The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-12-28


; ,eaVe' however, but a small quantity Of I'm
9 bought Indian lands within The States ane
territories; and the Legislature and Exc
cuiive were equally sensible Of the proprie.
" OF hnal and more speedy extinction oil
T indian 'I,ies within those limits. The trea
! ues which were, with a single exception,
mace 10 pursuance of previous approprla.
ton Tor deiraylng The expenses, have sub
sequenlly been ratified BY the Senate, and
received the sanetlon Of Congress by the
! appropriations necessary to carry them 10.
to effect. OF the terms upon which these
important uegociations were concluded,
can speak from direct knowledge; and
teel no difficulty 10 affirming that the inter
est OF the Indians 10 the extensive TERRITORY
embraced by them, IS to be paid for at It's
} fair value, ard that no more favorable terms
have been granted to the United States than
would have been reasonably expected to a
neeoclation with civilized men, fully capa
ble oil approaching and protecting their own
rights. For the Indian title to | 6, 349, s97
acres acquired since the Alb Of March, 1929,
the United States have paid SIS, $50, 056,
IN permanent annuities, lands, reservations
Tor Indians, expenses Of removal and SUBJ
sIsience, merchandise, mechanical and agri.
cultural establishments aud implements
When The heavy expenses incurred by the
I, ). and the CIRCUMSTANCE that 80 large
a portion Of the entire territory will be for
ever unsaIeable, are considered, aud this
price compared with that for hlch the IT,.
States sell their own lands, no one can doubt
that justice has been dome 10 the Indians 10
these purchases also. Certain Il Is, that
| The transactions of ib, Federal Government
wtth the Indians have been uniformly char.
actcrlz-d By a sincere and paramount, de
sire 10 promote their welfare aud II must
be source Of Inc highest eratIticatlon to
every friend 10 justice ard humanity to
learn that, Notwithstanding The distractions
from time 10 time lhroWu IN its way, and
the difficulties which have arisen from the
peculiar and imyraclicabe nature of The
Indian character, the wise, humane, and
undertaking policy Of the Government IN
this, tho mos, difficult Of all our relations,
foreign or domestic, has al length been JUS
'lfed to the world in Its near approach TO q
happy and certain consummation.
The condition Of the tribes which occupy
The country set apart for them IN the west
is highly prosperous and encourages the
hope of heir early civilization. They have,
for the most part, abandoned the hunter
state, aud turned their attention TO agricul.
tural pursuits. Al those who have been
established for any length of time IN that
fertile region maintain themselves by their
own industry. There are ameng them ira.
ders Of no lnconsIdera5le capital aud plan,
tiers exporting cotton 10 some extent but
the greater number are small agrlcu,urlsis,
living in comfort upon the produce Of their
farms. The recent emIgrants, although
they have 10 some instances removed re.
luclaa,ly, have readily acquiesced ~ their
unavoidable destiny. They have found at
once recompense for past suifarIngs aud
an lnce ntlye 80 industrious habits, IN the
abundance and comforts around them.
There Is reason TO believe that all these
tribes are friendly IN their feelings towards
the United States; and il is to be hoped
that the acquisition of individual wealth,
the pursuits Of agriculture, and habits OF IN
dustrv, will gradually subdue their warhke
propensi,es, and incline them 10 maintain
peace among themselves. To effect tins
desirable object, tie attention OF Congress
is solicited TO the measures recommended
by the Secretary of War, for their futurt
government and protection, as well iron
each other as from the hostility OF the war
Ike tribes around them, and the ihtruslons
of The whites The policy Of the Govern
ment has given them permanent home
and guaranteed TO them its peaceful and un'
{ disturbed possession. II only remains to
give them government and laws which will
/ encourage industry, and secure TO them the
rewards of their cxertlons. The impor'
lance of some form Of government cauno'
be too much insisted upon. The earliest
/ effects will be 10 diminish the causes aud
, occasions for hostilt,ies among the tribes
+ 10 inspire an interest in the observance o
laws to which they will have themse!ve:
} assenled, aud to multiply the securities o
property, and the motives for self improve
} ment. Intimately connected with this sub
] iect is the establishment u! the military de
fences recommended by the Secretary o
I War, which have been already referred TO
! Without them, the Government will b.
powerless 10 redeem its pledges of pro'ec
+ ton TO the emigratins Indians against the
numerous warlike tribes that surround them
: and to provide for the safety of the iron
tier settlers of the bordering States.
, The case of the Sem,noles constitutes a
D present the only exception TO the successu
efforts of the Government TO remove the In
dians TO the homes assigned them wesl Q