Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-01-01

| | Drehensive view of the general interests bf the human race, is to be regretted Phila- thropv could not wish to see this continent r. stored to the condition in which it was foud bv our forefathers. What good man woyd prefer country covered with forests ad ranged by a few thousand savages, to our e. tensive republic, studded with cities, towr, and prosperous farms; embellished with Il the improvements which art can devise, r industry execute; occupied by more thu twelve millions of happy people, and hlld with all the blessings of liberty, civillzatin and religion
 The present policy of the Governments but continuation of the same progressje change, by milder process. The tries which occupied the countries now constituting the eastern States were annihilated, or hfe melted away, to make room for the whits. The waves of population and civilization re rolling to the westward; and we now propse to acquire the countries occupied by the I'd men of the south and west by a fair exchane, and, at the expense of the United States, 10 send them to a land where their eXstene may be prolonged, and perhaps made pe- petual Doubtless it will be painful to leap the graves of their fathers; but what do ther more than our ancestors did, or than our chi dron are now doing To better tleir COL diticn in an unknown land, our foretathes left all that was dear in earthly objects Our children, by thousands, yearly leave the land of the1r birth, to seek new homes in distant regions. Does humanity wetp at these pain ful separations from every thing animate and inanmate, with which the young heart has become entwined Far from it. It is rather a source of joy that cur country affords scope where our young population may range un- | ;,I J, ;,, ipI low no- the power and faculties of man in their high est perfection These remove hundreds, and almost thousands of miles, at their own eX- pense, purchase the lands they occupy, and support themselves at their new home from the moment of their arrival. Can it be cru el in this Government, when, by events which it cannot control, the Indian is made discon- tented ill his ancient home, to purchase his lands, to give him new and extensive ter ritory, to pay the expense of his removal, and support him year in his new abode ? How many thousands of our own people would gladly embrace the opportunity of removing to the west on such conditions If the offers made to the Indians were extended to them, they would be hailed with gratitude and joy.
 And is it supposed that the wandering savage has stronger attachment to his home, than the settled, civilized Christian Is it more alicting to him to
 
 liners and children? Rightly considered, the policy of the General Government towards the red man is not only liberal, but generous He IS unwilling to submit to the laws of the States, and mingle with their population. To save him from this alternative, or perhaps utter annhilation the General Govern ment kindly offers him u new home, and proposes to pay the whole expense ohis removal and settlement
 In the c0nsummaton of policy originating al an early period, and steadily pursued by every admns- traton within the present century-so Just to the States, and generous to the Indians, the Execu- tive feels it has right to expect the cooperation of Congress- and ofall good and disnterested men, The States, moreover, have right to demand it. It was substantially part of the compact which made them members of our confederaCy With Georgia, there is an express contract: with the new States an implied one, of equal obligation. Why, in au- thorizing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri Misss- sippi, and Alabama, to form constitutions and be- come separate States, did Congress include within their limits extensive tracts of Indian lands and, in some instances, powerful Indian tribes! Was itnot understood by both parties that the power of the States to be co-eXtensive with their limits, and that with all convenient despatch, the General Go vernment should eXtingush the Indian title, and re- move every obstruction to the complete jurisdiction ofthe State Governments over the soil Probably not one of those States would have accepted s. parate existence-certainly it would never have been granted by Congress-had it been understood that they were to be confined forever to those sma portions of their nominal territory, the Indian title which had at the time been eXtnguished.
 It is, therefore, a duty which this Government owes to the new States, to extinguish, as soon ai possible, the Indian title to all lands which Congress themselves have included within their limits. Whei this is done, the duties of the General Governmen. ill relation to the States and indians within thei; limits are at an end. The Indians may leave the State or not as they choose. The purchase of thei lands does not alter, in the leas their personal rea SNt,t., sl. General Government has ever been deemed neces- sary to give the States jurisdiction the persons of the Indians. That they possess, by virtue O. their sovereign power within their own limits, in al fill manner before as after the purchase of the In. dian lands nor can this Government add to or di. minsh it. May we not hope, therefore, that all good citizens and none more zealously than those who think the Indians oppressed by subjecton tothe laws of the States, will unite in attempting to open the eyes of those children of the forest to their true condition and, by speedy removal, to relieve them from the evils, real or imaginary, present or prospective, with which they may be supposed to be threatened. l Among the numerous causes of tcongratuatiOn, the condition of our impost revenue deserves special mention, inasmuch as 1t promises the means of ex- tngushng the public debt sooner than was antici- paed, and furnishes strong illustration ofhe prac- tical effects of the present tariff upon our commer- | cial interests.
 The oDec of the tarl IS oDected to by some as un- consttutiona and it is considered by almost all as defective in many of its parts.
 The power to impose duties imports originally belonged o,the several States The right to adjust those duties with view to the encouragement of domestic branches of industry is so completely incl dental to that power that it is difficult to suppose the existence of the one without the other. The States have delegated their whole authority i'm ports to the General Government, without limitation or restriction saving the very inconsiderabe reser, vaton relating to their inspection laws. This au- thority having thus entirely passed from the States