Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04

ing all they had say upon the subject gave reply in
which he assured them Of the constancy endsnp ana
protection of the Government Of the United States the
consideration to which they entitled from the fact or
their having emigaed west Of Arkansas ut the sugges,
ton of the President and assured them that II enutled
them to the most favorable consideration Oh TINS uoyern
ment. He told them, you now In country where
you can be happy white shall ever again disturb
you; the Arkansas will protect your southern boundary
when you get there You will be protected on either
side; the white shall never again encroach upon
YOU and YOU will have great outlet to the West AS
long water flows, grass grows upon tue eafh or
the rises to- show your pathway or you knde your
camp fires, long shall you be protected by this Gov
eminent, and never again removed from your present
| habitatons.
Reposing full confidence in these pledges the Indians
have acted though the United States in carrying out
their portion of the contract in relation to part or the
tribe west of the Mississippi without adding to their ter
rtory without making 1t distinct located the lndans
of the Mississippi river-after giving them mons
of dollars for their landsupon the territory OF the west
ern Cherokees. The who had organized themselves
into government and lived upon the territory guaran-
tied them separate and distinct people, found these
others thrown upon and intermingling with them and
although there additional and distinct territory 10
the north of them designated and laid off for the Eastern
Cherokees they did not settle there but located IN he
midst of the old settlers dspossessed them OF their homes
their improvements, their sat-works ana every thng
valuable and formed government superseding the
former one and usupng the rights vested in the former
| tribe
need not rehearse to gentlemen who familiar with
ders and massacres the midnight confagratons-these
attest the nharmonous action which arose from this
fathess conduct the part of the Government or It's
agents. know this may appear very harsh assertion
to make here that acts In bad faith with
the Indians could ask question that would excite
reflection and "reminiscences among gentlemen. When
have they performed honest act redeemed in good
faith pledge made to the Indians Let but single IN
stanee he shown and prepared TO retract am
aS AZ Charge against the Government of the Uni
ted States which is not applicable to all civilized Govern
in plafa m iS
with the intention to derogate from the purity of our
national character from the integrity of nstitu
ons that make the accusation but it is because it
verified by history.
1t may be said that my remarks apply only to the Che
rokees. selected them example, not as the only
nation afordng examples, but us more familiar
with the circumstances in connexon with that nation
than any other and having been more Immediately den-
titled with them, selected them illustration of
policy Look at the Creeks at the Choctaws the Chcka-
saws look at every tribe that has been within
jurisdiction and in every instance intercourse has
suited in their detriment or destruction.
Well, sir, what is proposed to be done? Is it to
redress any wrongs that the Indians have sustained Is
it to establish new course of policy in relation to them
it to redeem any pledges given, is it to violate
most solemn treaty spuations that they should not be
further molested! Have not land enough for the
cupancy of our citizens? | believe we have billion
three hundred and sixtyodd million of of
or public lands in the United States What necessity,
them is there the part Of citizens that they
quire to have spot peculiarly by the pledge
Of national aith and to the Indians III order
to give them and latitude? Are their necessities
great that it is unparotc to restrain them and
true policy be carried out only by their moestation
and the exercise of greater injustice towards them 1t
to me that it is object worthy of the highest
con deraon Of enlightened, / might say christian
people, and that they should adopt at this late period
system calculated not only to ameorate the
diton of the Indians, but to civize and christanze
them. If that object is not worthy the grayest
temptation of Senator's and legislators, well the
high functonares of the Government shall realize the
most melancholy apprehensons which have entertain
ed in relation to the fate of this devoted people 1t
to be foregone conclusion that the Indians must
yield to the progress Of the white that they must
surrender their country that they must go from place
to place, and that there is to be rest for them. Is
not the earth wide enough for all the creatures the
Almighty has placed upon it? But they seem not to
be regarded in the light of human beings and driven
like wild beasts and when their habtaton is made in
place, they are only considered as temporary resi-
dents, to be transferred at will to distant
station. If they the arts Of civilization if
they remain in homes if the domestic circle is formed
and little neighbsrhoods begin to rse if schools
established and scholars sent it is but little while be-
fore the necessities of the white demand the terri
tory, and they pushed forward to some home,
to some wilderness scene and told that be OF great
advantage to them and q great deal more pleasant.
Dissuade them from their passion for hunting give them
place for agriculture and the to pursue it. and
then you civze them; for can become civilized
unless he cuvates agricultural and social arts Do this
and you save this people neglect 1t, and you only
ry out the process of humiliation If you prepar-
ed, is in your power, gentlemen to do it. BE just,
and posterity at least will appreciate it. The country
will be filed up day, and actions will be est
mated by moral standard and not by the passions
of men for accumulation of soil disposition trans
gress upon the public domain.
You may ask, What shall be done with them? You
have given them country they ever become civil
lzed you keep forcing them from wilderness to wilder
ness? and they not demoraized when sent from
der what ought to be the protection of our
Men introduce liquor among them to deprive them of the
articles necessary their comfort by every possible
means; and if they cannot obtain them by the aid of
whiskey of artice they take them by force If the
Indian resents he is called the aggressor and extermna
ton follows the crime. ....
Is this the way to civlize men? Show them the arts
of peace show them the moral influences that govern
the benign examples of christianity, and then you may
charm the rudest children of the forest But sir look
the agents generally sent among them and the traders,
with few exceptions and what is their conduct among the
through the wilderness quest of home with their
annues and the moneys which they have received for
the sale of their territories, nominal in amount but
real equivalent they again cast upon the waters of
temptation and adventure and who the who pur
them. To my mind, they represent but thing:
oathsome birds, hungry for ofa They the harpes
that prey upon the desnies of the Indians they the
men who pursue them, and not the benign influence of
the Government they sent their pilgrimage in
their exodus to the wilderness Protect them, Senators
guard them.
the intelligence Of Senator's though the destruction of the
Indians seems to be foregone conclusion.
Military posts distributed throughout New Mexico
and Texas, along the borders Of the Rio Grande to
great extent. 1t takes immense amount of money to
supply the various garrsons and carry the trans