Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-24
REPORT ON INDIAN AFFAIRS.

The report IF Orlando Brown, Esq, "Com.
missioner of Indian Affairs," naturally attracts
the attention and curiosity of those who take an
in crest in the present condition and future des
tiny Of the remaining aboriginal inhabitants Of
our continent The pages of American Histo
ry which record the first imagination Of Chris
tianS, are stained with many bloody record Of
the war of exterminatiGn carried on against the
original possessofs Of the soil--nor, in later
times, have the Indians hrch much better treat
ed, in the zeal of the Whites TO seize their hunt
ing, grounds Driven from the green graves Of
their sres to the western wilds, by the people
the United States, the red men have claim up
on our government for protection and support.
A nd we are glad to see that in nftording this
proiection and support, the government endeav-
ors to improve the moral n nd intellectual condi-
.tion of this semi barbarious and unfortunate race
ft nppcars by AR. .Rron MS report that e IL il
to tritni and intestine wars aud dineuIties as
much, if not more than any other cause, that the
decline and misery of the Indian, race are Justly
to be attributed. Ennity between them is, in
many cases, hereditary and implacable. and no
occasion is omitted to indulge it by the destrnc
lion Of life and other outrages. The retaliatory
law of blood-for blood, which universally pre-
walls among the uncivized tribes causes it to
remain unappe ased and unappeasable, whether
existing between different tribes or between
members of the same tribe 1t is, therefore, no
less the dlctlte of humanity than it is a high
moral duty on the part of the Government to
intcrpose its strong arm in the most effectual
manner possible to put a stop to its most lamen
table and dreadful consequences, if the feeling
itself cannot be eradieated" Congress should
pass laws. (Mr. Brown goes on to recommend J
empowering commandants of posts to punish
Indians convicted of murder, theft, and habitua
intemperance.-Bes
"The balefnl and amcntable effects of indul.
geuce in arden spirits by the Indians, have been
so often and wildly portrayed in former reports
as to render unnecessary any extended remarks
upon the subject on this occasion. All the laws
passed by Congress, and the most strenuous eff
forts Of the Indian agents, and the military sta
toned in the Indian country, to put stop 10 the
lnhunan traffic IN this article have in great
measure failed to effect that end In conse
quencc of the extent Of the Indian frontier, and
the 'mpossbility of guarding it at every point,
the fendlike and mercenary wretches who en-
gage in tin defiance OF all law, human and
divine-fnd ample opportunities for Introducing
liquor into the Indian country, and to vend it to
the Indians, at profits so enormous as to stimu-
late them to encounter considerable degree of
risk in doing so. If, in addition to some proper
and salutary punishment in cases of continued
and repeated lntoxlcalon, means were provided
for suitably rewardng these Indians who might
distinguish themselves by their zeal and efforts
to prevent the introduction and use of ardent
spirits among their brethren, it is confidently
believed that in few years an etfectual check
would be given to the great curse of the tribes
on our borders
If the foregoing suggestions be carried out q
stop will, in great measure be put to triba
wars and intestine broils and difficulties: the
idea Of individual property and its security will
be promoted, which will lead to industry ant
thrift intenperance, which paralyses the be
nevolent efforts of the government, of christian
associations and Of individuals, will be banishet
from the Indian county, and, under the effect
of the other beneficial measures of policy, nov
in operation, there would be- manifest in the con
dilion and circumstances Of another generatio
many of our less civilized Indians, evidences O
moral and social improvement, and of advance
ment IN al he substantial elements # tribal I'M
individual prosperity and happiness-sinilar t
those which to the qualification and encourage
ment Of the philanthropist and the christian, ar
conspicuously evident among some of the semi
civilized tribes, such as tho Cherokecs, Choc
taws, Chokasaws and others. These peopt
have regular forms of government, good anc
wholesome laws, with proper officers for thei
administration, and their affairs are conducted
with degree of wisdom, vigor and imPartiality
by which the vicious are restrained, crm'
FURNISHED, and justice dispensed in manne
that would be crediiable to many civilised com
munities. Among this class of our Indians the
exercise Of such powers as those suggested
would not, therefore, be necessary.
These Indians, who have SO long FOsmed free