The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-01-14

tanned the domieil or original Inhabitants
The Scythians were In actual possession
Of all the territory from which, By theil
own residence, or the power Of their arms
they constantly excluded other nations
There may be, and doubtless are, many
thousands Of square miles within Tho pres
ent limits Of Russia, which do not contain
the domicil Of single human being; who
can say, that these regions are not 10 the
possession of that power? In oil similar
cases, the manner in which territory shall
be occupied, or leit unnccnpicd, 10 ques.
tion 10 be settled by tho possessor, and no,
by strangers.
10 tho beginning the Creator Of the
world gave to man dominion ovot the earth.
As the human race became numerous, par.
ticular communities Of men took possession
exclusion Of other communities. This oc I.
cuPancy was the origin Of title TO land, as
possessed and enjoyed by communities. and
40 possessed in scveralty by individuals Of
the same community. As occupancy is the
iirst, immcmoral occupancy is the best OF
titles, and is declared 10 DO 20, IN our ole
mentary law books. The assignee Of Q
titlo TO land transmitted by immcnorial oc-
cupancy cannot have better title than his
grantor; and. ss there may be flaw in
tho grant, il is clearly possible he may
have q worse one.
On this ground Of immemorial occupan.
cy, the Chcrokccs, Creeks, Chickssaws,
and Chocktaws now stand. OfslI parts OF
their present territory they have been, and
are, in actual possession; and from oil parts
they havo excluded, and now exclude, oil
persons, Of whatever color or origin, cx,
cept the members Of their own communi-
ties, and such other individuals, as thoy
hare permitted 10 reside within their re-
spective limiis.-Ovcr the whole territory,
Of which they are thus in possession, they
have exercised. and nov exercise, the right
OF sovereignty or government; and have
never been, for q moment, under any gov
ernment but their own. The accuracy of
this statement cannot be denied; nor can
II be pretended, that these have, in any
manner whatever, either ulienated thcir
land, or surrendered their right Of self
government.
To assert that the charters Of European
monarchs, or tho compacts Of neighboripg
states with cach other, con, by imaginary
limits, or by lines oflatitude and longitude,
divsst the original Inhabitants oftheir lands
without their own consent would DO child.
ish; and we believe that no such doctrine
has been assorted by any respectable mon-
aEcIi. or governor, or defended by any re
spcctable writer, on this side Of The dark
sges.
Should il be said. that the admission, ,,hu,
the lndinns have any right TO the lands
which they occupy, might consign immense
regions to perpetual barbarisnn, and leave
them comparatively destitute Of Inhabitants,
there arc two answers at hnnd.
The FIRST is, Let justice be done. We
need not fear the consequences Of doing
right; whilo the consequences Of dclibo
rately doing wrong will inevitably be dis
sstrous. five are TO be justified in taking
lands from tho Indians on the ground that
we can make better use Of them than will
probably be made by tho present owners,
why may not the more populous nations Of
Europe domnnd at least million Of square
miles Of territory, within what wo slaim to
be our national limits, for the purpose Of
relieving themselves Of some millions Of
their REDUNDANT population
Tho second answer is, that there never
has been, and never will be, any practical
difficulty; unless ss consequence Of un.
just claims on the part Of Europeans, and
their descendants. The Indians have al-
ways been willing TO sell reasonable por.
ton Of their lands for reasonable compen
sotion; and it is impossible TO doubt, that if
the whites should invariably hereafter act
towards them upon the principle Of doing
to them, as wo would wish that they, in o
reverse Of circumstances, should do 10 Us,
c..- ..,l
be made, as the actual necessities Of cithcr
party becomes manifest.
Your memorilists therefore conceive
that the Indians hive q perfect claim to
their lands, on the broad principles Of nat:
ural justice.
Nor 10 their cluim doubtful, on the score
Of acknowledged right, or conventional
stipulation.
At the first settlement Of the Anglo A
merican Colonies, tho natives were univer-
sally admitted by the emigrants to have o
title 10 the countries which they inhabited
or frequentod. Nay more, the emigrsnts
not only received grants from the natives,
but pleaded importuDatcly for such grants
rs favor, md presented many honest and
imposing arguments, on the ground Of fmu
tual benefit; and especially of benefits 10
be conferred on Indians themselves, by
means Of commerce, agriculture, civiliza-
ton and Christianity. The whole renge
of the Atlantic coast from the gulf OF the
81. Lawrence to the gulf Of Mexico, was
settled on these terms. Your mcmorialists
are not aware Of there having been the
slightest difference in the doctrines held
respecting the original right Of the Indians
Il i
BY the pilgrims Of Massachusetts, the
Dutch burehers Of New York, tho swedos
oftbe Delaware, the great founder OF Penn
sylvanis, the Catholics OF Maryland, the
cburchmen ofJamestown, and the charits.
Bile corporation, Of which Oglethropo was
- A,~-x "a Gsvs ooeh II In belicved