The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-21

eity,oppression and force and as if no element
should be wanting in the hateful compound,
fraud was superadded- as if to remove
the right OF the Indians to complain Of the
fraud upon them, another fraud was perpetrat-
ed on our own Government, as is too mani
fest to admit of doubt. The commissioners
were first ordered only to treat with the ma
Jority Of the nation. They applied to the De-
partment to be authorized to treat with the
minority, but were refused. They had the
holiness to apply again, and were again re-
fused. They then sent special messenger,
MIR. Curry, to Washington, TO communicate
verbally-yes, sir, rsrbaAy--LItera scripia
manet-with tho Department, and commune
cate freely to the Secretary the views Of the
Commissioners, and to ask his assent. We
have no evidence what those verbal commu-
nicatlons were, but we do know that this spe-
ciai messenger returned, with the approval Of
the Department of the suggestions Of the
Commissioners, and that the treaty was in
stantly made with the minority-with one
sixteenth only Of the nation, and the meanest
portion of it. Who doubts that il was done
in pursuance Of the authority of the Secreta-
ry? They would not have dared to do il
without, and in open violation of previous in
i 81
under which the treaty was made, were called
for in the Senate. all these verbal instructions
We're withheld-and il is thus that, said,
fraud was practised on our own Government,
as well as en- the Indians.
II was under these circumstances Of delibe-
rate fraud and oppression, that civilized
and virtuous people, the remnant Of ! once
powerful tribe, We're about to be forced for
ever from their homes and the graves Of their
fathers-a people, upon whom our own Go.
experiment. There is nothing in history
which approaches the gigantic strides Of this
people, IN the career of civilization. In less
than the fourth Of a century, perfectly bar
barous people were transformed into one al
together civilized-a vrtuous, industrious and
prosperous people But there was stern
and memorable necessity that they should re-
move. felt that necessity, and as a measure
1 OF practical humanity to the Indians them
selves, and all questions ofhumanity are prac-
teal questions, voted for the appropriate ons.
But the first wish ofmy heart was, that if the
blow must fall upon them, that it should fall in
all mercy and tenderness. That no act Of
kindness should be wanting to soothe the
wound which we made, would, myself, have
most cheerfnlly given them FIVE times as much,
as peace offering to my own conscience
Much more readily would vote, as did, to
divert two millions from military purposes to
those of peace and Cancellation. The mea-
sure, however, did not originate with Mr..
Bell, but with the Secretary of War; and
should be happy to know that a letter which
wrote to that officer, first suggested it.
should be proud Of it, with whomsoever the
idea did originate nothing could be more hui
name and honorable i Is results Tha, mans
heart is not rightly attuned, which would
not prefer, in any case, but especially in this,
measures of peace to those of harshness and
force, and who would object to diverting
means which had already been provided for
the hunting and massacre Of these poor crea-
lures to purposes of charity. If one drop Of
Blood had been shed, it would have cried to
Heaven against US.
But, sir, a word or two more as to econo-
my. You see that my remarks are as desul-
tory as told you they would be, as l speak
without notes or other reparaton-altogether
an affair of Guerilla cavalry. Economy, yes,
sir, that is once more the catchword. There
is some boldness, at least, in this. If there
is any thing redeeming in it, it is the audacity
u
regular expenditures in ten years from thirteen
to nearly thirty-six millions, ventunng to talk
Of economy. Economy | should think the
word if did not blister their lips, would Grim
son their cheeks. What single item ofpub-
lie expenditure has not been increased, and on
the regular, and almost avowed, principle Of
increasing the value Of public offices as re-
wards to clamorous and broken down poltl-
clans as the spois Of victory-spoils not
torn from conquered enemies, but from their
own confding country. Well, sir, in this they
exhibit their usual tact and skill they know
that the true sensorium OF liberty is the pocket.
We have seen the people of this country
standing by quietly and as if unheeding, and
seeing one by one every entrenchment OF the
public liberty broken down, and all its ancient
guarantees destroyed, with not only perfect
Indifference, but with increased confidence in
those who did it, at last aroused from a sleep,
that seemed lethargic, by the supposed loss of
n few miions-one encroachment after an
other-one usurpation after another, in quick
and terrible succession have we seen occur,
and pass by us like a summers cloud. Their
very frequency secured their impunity. One
enormity was hardly exposed before another,
and worse one trod on its heels, and the first
became an old story. Usurpations SO frequent
and important, as really, in my judgment, to
have caused an almost entire civil revolution.
And say in the presence ofthat God, whom
would not dare to call upon to attest a false
hood, that there is no people in Christendom
purporting 10 be free, in my judgment, which
has been as badly governed for the last ten
years as our own, by as weak, as ignorant, and
incompetent men. Nor do believe that in
any limited monarchy in Europe would usur-
patons and acts have been tolerated, which
have been here, in this Republic OF ours. But
the great body Of the people are now, thank
God, aroused, and the cry is, once more,
hy whom III L