al.
nit no check urOn their sovereignty. whether in
its exercise. il effects one citizen or another tbs
white or the red man. BY courtesy, the laws have
been withheld froman interference with the In
dams within State: &tha, which heretnfo,e u.s
mere courtesy is now insisted upon as matt, IF
para,nount constitutional right Surely this c,.,or
be correct according to our notions and system. of
government; and. it wrong, the act of 1909 from
the moment the laws are extended by 4 state
over Indian territory. must cease 10 be- opers.
tive. Reciprocity is always fair and lust: and
hence the law which would make il penal far a
white man to tread, unlicensed, upon soil held
through Indian occupancy, should equally re.
strain the Indian from entering upon the domain
of the white man. So far as existing treaties oper
ate, the United States possess the power to con.
ced this or any other privilege. because treaties
whethe, well or III made. are the supreme Wv #
the land; but they should be such as are permitted
to be entered into by the constitution. ard With
do not effect the rights of state beyond Wat
her consent in becoming member of the Trion
has sanctioned and authorized. Every thing be.
yond this Is usurpation.
Under the authority conferred by you. duriro
last summer. visited some of the Indian ,iih,ss
with higly valuable auxiliary. General John
Coffee of Alabama. and made known to thm
their situation. With the Choctaws and Chick
asaws. THE only tribes with whom we nesn,ia.
ted,) treaties were concluded. From all aprear.
ances. they were we'll satisfied with their own
decision, and thescourse which We pursued tow.
ards them. fany different feeling has since ben
melted, it is the work II persons who have suu.,
through the channels Of their ignorance. TO far.
suade them to the belief that great injustice rs
been practIced. | undertake to assure you,
that in all we did, the utmost fairness md
candor were practised. We sought through
persuasion only, to satisfy them that their
situation called loudly for serious reflection,
Pending the negotiation. no secret mceti @ were
had, no brides were offered. or promises de-
Every argument adduced, or SUGGESTION offered.
was in open council. and in view Of those v hose
rights were to be effected. OF this abundant ev.
idence exists. whatever may be said TO the con.
trarY. There was no motive to impose upon. Or
to deceive them. Our instructions forbade US to
do so, and our inclination. beside. was an ample
restraint. The treaties concluded arc ready
for submission: and how FAR any practised Unjust,
ice or want of il,crality can be imputed, will be
fairly judged of when their tenor and condition
shall be disclosed. If a lihcralitv ample and
and generous has not been regarded. our wishes
have failed, and our judgments may be mis'ak'
en-.
During this period. witnessed much Of Ind.
an character, their progress. refinement, and
march towards civilization, and can we'll say,
that, in conducting the negotiation. every thing
was done to retain them in those pursuits Which
should tend to their advancement, and to 0iiCh
their situation could reasonably lay claim. Those
who so zeaously have cspoused their cause. AID
Who affect ;r rinusIv In denIore their contItiOp,