New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-19
which Is necessary step toward changing the
bowling wilderness into populous and happy COM
rnopwealthsf


The whole blame OF this failure the journals 10
which we refer-ond they are butthe mouth-pieces
Of large party among us--are inclined to saddle
upon the intractable nature OF the Indians joined 10
Gods design to have them exterminated. This u
a short and comprehensive methOd-but before
falling in with it. let us stop moment To inquire
Whether this failure ought not to be ascribed, in
part at least, TO our own ignorance and stupid self
cOnceit.
Our whole method Of dealing with the indians
from first to last whether in peace or IN war
whether intended to e1terminate or intended 10
ciyilize them, from EndcOtts expedition against
the Pequods to Harneys expedition against the
Sioux, from the attempts Of Massachusetts, to civil
ize sud christisnze the Indians Of New-England,
down 10 those now going on under the patronage
Of the United States-have all been deeply marked
by, and have received their controlling spirit from,
that sentiment Of caste, that carefully cultivated
English prejudice, which, after shaping for two
centuries our policy with relation to Indians and
negroes, now aspres to control II also AZ to the
Irish and other emgrants from abroad,
II was popular doctrine with the Puritan set.
tlers Of New England, as well as with the Presby-
terrain settlers Of Western Pennsylvania-DOr was
tie same idea without its supporters in colonial
Virginia and the Carolinas-thst the Indians "a
well as the negroes were Of the cursed race OF
Ham, and as such only fit to De ensaved or exter-
minated. The men Of that day if not such great
ANTAGONISTS and psychologists rs DR.. Morton Mr.
nd
read in the Bible. Instead of the modern fash
onable jargon about "anthropological laws,
they sustained themselves not less intel
Lightly and adrOitly by misunderstood and miSap-
piled texts Of scripture. Especially were they fond
OF likcuiHg Themselves to the Jews; huggng to
their hearts the fsttcring notion that they were a
peculiar race Gods chosen people, whom ne had
brought out Of Egypt not only destined to possess
II new western Canaan-a land flowing with milk
and loncy-but also to drive out and exterminate
the primitive inhabitants, the idea Of any assocla-
ton with whom was sconed, except in the char
acter of superorS and masters.
Ii was this stubborn antipathy Of caste, then q.
now most deeply fixed in the minds of the most
ignorant, british and blackguard part Of the COM
Iuuuity-ihOugh not without its advocates, too
among tie ministers and the magstrates-that
proved the sOrest obstacle and most grieyOus
stumbling block to the truly benevolent Eliot in
bis efforts to Cbrstanize aud civilize the Indians
in the neighborho0d of Boston. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty, and only by the most unweared
efforts, that h. obtained for any of them the priv
lcges of church membership which, indeed as
well as the privileges of civil citizenship were
never conferred upon them except in very m0di-
fed form, 10y which they were reminded at every
turn that they belonged to an inferior and subject
race. And hardly had the untiring industry and
perseyering zeal of Eliot established the "prayng
Indians in towns by themselves, introduced among
them schools agriculture, and the first arts OF civ
lied life. when advantage was taken, on the part
of the bigOtcd and Infatuated multitude, of the
breaking out of Philips Wal 20 seize them a pris
scncrr end to treat them as cucmics-whlch with
the higher spirited among them naturally operated
To make them so. This procedure, indeed, may be
considered as having given the death-blOw to
the experiment which Eliot had set on foot The
missions. indeed were kept up, but in all his more
benevolent and enlightened views Elliot had no
successors. The Indians were pushed off to re,
mote points out of the reach OF civilized l. flu-
Cod Martha's Vineyard, the Housa-
tonic; and when that fertile VALLEY invited set
Tiers the families which had been collected there
from Eastern Massachusetts, werc removed thence
TO Western New-l Ork-thence to Wisconsin,
thence beyond the Mississippi, thence to be re-
knows where.
Cotton Matter sagaciOusly remarked, az one Of
the most striking traits of Indian savage life, that
they knew little or nothing of the comforts of a
settled habtation; that they seemed always I'M
easy, always the point of going somewhere else.
And this great evil Of savage life, so Inconsistent
with the very commencement OF civilization the
oyernment of the United Observation-Disclosures
IT, almost uniform good wishes for the Indians, and,
in many respects, great generosity towards them
has, by adopting the Massachusetts policy of re-
moSal toward the frontiers, greatly contributed
not only 70 perpetuate but to aggravate.
Many tril have already been removed twice. some
the third fourth time. At this very moment fresh
removal is pending over the tribes now in Kansas
and Nebraska, many Of whom or their fathers came
from the Eastern States. This constant removal
to the frontiers is attended with a double evil.
Not only docs il keep the Indians still in the wilder
ness, but il brings them into contact with precisely
y at class Of the white population in whom the
spirit Of caste is strongest in whom antpathy and
hatred, sucked in with their mothers milk, are too
apt TO extingush every sentiment of humanity and
who being half savages more them5elyeS, are but
little qualified to be teachers of civilization even
4 Id