The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-29

Tson The Louisvills (Ky) journal Aus. ISL
Tia aborigines OF this country, who once roaned
IN countless mum Ders nom the Atlantic 70 the Pc
clio ocean, are now en- ,ompassed by the white
people, confined within comparatively small
tract Of country west Of the Mississippi river, and
reduced In numbers to less than half million Of
souls. the relation that our government has occu-
pied to these tribes Is anomalous. We have az
sumed the duties Of guardian over the imbecity
and wsaknoes Of minor. No other rights existing
In these tribes have been recognized except that
alone Of mere title to the son. this title the gov
eminent has from time to time extinguished by
purchase on terms and at prices dictated by the
buyer to the seller. The temporary policy which
amply satisfed the then present emergency was to
remove the occupants OF the purchased territory
further West, until now the occupation OF Caifor-
no West to which they can in future remove.
In the early stages of the legislation which or
ganixed Kansas and Nebraska, this was q source
Of sore embarrassment. Indian Cover nments within
our constituted territories, guarded from the intiu-
sion Of the white man by severe penal enactments,
were dee ned impracticable. Frontier life Is char.
acterised by fearless daring, and no laws, however
stringent, could have ex oluded race that has sub
dued TO the purposes Of civil society SO much Of
this vast continent On q small scale, In more
matured and settled society, the experiment has
succeeded. Indian tlibes, governed by themselves,
are good citizens in the State Of New York. They
are thrifty farmers and sagacious traders. Other
tribes elsewhere have titled the earth to the aban.
doDment OF the chase. and the statesman must now
look beyond ignorant present" through the nlm
future.
Congressional elaboration must soon be thus
absorbed. MIR. johnson, Of Arkansas, has presented
the eme to the Senate in proposition 70 organize
Chah ia, embracing Cherokee, Muscogee or Creek,
Seminole, Choctaw, ard Chickasaw, nations or
tribes. ID order more FULLY to extend the protection
Of the constitution and laws Of the United States over
them be proposes, with the assent of the tribes to
rgauise THESE three Territories. The Territory Of
Chah-ts ia to consist entirely of the lands owned
by absolute grant from the United States by the
Choctaws ard Chi ;kasaws; that Of Mascogee, of
those owned BY the Greeks and Saminoles; and
that of Chel-okee, of those owned by the Chero.
KEGS, south Of the thirty-sevcnth parallel of west
longitude; and also the tract Of country bounded on
the sou'h BY the northern line Of Texas on the
north by the thirty seventh parallel Of north lati-
tude, on the east BY the one hundredth and on the
west by the one hundred and third parallel Of
north latitude, and the lands west of the same
to the one hundredth parallel Of west longi-
tude; OF the narrow strip Of country belonging
to the Osages, between tina north line of the
Cherokee lands and the thirty seventh parallel of
north latitude, and Of the small traits west of Mis-
souri,, owned by the Senecas, the united bands of
the Senecas and Shawnees, and the Quapsys, il
these small tribes consent.
Our relations with the Indian tribes have arrived
at that stage when we must soon select between
the ruthless policy Of entire determination the
more mild and Christian plan Of education and
civilization. The idea Of exter eliminating half mil
non OF human pelnSs, Witnoutnrst making an effort
20 avert sne Iecessiy Tor purpose SO remorseless
men.
The frequent accounts that reach Us from the
Plans OF attacks made by the Indians on weak and
unguarded parties OF emigrants admonish as OF the
necessity which Is year after year becoming more
pressing on Congress, to adopt some new, more
ccmpr heIsive and enlightened course Of policy in
reference to these tribes OF the desert The buffalo
and other game which have heretofore been relied
on az the chief supply Of food for the tribes will
soon disappear, starvation will render them des-
perate, and they must either work, beg, die, or be-
come what they most probably wil-robbers and
murderers.