Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-08-06

OF Commons parcel of the County OF Kent Now.
SIR 1t IS useless for gentlemen to puzzle themselves
with learned theses and ingenious dispositions,
show that the European nations would have been
justified IN expeling the natives from their lands
on the ground that they were in state of nature,
and that man IN state of nature has no right to any
tning which ne holds-not even TO his life. King
Henry, James, Ferdinand and the Pope Sc, up no
such doctrines themselves. They doubtless asserted
the best which they could find and aght to have the
privilege OF being heard for themselves and iusty,nu
themselves upon their own principles We NAV
search as closely may into the history of the
claims they set up, and shall find last that they
were defended solely the ground that tbess were
hereto and ndel countries, and that the CLAIMS of
heretics and lnhdels to the earth entitled to no
regard In preference TO Catholic dominion. But US
the age of superstition and bIgotry passed away-as
prerogatlve became weakened and Popish supremacy
fell into dsrepute-as the minds of men became en-
larged and the public law improved, better principles
were established. Before the berinnlnu of the las,
century, moral and political science had become too
tar emancpated from the superstition and intolerance
OF the times of Alexander vi. as well as the Tudors
and Stuarts to sanctify any longer the vioences
which had been committed in the mama of RELIGION
and prerogative. Grotius had long before given the
true foundation OF ali original title sPrmus acou,-
rend modls est occupatio eorum qut nuatus ssalt Z"
We nave the right to take that which others have not
already appropriated to themselves, but we nave no
risht TO take away our neig boris properly. This
was the rule laid down by thai great CIVILIAN and
Chris ian morallst Then came 10 be held by some
that Indian occupation occupation for any pup
Pose-that was the state of nature without the se
curity OF natural law. Some were very liberal as
to admit that the Indians held that thew
roved over the earth as Migrants and OF the
human family, with no more title even to what they
actually cultivated than the brutes that fled before
them or the winds which passed over the forest and
that they were fair subjects force or trauu for all
who might find 1t to be their interest ensnare or
hunt them down There were John Bulkleys before
1874, VINO held to tins doctrine stouty as John
Low or De- II
treatise like this be found the whole history Of
N England Why these people were, above all others,
to be excluded from the social law of mankind, was
not as closely inquired INTO it might have been -
1t was true that Lneir Kings Sachems mad few or
no prerogatives. They generally governed by
councils assembled from the whole nation. But It
the head men and warriors proved to be sometimes
refractory, the kings mad power To Tower
NIL or Iyburn They lighted up no fires for here
tlcs, ana never sent their own prophets to the stake
They roasted their cnem.cs only. They were iero
cous and tDercdess IN war, but t.iey st. Bar
tholomew days. They held large tracts OF uncuit-
waited country, but they had no Laws the Forest
IL was neither death transportation starving
man TO take dear, 1t Is probable thew never
heard discussion on the morality of spring guns
They believed Ia wItChcratt as well as some Others
or their fellow-men-and Ill That they came some
what nearer to certain king, who sat III ms Clos,
WIN MS treatise on Deinunoiogy open before him,
aud conveyed away their country by parchment
and green wax before he knew where 1t vas
to be found 8c cannot deny that the European
governments originally held e nights OF tne indian
nations In very little regard. There were aseat
temptations to treat them lightly, anu they were not
looked upon with tnal deiefence the sounder prn-
cipies oflustce and mat humanity which has since
SO mighty improved the no'al law OF nations. Ths
spirit vi avarce was ezclts1 ana the thirst domn-
ION was tempted ny The ae,eupements vi the resour.
ces OF the new world Grants ana Charters ioiioN-
ed and were often dsperseu rewards 10 fayor,t.s
but, sir, whatever may have Oeen theories on
IN rg
oy, deny thai our Ensllsn ANCESTORS VINO hrst coi
ohized Ihese States, ever couutenanceu that dIsrc-
S"a % hha"h iiShls' of Carried practice that
system vi Injustice 10 the native rsanltauLs wnIc
has ueen asserted III the hepurt OF Lun.un ga ,
Indian Affairs. On tne settlement the country !.
one oil Two COURSES Was % be pursued-to deny aito-
sether the Claims oI indian Occupants Tor auy
pur pose, ana 10 dspossess tnem by v:oence, unuer
ny plausible or convenient pIeleSt, to treat them
as holding qualned rigni III me soil, and exlngusn
lheir Title honestly Ny purchase We have already
seen, III Inc Proclamation vi Cieda, system pu,
SUED ny Spain. ne natives were tealed as ht Tor
spoil only. fDe history OF Spanish America Is the
most dlsgraceui tissue vi Injustice, cruelty and per
ndious vliiainy which Tue annais OF cnrlste
DOM; and SPAN has suffered crime Tie rel
0utive Justice OF Providence. But. 20 the nouor or
our ancestors, history has gwen no Nortn Amen
Can annals IKE these. Iney held the doctrine. or
discovery 50 lar as to protect Chartered fants OF
tue colonies against the entertainments oI others
out lHey never sanctioned an! system wnion The
indlan nations unprotected against themselves and
Ut sup1ects lor lawless plumber Iney were men
VINO acted up TO their professions the void
lie HONORABLE gentleman from 1enneseee 10 asking
where We snoud LOOK monuments o. W iinaIn
emu, directed Us TO The nOUle Institutions enyia
Die prosperity Of Pennsylvania. Ems ali vefy lust
To me name Ut Penn, II iails snurt OF iull
lJuStice TO his memory. can tell nIrn wnere ne
IAN mo another monument to lame of
tnat excellent man. Sattei mas perpetuated his
na'ne 10 ali ages anu Ill ali nations, III mat work
winch ne has commended to all mankind, tine Invar-
aole respect IN which " an, Penn and The PurItans
OF new England heid the fignt OF the native Inhab-
iants of America 10 thelr country IL Very true,
that In The Colonies, The Crown was considered as
the only legitimate source OF title for lis subjects
anu III most VI them the lunds We're generally neld
under patents IRON TIE Crown, or lue colonial 90
VerhmenIs. Ihls was early established, ano couLln-
ues To be maintained 10 TINS day. Inc GiseUverIes
MAD been made undeG COMMISSIONS Hom the crown
and possession was Iuken name As between
the king and Ills subjects, the lanas were treated as
tile domem OF the crown, and Indian purchases were