The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-22

sedulously avoided.
For some of these tribes permanent home
have been established and many of the In
dians have contracted habits of industry
sobriety and economy. The effect of thi
upon the whole is very perceptible and en-
couraging. Their conduct improving, ant
they are being rapidly prepared for the health
full exercise Of tho privileges, and tho proper
discharge Of the duties, of good citizens.
During the past year many of the tribes
west ofthe Mississippi have had to contend
with the most untowcd circumstances, and it j,
really extraordinary that they have not beer
utterly dispirited Yet they have, under
the severest adversely, exhibited degree Of
fortitude and forbearance well worthy the imi
tat.on of many of tho whites, who boast OF
their superior moral and mental culture
Few of us would so INCREASINGLY have permit
ted ourselves to be mceremoniously thrust
from our homes and deprived of our firesides
They are necessarily pressed by the whites,
who, under the plea of necessity, exercise
their superior sagacity in devices TO invade
their rights and despoil them oftheir property.
We must, however, provide for the exis-
ting state of things; and recurrence to the
events that have transpired in connection with
them for the last few years will show that a
condition of affairs has arisen that never was
contemplated, and could not easily have been
anticipated. This cannot be changed without
an attempt to stay the onward progress of
our people, which would be fruitless. The
mode of treatment mnst be adapted to their
present peculiar condition, and the policy n
fixed one, as it is not likely the character of
the circumstances by which they are now
surrounded will ever change.
Many years have not elapsed since it was
considered that mixed occupancy of the SAM
territory by the white and red man was incom
patible with the safety and happiness of either
A remedial policy was adopted, and the re-
moval of the Indians west of the Mississippi
River determined upon. A guaranty was
given them that they should have exclusive
possession of that country forever, exempt
from all intrusion of white men, with ample
provision for their security against external
violence and internal commotiOns, and the
extension to them of suitable facilities for their
advancement in the acts of civilization. The
country was congratulated by ono of your pred
ecessors upon their removal to their new homes
and the dawning to them of new and happy
era was publicly proclaimed. But this guar
anty has not been fulfilled, and that propit-
ous time has not Yet arrived. A quarter Of
a century has not elapsed before the same
state of things, so much deplored, is found to
exist, and the evil that was intended to be
rcmedicd appears in far more appalling form.
Tie strong arm of tho Government is con-
stantly invoked to stay its progress, and the
guaranty is continually held up to lis for faith
ful performance. Our only reply to all the
appeals made is, that the force of circumstan-
ces has rendered it impracticablc.
Congress has been generous in its more re-
cent appropriations for the benefit of the In
dians, and displayed commendablc spirit in
aid of their reclamation. The only increased
desirable is in what is usually denominated
the Civilization fund, being an annual appro-
priaton by the Act of March 8, ls49, of
$4,000. This might have been sufficient
then, but it is obvious it is not so now.
Whoever will study their history, in con-
nection with the conduct of our people, will
not be so much surprised at many Of the out
RACES they commit. They are savagcs, and
are seldom taught to discriminate between
white men. individuality with them in case
of wrong is out of the question. Indian
disturbances are too often traceable to tho in
discretiohs and aggrcssions of white men. We
have reliable reports ofsuch cases and of tho
most murdcrous and unprovokcd attackes upon
them when entirely defenselcss. Notwith-
standing the Mississippi was established as a
boundary to their country, OUR people have
passed it, and seized upon their choicest
lands, and are circumscribing the aborigines
to the narrowest limits. We are rapidly
closing upon the hunter tribes from both tine
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and soon all the
buffalo and other game will have disappeared
and almost every foot of arabic land be occu-
pied by the white man. BY conjuncturc of
circumstances most unpropitious to him, the
Indian is being completely hedged in; and
never before has he been subjected to such
severe trials and hardships. Many of them
arc aware of their deplorablc and precarious
condition, and speak of it with the deepest
and most expressive sorrow. Yet, with few
exceptions, the offences they commit are not
Of high grade, and these are palliated in
many instances by extreme want. All this
should impress generous intelligent and re-
fined people with the necessity or kindness
and forbearancc toward them, which is not
always exhibited.
A liberal hand should be extended to them
and every means rcsortcd to for their improve
ment and elevation. Moral and religious
principles and the arts of civilized life should
be taught them. 1t is difficult to instruct the
adult. Naturally of a roaming dispositipon,
indolent, avcrsc to ordinary labor, rs not com
porting with his idea Of dignity, he has no
desire to obtain a practical knowledge Of ag-
riculturc or any Of the useful arts, nor can
his attention to them be enlisten. He will
not voluntarily abandon the chase, nor the
wild diversions which are so seductive even to
the most refined. But by commencing with
the youth, implanted in their minds correct
principles, and inculcatng those moral and
religious prcccpts which are usually impaired
among civilized nations by parents TO their
children, foundation would be laid for
thorough and complete reformation of the