Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-14
ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

nations ~ Huae'S HIST Of Eng, p. l.
1b,o looked into a few histories and other works. with
Wow 70 the collection Of data upon which might feel myself
justified in presuming attempt theory upon the origin Of
the Indians.
Who are the Indians of what race descended
their ancestors indigenous or immigrants and, II imm-
grants how did they get here questions which have been
often popounded, but far as know, satisfactorily
answered Nor shall undertake to answer Them From
the mere imputaion thought myself capable of such
task in view Of all the difficulties which surround it, my mind
would shrink overwhelmed with confusion. But living in
this happy country where every man, however humble has
right to give an expression his opinions, have concud
ed TO place before public my crude and hasy reflections
on this perpIexng subject avowng in advance that at
tach but little importance to them myself and only publish
them with the hope that they prove not altogether unn
rerestng specuaten however unsatisfactory theory
In the first place. believe that the orefahers of the In
dams were Indigenous because the admission that they
were would initiate with the biblical genealogy Our religion
teaches us the first parents of the whole human race
were placed by the hands of the Almighty the banks Of
the Euphraes and that thence their descendants scattered 10
the surrounding countries; that after several generations
owing to their abomnabe wckedness, all but family were
DESTROYED who landed from the ark region where
The first parents existed Ny faith in this account supported
as believe it to be by all history moral physical and pol
cal is firm and ndestructbe will assume, therefore, as
poulate that the ancestors of Indians emgrants
Then Of what race were they and how did they arrive here
believe that the probabilities the subject Of their origin,
for they are but probabilities be reduced to three pro-
positions
u, That the Indians are descended of the ancient Ger
man tribes.
d Thu, tbov are the descendants of the lost tribes of
Israel or some Of them carried into captivity by the King
Of Assvra about six hundred years before Christ and
returned.
Cd That thew are the descendants Of the Nomadic
tribes scattered ancient Syha now Siberia, and the
eastern part of Russia, in Europe.
Pursuing the plan recommended by Hume, far to
contrast the manners and customs nations with those of the
Indians whose origin we seek, present the following syl
bust Of the manners and of the German tribes and
will then proceed give similar to the other nations
mentioned in the second and third propositions
The .4ncient Germans.
Preceding their battles they sung songs in honor Of
heroes accompanied by fierce vocferaon and gestures
Tact. sect. 2, 3.
? To make ens to retreat and return and attack their
foes from woods Marshes and secret places, their man
ner of fGhting.-Tacit i. Css Lib. 6-34
B. They always bore their slain from the field, even IN the
most desperate hattes.-Tact. 6.
4. They had no temples, sacriices-Tact D. Cas- Il.
s. They were governed by chiefs who ruled not by
co but by example by taking the post of danger and
citing the admiration Of their tribe-Tact 7-l4 Cas- %
g. Their councils composed of the Chiefs and held
and conducted precisely those of the lndians-Tacit H.
Cas- 3d.
T. They always went armed.-Tacit Is.
They paid attention to agriculture, their life beng
passed in and hunting and when not so engaged they
gave themselves up to sleep and lazRess -Iacl H. 10 d.
Cas-. 81, -, %.
g. They raised nothing but corn and this cultivated
entirely by the the latter performing also all the
drudgery.--Tacit. Is, 26.
TO- Their houses miserable hus OF the rudest mate
rails and construction-Tacit To-
H. The clothing Of men and left great part of
the body naked-Tacit. IL. Cas- 2l
u. Exchange of presents constituted the marriage VOW
Tacit. Is.
l3 They delighted in gifts but neither took to themselves
credit O what they gave, nor felt themselves under obga-
tons for what receved.-Taclt 2l
a. Their children about their hus dirty and naked,
but they were otherwise treated by their parents with the ut
most tenderness and aiiecion.-Tacit 20
Is Their food milk, wild fruit, and the flesh OF Wild
heasts.-Tacit %. Ces. %.
l6 They hal a great passion for gaming, betting every
hing they possessed, and sometimes even their liberty
Tacit. "a.
H. They were temperate eating, but passionaey fond
Of any intoxicating drink. s-Tact. %.
IS They had no certain landmarks boundaries to their
fields, and occupancy their only tile-Css y
Ie The Tribe (Suones inhabing the borders of the North
Sea- built their boats and navgated them the Indians do
Tacit. "A.
20. The Fenni, (Finande) the most northern tribe de-
scbed by Tscus used bows and arrows as their only wei
pons the being pointed with bone. In fact the whole
description given Of them by the historian is remarkable
when considered in reference the condition Of many Of he
modern tribes Of Indians. '-Tacit. 46.
Manners and Customs Of the Jews.
l. They had when their coin rpened called "The
Feast of the First Fruits, during which there rejoicing
and cessation Of all wok.-Lev chap. %, verse 9 Is
Numbers oh. 2s, '. 2G Exod. CHI %, V. Is, l6.
2 They frequently destroyed men, women, and children
in their wars They cruel in their puuishmeIts and
deadly in their reyenge-Joshua, CHI 10, '. 20 70 40.
Judges ch 81 v TO-. Second Samuel, oh. II, v 81 lst
Kings ch H. v Is, l6. IBID. CHI 10, " H. Judges oh.
A. 81 lst Kings CHI 2, Y. 6.
g. By Divine institution they to minge with
other peope.-Deuteron. CHI Z, v to II.
A. Their God invisible spirit.
s. The murderer destroyed by the nearest relation Of
the deceased-Josh CHI 20, Y. 6. Second Samuel CHI Ia,
'. 6, Z, IL.
Inferior offences punished with strpes.-Deueron
Oh. -.
Z. Wizards and witches put to death-Levit. ch
30 q. Second Kings, oh. 2S, "a lst Samuel, CHI
2s, v. 9.
3. Poygamy was allowed and practsed. The Old Tesla
Inent passim.
g. They had formal marriage ceremony. Conrcnsus e
concubitus fecerunt nupas-Gen ch. a. Ga. IBID cn
20, ct pasm
TO- They divorced their wives Decentralization. Oh
"a Matthew, ch. 10, Y. 7, $,
IL. They did dlsfgure themselves cut of their hal
at the death OF Standardization. oh. IA, v J, 2.
at.w.N.. fIx.N II