Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1838-12-22

sarily referred to the report of the Secretary
of War for further details. To the Cherokees,
whose case has perhaps excited the greatest
share OF attention and sympathy, and the Uni
ted States have granted in fee, with perpet-
ual guaranty Of exclusive and peaceable pos
session, 1854, 1856 acres ofland, on the west
side fthe Mississippi, eligibly situated, in
healthy climate, and in all respects better suit
ed to their condition than the country they
have left, in exchange for only 9, 9,492, leo acres
on the east side of the same river. The Uni
ted States have in addition stipulated to pay
them five millions six hundred thousand dol
lars for their interest IN Improvements on the
lands thus relinquished and one million one
hundred and sixty thousand dollars forsubsist-
ence and other beneficial purposes; thereby
putting it in their power to become one of the
most wealthy and independent separate COM
munlties, of the same extent, in the world.
BY the treaties made and ratified with the
Miamies the Chippewas, the Sioux, the Sacs
and Foxes, and the Winnebagoes, during the
last year, the Indian title to eighteen millions
four hundred and filty.eigh thousand acres has
been extnguished. These purchases have
been much more extensive than those of any
previous year, and have, with other Indian
expenses borne very heavily upon the Trea-
sury. They leave, however, but a small quanti-
ty of unbought Indian lands within the states
and terri cries: and the legislature and execu-
tive were equally sensible of the proprety of
:, final and more speedy extinction of Indian
titles within those limits. The treaties which
were, with single exception, made in pursu-
ance of previous appropriations for defraying
the expenses, have subsequently been ratified
by the Senate, and received the sanction of
Congress by the appropriations necessary to
carry them into effect. OF the terms on which
these important negotiations were concluded,
can speak from direct knowledge: and feel
no difficulty in affirming that the interest ofthe
Indians in the extensive territory embraced by
them, is to be paid for at its fair value, and that
no more favorable terms have been granted to
the United States than would have been rea
sonably expected in a negotiation with civilized
men, fully capable of fappreciating and protect
ing their own rights. For the Indian title to
1l6,349s97 acres, acquired since the 4th of
March, 1929, the United States have paid
S12, ,56D,O56 in permanent annuities, lands,
reservations for Indians, expenses of removal
and subsistence, merchandise, and agricultural
establishments and implements. When the
heavy expenses incurred by the United States,
and the circumstance tha, so large q portion
ofthe entire territory will be forever unsalea-
Bile, are considered, and this price is compared
with that for which the United States sell their
own lands, no one can doubt that justice has
been done to the Indians in these purchases
also. Certain it is, that the transactions of
the federal government with the Indians have
been uniformly characterized by sincere and
paramount desire to promote their welfare
and it must be a source of the highest gratif-
cation to every friend to justice and humanity
to learn that, notwithstanding the obstructions
: from time to time thrown in its way, and the
difficulties which have risen from the peculiar
!: and impracticable nature of the Indian charac-
ter, the wise, humane and undertaking policy
oftbe government in this the most difficult of
all our relations, foreign and domestic, has at
length been justified to the world in its near
approach to n happy and certain consumma-
ton.
The condition of the tribes which occupy the
country set apart for them in the west, is high
ly prosperous, and encourages the hope Of
their early civilization. They have, for the
most part, abandoned the hunter state, and
turned their attention to agricultural pursuits.
All those who have been established for any
length of time in that fertile region, maintain
thcmselvesb by their own industry. There are
among them traders Of no inconsiderabe capi-
tai and planters exporting cotton to some ex-
tent, but the greater number are small agricul-
turalists living in comfort upon the produce of
their farms. The recent emigrants, although
they have in some instances removed reuct-
antly, have readily acquiesced in their unavoid-
able destiny. They have found at once re-
compense for past sufferings, and an incentive
to industrious habits, in the abundance and
comforts around them. There is reason to be-
lieve hat all these tribes are friendly in their
feelings towards the United States; and it is
to be hoped that the acquition of individu-