The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-05-13

q treaty? Is the Indian right less A right !
because the Indian is a savage: or does our
civilization give us title TO his right? A !
right which be inherits equally with US,
from the gift Of nature, and natures God.
Ihe Indian is man, and has all the rights
OF man. The same God who made US,
made him, and endowed him with the same
rights; Tor ''of one bleod hath he made all
the men who dwell upon the earth" And
II we trample upon these rights; if we
force him TO surrender them; or exinguish
them IN his blood; the cry Of that injustice
will rise TO the throne of that God, and
there, like the blood of Abel, will testify
against US. If we should be nrraigned for
the deed before his awful bar, and should
plead our boosted civilization in its de
fence, it would, in his sight, but add deep.
or damnatlon to the deed, and merit but
the more signal retribution os his external
justice. AS to the civilization of the 10.
dian, that is his own concern in the pursuit
OF his own happiness; If tho want Of it is a
misfortune, it is his misfortune; it neither
takes from his rights, nor adds to our own.
As To his being an inveterate savage, and
incapable Of civilization, DO not believe
it; in that respect, believe he is like the
rest OF mankind. The savage state is the
natural state OF man, and that state has
charms to the savage, which none but the
savage knows. Man no where, at no time,
ever rose from the savage to The civilized
man, but by the spur OF an absolute neces
sity; necessity which controlled aud could
not be controlled; it vas not until he could
no longer live as savage; or go whore he
, could live as savage, that he would sub
NIT himself 10 that iOcessant labor and Sc
we're retIaint, which lies at the foundation
of all civilization; and TO which nothing
bot education and habit reconcles the ma
ture even Of civilized man. The wild and
free nature Of the savage, unaccustomed
, to involuntary and constant labor, and to
t the multiplied and severe restraints Of civ
, illzed society, revots at the idea of that
, labor and those restraints; and his strong
: repugnance 10 them can only be overcome,
as ! have said by the force of an ovcrrul
ing necessity. have said this, not that
{ dlsapprove or would discourage attempts
, at their civilization; but to account for the
only partial success it has been only par.
tial, which has attended those attempts;
and at the same time 10 vindicate the In
dian from the charge ofincnpacity for civ
iIizatlon; any further forth, than as it is ap.
+ plicabe to all mankind, while, in savage
, state. That very necessity exists, and is
beginning TO exert It's civIl,Zing tendency,
where the tribes in question now arc: but
will no longer exist if they are removed as
r is contemplated by this bill.
3 Again, it is alleged against one Of these
= nations, situated not in one, but in several
| of these States, that they have been guilty
= Of an act which forfeits their right to live
) independently OF State jurisdiction, aud
a which requires that the forfeiture should
{ be Immediately and vigorously enforced.
= 1t is the al of their having changed the
$ form Of their government for their own in
ternal regulation. 1t scoms that TO better
! their condition, and with u view 10 their
0 own civilization, they have discarded that
of the savage. and adopted the government
I Of civilized man. And it is government,
] well devised to improve that condition, &
( insure that civilizations; a government that
is in itself monument OF wisdom, that
$ speaks volumes in favor of their capacity
s for civilization, and Of their advances there
>: in, for II has every essential feature of a
free and well balanced government II is
a evidently not a work ofblind imitation. for
: while it has followed the best models, il
Y has followed them only SO far as they were
adapted TO their circumstances; and it Is
original so ilr as their circumstances re
quired II 10 De so and where it is original.
It is no less admirable than where 1t Is i'm
tative. Attentive To those circumstances
SO far from assuming nny powers lncon
> sistent with their external relations either
/ to the United States or to those States that
government recognises and ratIfcs those
, relations exactly as they exist, and confines
Itself entirely To provisions for their own
, internal police. Sensible Of their rude
state, and with a view 10 their own ciyIliza
ton, it makes 1t the primary duty Of the
nation to provide the means of education.
, and to promote the acquisition and diiu
sion Of knowledge. Indeed, all its provis
ions show wise survey Of the present, &
, provident forecast for the future. Now,
, this new government is not TO be tolerated
for moment State legislation must come
r and ubate it as nuisance, aud the nations
are TO be punished for this atrocious act,
with the forfeiture, and forever, Of every
national right. They are not 10 be permit
, ted even to resume the government they
had discarded, and TO live again as saw
, ages: but they arc at once and ioreves To
to bo subjected to the rule ofanothor iuris
diction, never again to enjoy the right of
self governments; right which has come
down to them from their fathers, and thro'
, an unknown series Of generations, and for
, an unknown series ofages. A right which
they had used, but not abused; certainly
not in the act which is made pretext for
|. it's destruction.
+, Ill fated Indians! barbarsm, and at
/ tempts at civilization, are alike fatal to
r your rights but attempts at civilization the
4 more fatal of the two. The jealous their
\ own rights are the contemners of yours