Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-06


energy, TO this groa, lever of Iudan government we
addressed oor propoSals-to this alone did we look
and from this alone did expect aid or relief
now proceed, very briefly TO trace public
history Ia these important connexions. As early as
1868, Proclamation was issued by the King of
6rcnt Britain 10 his American colonies and depCn-
dcnc'cs, which, IN clear and decided terms, and In
the spInt ot honorable regard for Indian priyilpprs
declared the opinions Of the Grown and the duties
hts subjects. The preamble TO that part of this doc
uulcnt which concerns Indian affairs i. couched IN
terms that cannot be misunderstood. | give literal
extract land whereas IL is Just and reasonable and
essential to interest and the security OF our colo
MICS, that the scrs1Ci nations or tribes of Indians
irith ,cho zee connected. and tcio lie under our
projections should not be nolcste or isu bed in the
possession Of such parts of our domnions and terri
tories mol barring been cedsd 10 purchased 6y as
are reserved to them any of them as their hunt
ing grounds therefore the governors of colonies
are prohibited upon any pretence whatever, from
granting any warrants of survey passing any pa
tents for lands, "upon any lands whatever. which
not having been coded or purchased were reserved
20 the said Indians, and by another Injunction i'm the
same proclamation, "OlI persons whatever, who have
either wilfully inadvertently seated themselves
upon any lands, which not having been ccded to- or
purchased, by the Crown, were reserved to the In
olans as aforesaid, are strictly enoined and required
10 remove themselves fiom such settlements"
This royal ordinance is an UNQUALIFIED admission of
every principle that is now urged in favor of the lib
critics and rights of these tribes, Il refers to then,
us nations that had put themselves under the pro,er
their lands had not been cc5cd or Jluchaseh il freely
aud justly runs out the inevitable conclusion thai
they are reserved 10 these nations as their propcrty
and torbCs all surveys and patents and warns off ali
ntrTders and trespasSeTs Sir this contains tho cni
tome Of Indian history and title No kim Colony
state or Territory made, or ATTEMPTED to make
grant or title to the Indians, but universally and
perpctuey derived their titles from them lN,Is ono
iact that stands forth broadly on the pa re of Indian
story-which neither kings nor coionins-ncirhcr
'oTos, propreto's, nor diplomatic agents have on
any s!ngie occasion disputed, is alone sufficient TO
demo!sh the whole system of political prctcrsious
conlured up in modern times to drive the poor Indian
from the last refuge of his hopes.
thc next important era in the order o. time re-
.nes 10 Ile dispute OF the Colonies with Great Gri-
tam Ihe attention Of the Congress- ON the eve of
that conflict called to the situation Of tic-c ,ihrs
anu their dispositions on that interesting subject
ihen' sir we aPpFcr them as independent ma
lots wan inc acknowledged power to form alliances
WIN or against us. For, IN June 1875. our CONGRESS-
resolved That the Committee for Indian Affairs do
prepare proper talks TO the several tribes of Indians
ior engaging the continuance Of Meir Friendship TO rs
H G heaSFHl'ty IN our present unhappy dispute with
dreat DrltaIn.' Again, on the 18th July 1915 n
report OF the Committee was agreed to with the fol.
lowing clause at its head That the securing and
preserving The friendship tie Indian nations appears
TO be subject Of the utmost moment to these colo
mes And, sir, the journals of that eventual period
| OF our history full Of resolutions all of which
indicate the opinions of those ilustrous statcs
men respecting The unqucs,oned sovereignty of the
| lluihIl5' lo!OcuT lurtuer details. After the
ldtion, and in the eighth year of our Indcpcndence
IN the month of September, a. ID. 1883 the Congress
a9 IN 'ook up the subject of Indian affairs and rgsol
yea 10 hold convention with the Indians residing in
the middle and northern States, who had aken nm
arms against u.s. for the purposes Of receiving them
INTO the favor and protection of tho United States
ana Of eSt0dItsti1S boundary lines Of yoosy,Il FIR
SeParauh% ana dividing the settlements u he citizens
Jr"'" me Hid'dh villages and hunting grounds, and
thereby distinguishing, far as possible al! occasion
'or luture anmositles, disquict and contention If
az any point Of our existence as a people disposi-
'lan 10 encroach upon the Indians aud TO break down
,heH separate and sovereign character, could have
Ocen looked for or at all excused this was the time.
"hen we had just come ONT of a lorr severn and
U!oody conifct often prosecuted by our foes with
unnatural barbarity, and to nrrreyaie which thcs.
very tribes had devoted their saynon and G,-ocor
customs. And yet, sir, what do we fnds Instead
OF INC Claims oF conquest, the rirhts of war uoyy ca
convenient 20 set up the American Congress great
" just accord 10 these very Indians the chorocte m
foreign nations, and invite them to take shelter under
OUT iaVor and projections; not only this but ndopt
measures 10 ascertain and establish boundary lines
u properly between our citizens and their vIllares
and hunting grounds Under the con ledcration Of
tue old thirteen Siutes and shortly before tbc nd,n
ton Of the Constitution on the Goth Nov. I7g5. =
treaty was made with the Cherokee nation at Hope.
This treaty, accord ding 10 IFS tile, was concluded
between "COnuliSSioHe,s PLcHipotenry, or tho jToi
tea states OF America of the one part and the Head
ihpn ana Warriors Of all the Cherokccs of the 9th
CT: gives peace 10 all the Chetokces," and re
cGlycs them INTO the favour and protection of tho
Unred States And, by The first article, the Cher
okeeS agree to restore all the prisoners citizens of
me Cnied States. or subjects of their allies 10 tbni,
ehtre Lberty' Here, again, VIC discover the same
nEnon nj policy Of rcnounciDg any pretended
rights OF conqueror, in our negotiations with tbe
allies OF our enemy. We invite them 70 nencc. v,c
engage to become their protectors, and in the stiD
naon Tor the liberation of prisoners 1--WE trace again
the broad line of distinction between citizen, The
United States, and the Cherokee people
VINO, alter this, Sir, can retain a single doubt az
to the nnqucsloncd political sovereignty of those
tribes II ls very true, that they were not absolute
~ independent. As they had become comparatively
lecOc, and cs they wore, IN The mass an uncyilized
race, they chose to depend upon US for projections
Dut this did not destroy affect their SOVEREIGNTY
nc rule OF public law is clearly stated by Vattcl-
orc community may be bound to another by n We.
W unequal r'iaHcc, and still be sovereign STATE.
lhongh weak State, in order 10 urovido C,r ,s
safely should place itself under the protection Of
more powerful onc yet. if it reserves TO itself The
1$"9 goCsr"iHg rs o'Oa Jody It ought to be CON
SIIc'c" as M independent State" II the rIrht off
sell government retained tia, SET. I