Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-17

to plow up their ground and 10 make their fences
to raise crops and save them and teach the Indians
how to farm with spinning. weaving and sewing
implements, and persons 10 show their use. Now.
all this was in single treaty with an inconsid-
cradle tribe, which had been largely provided fo
in the same way in six different previous treaties
and all the rude tribos, those in tie hunting state
= or just emerging from it, were provided for in the
same manner the object Of the United States being
to train them to agriculture and pasturage-to con
duct them from the hunting to the pastoral and the
agricultural state and for that purpose, and in adj
ditOn 10 all other benefits, 20 be added the sup
port Of schools, tho encouragement Of missionaries
and small annual contribution 10 religious socie-
ties Who take charge Of their civilization.
Besides oil this the Government keeps up large
establishment for the special care Of the Indians,
and the manug cement Of their aiiars-a special bu-
reau, presided over ly Commissioner at Washing
ton surerincndents in different districts agents
subagcnts, and interpreters resident with tho tribe
and all charged with seeing to their rights and in
torcsts-seeing that the laws IRE observed towards
them; that no injuries done them by the whites
that none but licensed traders 60 among them that
nothing shall be bought from them which is hcCes-
sary for their comfort, any thing sold 20 them
which may be to their detrmeut. Among the pro-
hibted articles are spirits Of all kinds; and 50 Sc
vcrc nro the penalties on this head that forfeiture
Of the license forfeiture Of the whole cargo of goods
forfeiture of tic penalty Of the bond, and immcdi-
ate suit in the nearest Federal Court for its recoy-
cry, expulsion from the Indian country and disa-
bility forever to acquire another license immediate
" follows every brecch of the law for the ntroduc-
ton Of the smallest quantity Of any Kind Of spirits.
How unfortunate. then, in NJ. dc Tocqucvic to
write that kegs Of brandy spread before the In
dians to induce them TO sell their lands How un-
fortunate in representing these purchases to be
made in exchange for wooIlen garments. glass neck
laces tinscl bracelets earrings and loUkngg gasses
What picture this assertion Of his makes by the
side Of the eightyfvo millions Of dollars at that
time actually paid 20 those Indians for their lands
and the long and large list Of agricultural articles
and implements long and large list Of domestic
animals and fowls; the ample supply Of mills and
shops, with mechanics TO work them and teach their
use the provisions for schools and missionaries
for building fences and houses, which found in
the Usage treaty quoted, and which are 10 be found
more or less in every treaty with every tribe omerg
ing from the hunter state! The fact is, that the
Government of the United States has made il
fixed policy to cherish and protect the Indians to
improve their condition, and turn them TO the hab-
It's Of civilized life; and great is the wrong and in
Jury which the mistake Of this writer has done TO
our national character abroad in representing the
United States as cheating and ro6kng these chill
drcn Of the forest.
But Monsieur de Tocqueyille has quoted name5
and documents and particular instances Of imposi-
ton upon indians to justify his picture; and in do
ing So has committed the mistakes into which q
stranger and soiOurner may easily fall lie cites
the report Of Mcssrs. Clark and Cass, and makes
n wrong application-an inverted npplicaton-oi
what they reported. They were speaking of tho
Ipractices Of dsorderly persons in trading with the
Indians for their skins and furs They were re-
porting to the Government All abuse for correction
and punishment. They were not speaking Of Uni.
ted States Commissioners treating for the purchase
of lands, but Of individual traders violating the
laws They were themselves those commissioners
and superintendcnts Of Indian Affairs and Govern
ors Of Tcrritores--one for the Northwest, in Mich
igun the other from the far West, in Missouri and
both noted for their justice and humanity to the
Indians and for their long and careful administra-
tion Of their affairs within their respective superin
tendencies. Monsieur dc rocquevillc has quoted
their words correctly, but with the conical hlundcr
of reversing their application, and applying to the
commissioners themselves, in their land ncgotia-
tiOus for the Government, the cheateres which they
were dcnouncing to the Government in the Illicit
traffic Of awlcss traders. This was the comic blum
der Of n stranger! This is to appear as American
history in Europe and to be translated into our own
language at home, and commended in preface and
J notes