The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-01-22

there Is too msell IN Al y
such offences can, 1oN g. It 8 r. {
ed upon this Government 6fneS q 81 = = e!
free to pursue its own course. u 8 :!
with the Indian tribes have boex
friendly throughout; its efforts for lIS
ilization constant, and directed BY tl9
feelings Of humanity; its watchfulness hi
protecting them from individual frauds p1a~
rcmittin1 its forbearance, under the keeil~
est provocations, the deepest injuries, and
the most fagranto utrages, may challenges
least ascomparison with any nation, ancietzt
or modern, in similar circumstances: and 6
| in isHure times powerful, civilized, and
happy nation OF Indians shall BE found 10
exist within the limits of this northern con-
tnen,, it vii! be OWING TO the consumasislf
| of that policy which has been 80 unlnstly
fassailed. Only very brief references 20
facts in confirmation of this assertion can In
this form be given. and you are, therefore,
necessarily referred to the reportof the Sec
rotary of War for further details. To the
Chefokces, whose case has perhaps excited
the greatest share Of attention and sympa-
thy, the United States have granted in fee,
with a perpetual guaranty Of exclusive and
peaceable possession, 1855, 1872 acres Of
land, on the west side of the Mississippi,
eligibly situated, in healthy climate, and
| in all respects better suited to their condi-
ton than the country they hive left, in ex-
change for only 9,492, l60 acreson the east
sid of the same river. The United States
have in addition siipulatedto pay them five
millions six hundred thousand dollars for
their interest in, and improvements on, the
lands thus reinquished, and one million
one hundred and sixty Thousand dollars for
subsistence and other beneficial purposes;
thereby putting it in their power TO become
one Of the most wealthy and indpenden.
separate communities, of the same extent,
in the world.
BY the treaties made and ratified with
the Mianies, the Chippewas, the Sioux,
the Sacs and Foxes, and The Winaebasoes,
during the last year, the Indian title to
| ,rI,t nd
eight thousand acres Las been cxtingnished.
These purchases have been much more ex-
tensive than those of any previous year.
and have with other Indian@expenses,
borne very heavily upon the Treasury.
They have, howey er, but small quantity
of unl,onght Indian lands within the State
and Territories; and the Legislature and
Executive were equally sensible OF the
propriety of final and more speedy cx-
tinction of Indian titles within those limits
The treaties which were with ii single ex-
ception. made in pursuance of previous APP.
preparations for defraying the expenses,
have subsequently been ratified by the
Senate, and received the sanction Of Con-
gress by the appropriations necessary to
carry them into effect. Ofthe terms upon
which these important negotiations were
concluded, can speak from direct knowl-
edge; and feel no difficulty in affirming
that the interest sof the Indians in the ex-
tensive territory embraced by them, is to
be for at its fair value, and that no more
favorable terms have been granted to the
United States than would have been reas-
onably expected in a negotiation with civ
ilized men, fully capable ofapreciatng and
protecting their own rights.
For the Indian title to 116,349, s97,
acres acquired since the 18th of March,
1929, the United States have paid S72,
56o,056, in permanent annuites, lands, re-
servptions for Indians, expences of removal
and subsistence, merchandise, mechanical,
and agricultural establishments and imple-
ments. When the heavy expences incur
red by the United States, and the circum-
stance that SO large portion of the entire
territory will be forever unsaleable, are
considered, and this price is compared
with that for which the United States SELL
their own lands, no one can doubt that ius-l
tice has been done to the Indians in these
purchases also. Certain it is, that the
'sansactions Of the Federal Government
with the Indians have been uniformly char
acterized by sincere and par ,rnount de-
sire to promote their welfare; and it must
be a source ofth highest qualification tol
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 arisen from the
peculiar and impracticable nature of the In