The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-06

Affairs, which has been conferred upon the War De-
Partmenh Is becoming every day moro interesting,
involving great questions OF humanity the means OF
education and the advancement of the christian re-
! ligOD amongst the unfortunate and often wronged
people, WIN The great and benevolent design 10 save
them from total extinction. The comprehensive du.
Ties thus Thrown upon US acquire deeper concern and
awaken more anxious topics of speculation, by
knowledge oil the fact that the government OF The
United States, in the accomplishment of its own laws
and OF treaty stipulations, has transferred TO the
country west OF the Mississippi river eigbty-nlne
thousand two hundred and eighty eight Indians since
The adoPlionol emigration policy which must very
soon exhaust itself in the entire removal of all the
remaining lrloes within the limits OF any OF the
States That number, without embracing, say sew
en- thousand Choctaw aud Miames, for whose emil
grafton contracts are made,) added TO those tribes IN
dgeDuous TO the west side of the Mississippi, and
embracing those only OF whom returns have been
made TO the office of Indian affairs amounting TO
hundred and siAty-eight thousand six hundred and
nineteen viii show an Indian population of two hun
dred and hity-our thousand and ninety-two, known
TO the United States contiguous TO borders, and
entirely independent OF the vast and numerous tribes
that roam through the distant forests Of our own
territory, and whose wandering habits and propensi-
ties render II impossible TO make even remote cal
culation OF their force.
such, likewise, are our intimate connection and
fiscal concerns with those tribes under immedi-
ate protection, that, by the estimates of the Indian
"a
upon tue government for the estimated annual APP
preparation Of illion one hundred and ninety
three thousand six hundred and twenty mine dollars
and fourteen cents. portion of this sum, amount
ing TO seventy seven thousand hundred and
hty-fye dollars, exclusive Of private contributions
made by various religious denominations, impelled
by the pure spirit of christianity, disbursed for the
purposes OF education among the several Indian
tribes, agreeaby to treaty stIulations.
Some Of these tribes under the benign protection
and efforts of the general government, are rapidly
changing their condition, and assuming character
which entitle them to higher consideration, and
must speedily press upon Congress the necessity of
deciding the question whether our policy must not
undergo an essential change, and, instead of sys-
TEN OF guardianship, adopt that of incorporating and
extending over them the blessings Of our own lnsti-
ullons, as their moral and intellectual improvement
advances, and encourages us to do so, without ex-
posing their present rights TO imposition and plumber
In The course OF the progress under our moral en-
terprise for their CIVILIZATION they must eventually
attain the sagacy to look out for individual and
cial rights, and that degree of general intelligence to
ente them to the full extension of all the privileges
of American citizens. When that time shall arrive
there will be no obstacle to political association by
reason OF any natural acquired repugnance to the
blood of the orig inal American.
Amongst the various schemes and theories suggest
cd by phanthropc men for the elevation OF the
dton of the aborlgines education emphaticay the
Indispensable and only means by which that great
object OF humanity be attained. 1t is also very
obvious that that education must be d1used equal
ly through the mass of the tribe capacity and ap
tude will allow, by the establishment of common
schools within their own limits. The education and
intellectual advancement of few individuals of a
community, in college or school, at distance from
their trbe do not promote the just and liberal design
Of the government. IL is apprehended that the
perior requirements Of those few, placing them so
much in advance OF the of their tribe apt to
be We'd fish n
not in the oppression of their ignorant and
tulored brethren.
| At the present day there is every encoura gem ent
to indulge the hope that the Indispensable and only
means have minated Of civilization will be gIaual-
ly and voluntarily adopted and efficiently carried into
practice by the red men themselves. This gratifying
encouragement rests upon the fact that the 10
complete returns transmitted TO the Indian bureau
furnished evidence of the establishment of si1tyhve
schools amongst the emgrated tribes Immediately
along our western border May not also hope
that those schools under the guidance of moral and
Christian instructors, will speedily expel from among
the tribes the vile splTt-house of the reckless Indian
trader, whose evil profits depend upon The destruction
of every human being with whom he deals
! have so far proceeded in the execution of your
earnest Instructions that this department should
and satisfy the wishes of the people If the States of
Mississippi and Indiana, in reference to the Choctaws
and the Miamies, as TO have made contracts for the
removal and subsistence of those tribes The emf
/ nome
Is TO commence within the present year; and my in
formation enables me TO say that the lMamies will
be removed from Indiana in the early part of the
season.
When these contracts and the instructions TO which
have already advered in relation to the Seminoles
OF Florida shall be fulfilled, there will then remain
certainly not an enemy but merely a few and very
nconsiderable remnants of the vast and powerful ma
lions which once were the sole and warlike posses
sors of the entire region east of the Mississippi
regret TO be obliged TO refer to the continuance of
the dssensons unfortunately existing IN one
of the most enlightened Indian tribes the Chero-
KEGS had hoped that the return to their homes Of
the several delegations who in attendance in
this city during tue last session Of Congress, repre-
sentng the different parties which distract the nation
would be attended by disposition TO sit down in
harmony aud heal their unnatural feuds; that lust
and liberal spirit would animate those power and
that all would be permitted TO exercise and enjoy
those personal and political privileges which should
be the great objects Of people striving to initiate
the form and the institutions of that government I'M
der the protection of which they exist as a nation
| My expectations not having been realized | could
not feel myself relieved from the execution of mea-
sure held out by me in my communications with
those delegations, likely TO become necessary and
just TO all parties Every pledge of honor and of
public faith demands Of this government TO sustain
the Cherokee authorities IN the execution of their
legitimate powers, and at the same time to save the
minority from the barbarity Of " Indian lar :" and TO
prevent any future outbreak Of tyrannical power
Thus only can we discharge duty have incurred
by clause in the treaty # 1885, wherein " the Uni
ted States agree TO protect the Cherokee nation from
domestic strife"
The intelligence received from the Cherokee coun.
try in October last, determined at once to appoin
and give authority to three commissioners of high
and impartial characters, to proceed to the nation
and TO inquire on the spot INTO the conflicting atga-
tons and charges made by the several pertes to ex
anime into the extent and the Of the discon
tent and to ascertain the intensity Of the spirit of hos
tlity alleged to prevail between the different bands of
the tribe. BY their report the truth will be ascer-
tanned from disineresed source; and il reconca
ton shall prove to be mpracticable the executive
and the legislature will be enabled TO devise and ap
ply the proper remedy, and to grant the suitable re-
dress for any real wrong or oppression.