The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-05

civillzed ana happy nation Of Indians shall be found
exist within the limits Of this northern continent
Il will be owing 10 the consummaiion OF that policy
which has been unIusily assailed Only a y.vv
brief reference 10 facts In confirmation Of this
lion can in this form be given and you are there.
fore, necessarily referred 10 the report of The Secre
iary Of War for further details TO the ChernLaes
whose case has perhaps excited The greatest share r
attention and sympathy, the United States have
granted fee, with perpetual guarantee Of excln.
sve ana peaceabie possession, 1854 1856 acres Of
land, on the ives, side Of The Mississippi. eligible
situated, in healthy climate. and In hi resoec,S.
better suited 10 their condition than the country tb,
have leh In exchange for only 1872 100 acre ~
The east side OF The same river The United Sares
have IN addition stipulated 10 pay them five miIIio
six hundred thousand dollars for their in,ere., a.
improvements on the lands thus TelnauiShed ana
one million one hundred and sixty thousand dnIIar
ior subsistence and other beneficial purposes here
by putting IN their power 10 become one OF the mos
wealthy and independent separate commnni,e. -
The same extent In the world =
ny inc treaties made and ratified with The Nj,
mics The ChipPewaS, the Sioux, the Sacs and Foy"s
ana inc Winne5agos, during the las, wear he In.
Wan i, 'e " ish'eeh million four bundled an INV
eight thousand acres has been extncuiSbed Tbn'o
purchases have been much more exlcnSiv. I'm
uo se Vi any previous year, and have win other
indian expenses borne very heavily upon HE 'rIea
suy. ihey leave, however but small quantity o.
uhoouSht Indian lands within the States and Terri.
loriesj and the Legislature and Executiy. were
equally sensible Of The proprely Of final and more
speedy extinction Of Indian titles within those limits
me treaties which were, with a single exception
haue 10 pursuance OF previous appropriations for
uelfaying the expenses, have subsequent been IA.
nhed oy The Senate, and received The sanction Of
congress by the appropriations necessary 10 carry
iheih INTO effect OF The terms upon which these
important negotiations were concluded ! can sneak
from direct knowledge; andaI feel no difficulty IN
ahrming that the interest OF the Indis ms in The er
tensiye territory embraced by them Is 10 be maid car
al its fair value and that no more favorable terms
have been granted 10 The United States than would be
reasonably expected in negotiation with civilized
men, fully capable Of approaching and PROTECTING
their own rights For The Indian title 10 ZIG 3ig s91
acres, acquired since the 4h Of March is2g the
United States have paid So, $50 056 in permanent
anhuiues lands reservations for Indians, expenses
OF removal and subsistence, merchandise, mechani-
cal and agricultural establishments and inpIe mems
When the heavy expenses incurred by the United
States and the circumstance that so large portion
OF Inc eniire territory will be for ever unsaleable
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 In
dams in these purchases also. Certain il IS that The
transactions of the Federal Government with the
INDIANS have been uniformly characterized by
sincere and paramount desire to promote their vel
fare; and il must be source of the highest graif-
cation TO every friend to justice and humanity TO
learn that notwithstanding the distractions from
time to time thrown in its way and The difficulties
which have arisen from the peculiar and mpracti-
cable nature Of the Indian character, the wise hu-
name. and undertaking policy Of the Government in
this. the most difficult OF all our relations foreign or
domestic, has at length been justified TO the word
in its near approach TO happy and certain consum
nation.
The condition of the tribes which occupy the
country SET apart for them in the west. is highly
prosperous, and encourages the hope of their early
civilization. They have, for the most part, aban-
doned the hunter state, and turned their attention
agricultural pursuits. All those who been established
for any length Of time in that fertile region main.
tain themselves by their own industry. There
among them traders of no inconsiderabe capital
and planters exporting cotton to some extent; but
the greater number small agriculturiss, living
in comfort upon the produce Of their farms. The
recent emigrants, although they have in some in.
stances removed reluctantly have readily acquesced
in their unavoidable destiny. They have found al
once recompenSe for past sufferingS, and incen
tive to industrious habits, in the abundance and
forts around them There is reason to believe that
all these tribes are friendly in their feelings towards
the United States; and il is 10 be hoped that The
QUESTION Of individual wealth. the pursuits of agri
culture, and habits of industry will gradually sub
due their wariike propensieS, and incline them TO
MAINTAIN peace among themselves. To effect this
desirable Object the attention d Congress is solicited
War, for their future government and protection
as well from each other as from the hostility of the
warlike tribes around them, and the intruSionS of
the whites. The policy Of the Government has
given them permanent home and guaranteed 10
them its peaceful and undStuIbed possession. 1t
only remains TO give them government and laws
which Will encourage industry, and secure 10 them
the rewards of their exertions. The importance of
some form OF government cannot be too much in
sisted upon. The earliest effects will be 10 diminish
the causes and occasions for hoStilitieS among the
tribes, TO inspire an interest in the observance Of
laws TO which they themselves have aSSened and
TO multiply the securities OF property, and the
tivcs for sef-improvement. Intimately connected
with tins subject is the establishment of the military
deiences recommended BY the Secretary Of War,
which have been already referred 10. Without
them, the Government will be poweresS 10 redeem
its pledges OF protection TO the emigrating Indians
against the numerous warlke tribes that surround
them and to provide for the safety ofthe frontier SET
tiers of the bordering States.
The case of the Seminoles constitute at present the
only exception TO the successful efforts otthe Govern
mentto remove the lndanSto the homes assigned them
west OF the Mississippi. Four hundred of this tribe
emigrated in 1885, and fifteen hundred in ls3! and
1888, leaving in the country, it is supposed, about
1000 Indians. The continued treacherous conoNc'
Of these people; the savage and unprovoked muI-
ders they have lately committed, buichering whole
families of the settlers Of the Territory, without dis
tinction of age or sex, and making their way into
the very centre and heart OF the ~, so that no
part of is free from their ravages their frequent
attacks on the lighthouses along that dangerous
coast and the barbary with which they have muir
dered the passengers and crews OF such vessels as
have been wrecked upon The reefs and keys which
border the Gulf, leave the Government no alterna-
tive but continue the military operations against
them until they are totally expelled from Florida.
There are other motives which would urge the
Government TO pursue this course towards the Semi,
noles. The United States have fulfilled IN good
faith all their treaty stipulatons with the Indian
tribes and have in every other instance, insisted up
on a like performance Of their obligations. To re-
lax from this saluiary rule because the SemnoleS
have maintained themselves SO long in the Terrific
ry they had relinquished, and, in defiance of their
frequent and solemn engagements, still continue 10
ypa a ruthless w AGAINST the limited STATES
would not only evince a want Of constancy on our
part but be of evil example in our intercourse with
other tribes. Experience has shown that but littIc
is 10 be gained by The march Of armies through a