Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-07-11

go! THE POOR INDIANA

The second article ia the American Quarteriy
Reyiew, for June, is devoted to criticism on
Eits History and Geography the Mississip-
pi Valley. The critic refers, with appreciation,
to Mr.. Fiint's opinion as to The impractical itv
of enabling the Indians 10 attain civilization
We give below that portion of the article which
contains the sentiments, roth # the reviewer and
of his author, on this subject. 1t is in striking
contrast with the mingled cant and fustian of
those political religionisis--''in the eastern Sec
ton Of the country'--who have long made In
dian oppression the theme of so much mawkish
sentimentality, hypocritical defamation, and fac
tious misrepresentation.
The author, though born and educated, and
long resident, in the eastern section of cur coun-
try, entertains very different opinion of the In
dian character from that maintained by the most
of his fellow citizens, whom he left behind him.
when he emigrated to the west. 1t would be idle
to discuss the point, which of the parties the en-
igrant who has mingled with the sayages, or the
stayers at-home, who have never seen them-has
had the best opportunity TO learn the truth. The
following extract contains his sentiments on that
subject.
"Their [the lndians] impossible fortitude and
endurance Of suffering, their contempt Of pain
and death, invest their character with kind of
moral grandeur. 1t is to be doubted, whether
suit of more than ordinary degree of physical
1nsenslbility 1t has been said, with how much
truth we know not, that in amputaion and other
surgical operations, their nerves do not shrink,
or show the same tendency to spasm, with those
of the whites. When the savage to explain his
insensibiity to cold, called upon the white man
to recollect how little his own face was affected
by it, in consequence of constant exposure, the
savage added, my body is all face This in
creasing insensibility, transmitted from genera
ton to generation, finally becomes inwrough,
with the whole web of animal nature. and the bod
y of the savage at last approximates the insensi-
bility of the hoofs of horses Considering the
necessary condition of savage existence, the tenn
permanent is the highest boon Of Providence OF
course no ordinary stimulus exctes them to ac.
aion. Few of the common motives, excitements
or endearments, operate upon them at all. Mos
OF the things, that move US, they either do moi
feel, or hold in proud disdan. The horrors Of
their dreadful warfare the Internal rage OF then
battles; the demonac fury of gratiied revenge
the alterations of hope and despair in their gam
bling; to which they are addicted, even beyont
the whites; the brutal exhileration of drunken
ness--these are their pleasurable excitemenss
These are the things that awaken them to strong
and Joyous consciousness of existence When
these excltements arouse the imprisoned energies
of their long and sullen meditations, it is ike
.EolIs uncaging the whrlwinds. The tomabawk
flies with Implying and unsparing fury; and the
wrishing Of their victims inspires horrible nov.
Let the benevolent make every exeruon to anne
liorate their character and condition Let chris
tianity arouse every effort to convey her pity
mercy, and immortal hopes to their rugged bo
SONS. But surely it is preposterous to admire the
savage character in the abstract. Let us neve,
undervalue tho comfort and security of munich