Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-06-30

constitution is such as 10 render US incapable o.
; apprehending, and incompetent to practise, upor
t those principles from which result the charac
teriaic qualities of Christian civilization; and
so. bv necessary consequence, under the sane
tion of acknowledged principles of moral law
we must yield ourselves sacrifices doomed by
the constitution which the Almighty has made
for us, to that other race of human beings, whom
the same Almighty has endowed with more
noble and more worthy constitution.
These are the premises: these the arguments:
these the conclusions; and if they are true and
Just and legitimate, in the language of the poet,
we must say
"God of the just--thou gavest the bitter cup,
We bow to thy behest, and drink it up
But are they true, and Just and legitimate ?
Do we, as people, lack the capacity of appre-
hending and appreciating any of the principles
which form the basis of Christian civilization |?
Do we lack the competency of practising upon
those principles in any or all their varieties of
application!
A general reference TO facts as they are re-
corded in the history of the former days of our
existence, and as they now are transpiring be-
fore the eyes of the whole enlightened world
give an answer which should ever stife the
question, and redeem us from the stigma.
Before citing particular exemplications Of
the truth of this, will allude to one question
which Is trlumphanIly asked by those who adopt
the doctrine of the un,ameable nature of the In
dian, viz: Why have not the Indians become
civilized and Christianized as consequence of
their intercourse with the withstand of the
Of tbo Lr;p l..
BILE result! Who that believes the suscepti-
biliIies and passions of human nature to be in
the main uniform throughout the rational species,
needs an answer to this question from me?
Recur TO the page which records the deal
ings, both in manner and substance, of the ear
ly white settlers and of their SUCCESSORS, down
even to the present day, with the unlettered
and unwary red man, and then recur to the sus-
capabilities of your own bosom, and the ques-
ton is answered.
Say, We on whom the sunlight of civilization
and Christianity has constantly shone-into
whose lap fortune has poured her brimful horn,
so that you are enjoying the highest and best
spiritual and temporal blessings of this world
Say, if some beings from fairy land, or some
distant planet should come 10 you IN such man
greater light and superior wiSdom to yourselves,
and you should open TO them the hospitality of
your dwellings, and the fruits of your labour,
and they should, by dint of their superior risdom,
dazzle and amaze you, so as for what to them
were toys and rattles, they should gain freer
admission and fuller welcome till finally they
should claim the RIGHT to your possessions, and
of hunting you, like wild beasts, from your long
and hitherto undisputed domain, how ready
would yOu be TO be taught. of them? How cor
daily would you open your minds to the convic-
ton that they meant not to deceive you further,
and still more fatally in their proffers of pretend
ed kindness.
How much of the kindness of friendship for
them, and of esteem for their manners and Gus
toms would you fee!7 Would not ''the milk of
human kindness" in your breasts be turned to
the gall Of hatred towards them'
And have not uc, the original and undisputed
possessors Of this country, been treated porSc
than yOU would be, should my supposed case
be transformed to reality?
But will leave the consideration of this
point for the present, by saying what believe
every person who hears me will assent 10, that
the manner in which the whites have habitual-
ly dealt with the Indians, make them ,eonder
that their hatred has not burned with tenfoId
fury against them, rather than that they have
not laid aside their own peculiar notions and
habits, and adopted those of the civilized neigh
bours.
Having said thus much as 10 the question,
" Why have not the Indians been civilized and
Chrisianzed by the intercourse and efforts of
the whitesw-
| would now call your attention TO a brief ex-
empliGcalion Of the point was remarking upon
before alluding to the above mentioned ques-
ton, viz: THAT the Indian is capable of appre-
hendiug and appreclating, and is competent to
practise on those principles which form the
basis oil Christian civilization"
do not know that it has ever been question
ed, and especially by those who have had the
best opportunities to learn by experience and OBJ
serUation, that the Indian possesses as perfect a
physical constitution as the whites, or any other
race of especially in the matter of hardy
body, swift foot, sharp and true eye, accompa-
lied by hand that scarcely ever drew the bow