Liberty advocate., 1837-12-19

of course then, as well as the present day,
was of common occurrence; consequently
those who fled from tic arm Of Justice,
wandered into remote districts, and thus
peopled territories that never had the op-
portunity of rising into magnitude and
power. These wanderers, being mostly
the depraved, sought only the precarious
subsistence which the woods and rivers
afforded them. and from that stock &C
descended the natives Of the present Y
These wandering tribes, like the AraOQ
Gypsies, and other unsettled hordes, are
never populous. Great numbers are pre-
maturely destroyed by privations; others
are carried off by disease; but greater
part fall prey to dissentons which exist
among all barbarians to so great an ex-
tent, that extirpation not unfrequently en-
sues. The principle institled into them
from infancy is spirit OF the deepest re-
venge. Unacquainted with the precepts
of the Christian dispensation, they pursue
the course prescribed by their forefathers,
and. like the wild animals of the forest,
wage eternal war with each other. I'M
notation, which is practised to 50 great an
extent in Central Africa, and which ope-
rates against population, was IN like man
ner practised by the Aboriglnes oi Amer
lea. Their tempers were constantly sup
piled with the skulls Of their enemies.
Like the Scythians, each man had to pre-
sent a skull to the emperor, or he obtained
no reward A society, so constituted, could
never enlarge its borders with the smiling
scene of rising population, and flourish
ing cities.
China, on the contrary, from the very
frame of its government, and encourage
ment of industry. increased its population
dailv, and retained it, which can never
happen to wandering race, constituted
as the Indian character is at the present
day -.
independently Of their general habits
being unfavorable to population, there Is
still a very important characteristic to be
enumerated; that women, existing IN
state of nature, appear to lose thelr pro-
life power. Hence the slow progres that
is made in populating those portions OF
the earth over which the Savage has inc
ascendency Nevertheless. this is wise
nroyision of the Deity, for where food is
prorarious,a large families ofchIIdren would
stnrye for want of the common comforts
and necessaries of life. Those who have
had opportunities of visiting the various
tribes, can testify to the fact Of their never
having heard of or seen any large family
of children. which is in accordance with
historians and philosophers, who have
written on the physical condition oil man
kind. on visiting the settlement OF the Mis-
sinaias and Sioux. The writer OF this
article was particularly struck with the
noucitv of children. He inspected then
dwellings,, and invariably found it the
same.
WHY tn, general population of tho
AhoriGines of America has declined since
tho conquest of the Spaniards and Portu
guesc. is question involved in great mys
terv. and puzzled the metaphysIcian; bu
IN calmly reviewing the subject, 1t Is q
easily solved as to inquire what has be
come Of the dense population OF Rome AM
Athens-of Babylon and NlneVeh:-theI
are emerged in surrounding nations
In the New World, the tide OF man ma
flowed in a different channel Whlls
thew reposed in peace and security, the
progressively increased in population, ur
fl thew arrived at that state OF clVlllZo
ton and power, described by La veg
and Acosta. But when foreign ehen
landed pom heir shores, lighted up IN
torch of discord, and put thousands 10 III
6 sword,-when the cry of extermhatio
went forth TO satiate the avarlclous Splr
; If the inyaders,-tho empire was rel
! osunder. Some flew to the mountains
others were doomed to the m'no; whll
: thousands perished by fire and by swor
This disgraceful outrage upon hati =,
/ less race of beings, perpetratcd unoef v y
mask of Christianity, will forever sta
{. the historians page, and can never DC 0
. liberated. The fertile plains oil MeNlc
deluoed with blood, have never recover
!, tho yiolent shock,-the effects oi that IL III
!. nous, cruel and treacherous. procoeuli III
> From that scene Of devastatIon' we ''.t
Joto the fall of people once raised 10 u
= ninnaclc of greatness, who nave nGI ny
~ Since shone conspicuous in the alh"iS
y y ' Driven from the bonds oI society," .nJ l
= = hob;ts have undergon complete revo
s ton; hence the various scu''elou 10 l.,
v over the face Of the country wno :" 10
,e gradually dwindled INTO con'pufcIIsr lc ~ ~
y = Tcw numbers. Like the tribes Oh lsru ~
10 thew have never since risen 10 10
~ united company, but continue as iug,sa, ,,,h,
y on the earth, or as the Egyp.Ians1i !, WV W.
70 numbers were immense ~ I'm ,n9 honC uuys 81
- Ptolomy, but in aftertimo have D been N :, !,
,s tered abroad, apparently never 70
,st again. oonsos exist al
~ ~ bar to their increasing numbers y o"N
ne or subject for our examination