Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-12-10

adoption viii strengthen those checks by
which the Constitution designed to secure
the Independence Of each department Of the
Government, and promote the healthful and
Equitable administration Of al the trusts
which i has created. The agent most likely
to contrssene this design Of the Conssita.
ton is the Chief Magistrate. In order par
ticulatly, that his appointment may. As Ear as
possible, be placed beyond the reach Of any
improper influences; in order that he msy sp.
preach the solemn Responsibilities of the
highest Office in the gift Of a free people,
u~nconmitted to any other course than the
strict line of constitutional duty; and that
the securities for this independence may be
rendered as strong as the nature of power,
and the weakness Of its possessor, will admit,
| cannot too earnestly invite yeur attic ntion
to the proprirty OF promoting such an a.
mendmenf of the Constitution as viii render
him ineligible after one term Of service.
II gives me pleasure 10 announce to Con-
gress that the benevolent policy of the Gov.
ernment, steadily pursued for nearly thirty
years, in relation to the removal Of the Ia
dians hey ond the white settlements. is APP
preaching to a happy contamination. Two
important tribes have accepted the provision
made for their removal at the last session Of
Congress; and il IS believed that their exam
pie VIII induce the remaining tribes, also,
10 seek the same obvious advantages.
The consequences Of q speedy removal
will be important TO the United States. to
individual States, and to the Indians them
selves. The %pccunisry advantages which il
lpromises to the Government are the leasl OF
its recommendations. 1t puts an end to all
possible danger Of collision between the au-
lthoritics Of the General and State Govern
ments on account of the Indians. 1t will
place a dense and civilized population in
large tracts of country now occupied by q
few savage hunters. BY opening the whole
territory between Tennessee On the north, s
Louisiana on the south, to the settlement Of
the whites, it will incidentally strengthen
the southwestern frontier. and render the adj
~iacent States strong enough to repel future
invasion without remote aid. 1t will relieve
the whole state of Mississippi. and the ives
tern part Of Alabama, of Indian occupancy,
aud enable those States to advance rapidly
in population, wealth, and power. 1t viii
separate the Indians from immediate contact
with settlements of whites; free them from
1 tit roWCf VI Tic Stettst Ntaut( tHNtH ~ PCT
Sue happiness in their " way, and under
their W rude institutions; willsretard the
progress of decay, which is ~lesS$0ing tilcii
numbers. and perhaps cause then gradually,
uidert the protection of the Government, &
! through the influence of good counsels, to
cast of their savage habits, and become an
interesting, civilized, and Christian commp.
nifty. These consequences, some Of c SC
certain, and the rest so probable. make the
complete execution Of the plan sanctioned
by Congress at then last session an object oi
much solicitude.
Towards the aborigines Of the country no
one can indulge a more friendly feeling than
myself, or would go further in attempting to
reclaim them from their wandering habits,
and make them a hsppy & prosperous peo.
pie. l have cndeavored to impress upon
them my own solemn convictions of the du.
ties and powers of the Geaeral Government
in relation to the State authorities. For the
justice ofthe laws passed BY the States with
in the scope of their reserved powers, they
are not responsible TO this Government. As
individuals, we may entertain and express
our opinions of their acts; but, asa Govern.
ment, we have as little right to control them
as We have to prescribe laws to foreign ma
i tons. y
With a full understanding of the subject,
the Choetaw and ChickasAw tribes have,
with great unanimity, determined TO avail
themselves Of the liberal offers presented by
the act Of congress, and have agreed to re,
move beyond the Mississippi river. Treaties
have been made with them, which, in due
season., will be submitted for consideration.
In negotiating these treaties, they were made
to understand their true condition; and they
have preferred maintaining thair independ-
ence 10 the Western forests to submitting to
the laws of the States in which they now
reside. These treaties being probably the
last which will ever be made with them, are
characterized by great liberality on tire part
of the Government. They give the Indians
a liberal sun in conside ration of their rene
val, and comfortable subsistence on their ar
rival at their new homes. If it be their real
interest to maintain a separate existence,
they viii there be at liberty TO do so with
out the inconvenience aud vexations TO
which they would ~unavoidably have been
subject in Alabama and Mississippi.
Humanity has often wept over The fate Of
the aborigines ofthis country and phiian-
thropy has been long busily employed in de-
vising means 10 avert u but us progress hss
never for a moment been arrestcds and one
by one have many powerful tribes disappear
ed from the earth. To follow TO the tomb
the last of bis race, & to tread on the graves
Of extinct nations, excites melancholy refec-
tons. But true philanthropy reconciles the
mind TO these vicissitudes, as il does TO the
extinction OF enc generation to make room
for another. In the monuments and fortress
SEES Of an unknown people; spread over the
extensive regions Of the West, we behold
the memorials ola once powerfulrsce. which
was exterminated. or has dtsapneared. to