Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

PHILANTHROPY" ILLUsTRATED.-A matter
has recently transpired at the Indian Bureau
In this city, so forcibly illustrating the real
value of New England's professions of supera-
bundant philanthropy as that we are impelled
to narrate it, that those professions may be 4
Judged by New England s-practice. u
The PassamaquOddy Indians, it will be re-
membered, were once possessors Of all the soil
Of Maine, and during the Revolutionary war
were faithful allies Of the American cause. The
people of Massachusetts, obtained their lands
for a mere song-for perhaps less than any other
Indian lands have been given up for the
occupation of the white man. When Maine was
portion of Massachusetts,, the State govern
ment commenced bufeting them about, remov-
ing them rs the lands they occupied were sue
cessively coveted by the whites, always con-
fning them within smaller limits on each sue
cessive removal, until at length they were
assigned a territory but eight miles square
They petitioned for fee simple title to it,
which was refused
Since Maine became State they have been
removed more frequently under like impulses,
and each time circumscribed within narrower
limits. Often they have petitioned Maine to
deed to them the lands to which they have been
confined, but always in vain; until the State gen
erously compromised with them by deciding for
the use of the whole tribe-fve hundred souls
just ten acres of the miserably barren island on
which they are now cOoped up, with lease for
ninety acres more, on which there is not stick
of timber-nOt a stick. Such q compromise, as
will easily be perceived, was simply an arrange
ment to freeze and staIve the poor creatures in
the shortest possible time. Accordingly, last
winter they suffered, perhaps as no other peo-
pie on this continent ever suffered before with
out all dying of. They applied to the Governor
of Maine this spring for relief, and were coolly
informed that the State could do nothing for
them, and that they must apply to the General
Government, that has no more connection with
them legally than with the Hottentots of South
Africa.
So their Governor and Lieutenant Governor
came to Washington not long since and told
their really sad and pitiable tale to the Indian
bureau. As they are not its wards under the
law, the Commissioner has no authority to ap-
propriate dollar of the public funds in his
hands for their relief. He could only tell them
that if those legally chargeable with caring for
them refuse to aid them, they must appeal to
Congress to authorize him to do So
Lo, the poor Indian resounds in the course
of the year, from every new-light pulpit in
Massachusetts, and Maine, and the border ruff
fans of the new States, North and South, are
piously mathematical for robbing and plumber
ing him. Yet, we question whether the Indian
records of this Government contain any thing
half so heartless concerning his treatment at
the hands of the whites elsewhere.
The LAST LOUISVILLE RIors.-The papers
at the North which for the most part were
mute over the Louisville election riots wherein
the lives of 80 many innocent white women and
children were sacrificed, are blatant over the
execution OF three negro criminals by q mob in
that city recently. The color of the skin of
the victims in this case makes the crime in the
eyes of Northern pseudo philanthropy. Their
Jeremiades are sufficiently answered by the fol-
lowing brief summary Of the facts in the case
of these negroes, which we take from the Bos-
ton Post:
These murderers, ii appeared by the COMES
SONS OF one OF their number, hearing that VIM
Joyce was absent from home, had determined to
ROD the house under the impression that he had
large sum Of money. They went to the house
about midnight, broke open the door, and en-
cOuntered Richard Joyce, the brother of William
He was Drained in the presence of his mother and
sister. The aged mother seized pair of tongs to
rush TO the defence Of her son, but on the instant
was attacked by the negroes one of whom knock
ed her senseleSS. The dang hter. Mrs WEIGH at
tempted to escape out of the window. but was
caught by the feet. dragged back and beaten IN
death The Infatuated ruffians then sacked the
house, took the little girl of Mrs Welch. threw
il upon the bed, set fire to il and fed the child
actually being burnt alive. These were the facts
of the case as presented, but for some cause
whether the jury thought they were not cofrobo-
rated with sufficient legal force, or some other
reason, they rendered a verdict OF acquittal.p
Though the culprits subsequently confessed
their dreadful crime as detailed above. there
was not sufficient legal evidence before the Jury
to convict them. Hence the failure of the Jury
to do so. ltstrikes US that instead of complain
ing, that the people of Louisville executed
summary justice upon them. Honest Abolition
lists should be praising the cOnscientiousness of
the Kentucky jury and Court who gave even
such miscreants the benefit of the letter of the
law.
SrARvArIoS.-It is no longer to be doubted
that throughout extensive portions Of the Great
Nest-the region OF the current wild and ex-
trayagant investments Of the money of the
people of this region-the inhabitants are in q
condition bordering on actual starvation The
papers from those quarters we receive in ex-
change tell tale of the state Of things there
sufficient to make those in this region shudder,
who, be the vicissitudes of the seasons what
they may, never experience actual Vant of the
necessaries OF life. According to the New York
ECentng Post, which journal has carefully COL
lec.ed statistics bearing on this subject
SIN Iowa the traveller finds no hay or straw for
horses at any of the hotels. At Des Moines corn
Is nsidered cheap at two dollars and can scarce
ly oe had at that. Ii is reported that We dollars
Is the regular price in many places between there
and Council Bluffs Dead horses and cattle along
the road are said to be ordinary sights Wheat
seems TO be nearly as scarce corn or hay Flour
IL selling at five dollars and five dollars Der hum
dLed and rising High as this price is, farmers
on ,hlaf