The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-17
An Indian Policy.

Th. Presidents message presents measure Of
internal policy In regard 70 the Indians which
ought to reoeive the prompt attention Of Congress.
We agree with the Warrington States that the
ADOPTION of this measure will Be the NEST econom.
icsl a we'll .. the most Christian and efieaeious
mode Of disposing Of our restless and troublesome
tribes, and estoppinx Indian aggressions on our
frontier settlements. Our whole past history sus'
tains the wisdom Of Mr.. Buehanan's proposed poll
cy-ste eo'ontss TIE Indians IN suitable localities,
hers LAsy can reoeis TIE rndnents Of education, ana
b gradually isdsced 10 adopt hdJSs o. snd1sfry.-
These locations will b scattered along the lines OF
military posts and white settlements, In such
manner a. 70 keep them under the supervision Of
the supreme law, but not interiors with each
ethsr, The money now wasted 10 rum and useless
presents, will build them quarters and fence In
corn.asds, which will, under the directing care Of
THAR agents, give them bread, and win them by
degrees TO value and cultivate their property
This plan Of coionifisg the Indians 10 the last and
only hope Of the race and trust It will receive
the thoughtful consideration Of the press and peo
pie Of the United States.
In referring to this recommendation Of the Pres.
ident, the Washington States refers to the strange
and inexcusabie fact In our history, that we have
paused three quarters Of century without any
settled system Of policy for the Of our
relations with the Indians, and though, as gene
raj rule have paid literally for tie extinguish-
ment Of their titles to the land, ws have taken lit
tie heed whether the red race was extingnished
with them. or only driven temporarily out Of the
way 70 raise new irritation In some other time and
field. The millions we have paid Ont to slaughter
them with war, or drench them with flrewster
would have supplied the whole race with stated
homes and the elements Of civilization.
Referring to the various Indian systems adopted
by other nations-the Spanisrds who seized the
territory and made slaves Of the cultivators the
French and English who employed them in their
wars with each other, and paid them Q price for
the scalps Of women and children-ths States
says: sour Puritan fathers brought from Europe
taste for the slave trade, and they tried the spec
slaticn Of catching some Of the red natives of Mas
seehusstts and Rhode Island TO sell in the British
West Indies. The fret venture or two found ready
buyers but the wild children of the forest could
not be tanned to labor, and thoir masters wrote
back to the pious slave traders of Boston and Sa
lem that these Indian slaves 'pined away or died
under the Lash, but could not be taught useful
work. and they would nave no more Of them
This put On end 10 the Puritan trade in Indians
20, after refreshing their spirits by whipping
Quaker girls through the town at the carttail and
hanging score or two OF witches, our rious fore
fathers held solemn day Of prayer, and decided to
trade In Africans only, and to kill of the Indians
1t would not be amiss for the descendants Of the
fartans to bestow little Of their surplus philsn.
thrOpy upon the red race, instead OF devoting
themselves body and soul to stealing back the ne.
groes whom their snterprising ancestors sold to
the South