New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-03
AN APPEAL FOR TIE INDIANS.

To Jaae, B.ehanas Pre,idss, Of the Uaifed Stats
SIR: The Directors of the American Indian Aid
Association al a recent meeting held in the City Of
New-York, appoinei the undersigned, one OF their
number Committee, with instructions 10 address n
brief appeal to yourself personally and to the several
members Of your Cabinet, in behalf of the Oregon In
dsans; asking Of you, and urging ii on you, to en-
deavor by extraordinary means, if necessary to eject
an sdiustmen. If the differences between the United
States and those tribes without bloodshed. In the
discharge Of this duty allow me, Sir, to offer some
suggestions.
brought in contact with the whites, whom they very
naturally view as intruders We not of the NUM-
ber of those who believe that handful Of people. In
dsns or Others. should monopolze q continent winch
they cannot use to the exclusion oi those WHO have
need of homes nevertheless justice, the spirit of our
age and sound policy. require that the rights, and
even preudices, of the "original lords OF the soil,
should De treated with consideration and respect
This as the common rue he's not been the in the
settlement Of America, nor always with the United
States in its dealings with the Indian tribes.
In the case of the Oregon Indians, against whom n
large army is about being sent, many candid and well.
informed persons the ground, including officers OF
the United States, deny that the difficulties have ori-
mated in any fault Of the Indians, but the contrary
in the obvious expressions and ourages OF the whites
The common character of the men who are found
mixed with these difficulties, and the history OF other
ike disturbances give additional weight to this posi-
ton Nevertheless, allowing II To be otherwise, on
the assumption that the fault is with the red men, and
not with the whites take the broad ground that it
il az unbecoming the nted States to correct that ig
norant people with bayonet aud cannon rs would be
for a father to resort 10 Like means with hls unruly
children.
The Indians within the bounds OF the United State.
and its Territories no longer formidable We
have emsscnlated and exterminated those on the At
lsntic slope. Shall we pursue the same cruel policy
west of the Mississippi and on the Pacific coast
Have we not enough Of Indian blood ON our skirts
Is il not time TO begin TO repay them for the virgin
continent they have given us Is II not time to H.
oure what s right in our dealings with them'
The argument that it is the destiny OF the red man
20 perish before the white race entitled to no weight
The parent of feeble children might, with equal pro-
priety say il is the destiny of such to die, ard 30 et
them de.
We therefore ask, with all the urgency OF men de-
termined TO be heard that the policy Of iorbearance
protection and good will, be adopted by the Govern
ment Of the United States in all its dealings with the
Indian tribes and especially in the adjustment OF the
differences which have grown up between II ana the
tribes Of Oregon and Washington Territories. We
ask for those isafected Indians, tH protection from
aggression Of every sort; and meanwhile, that our
Government stand solely ON the defensive without
undertaking to destroy them by force of
that if need be- it place its troops between the In
daps and thelsetters for the protection of each and
there await the results of efforts for peace being as
careful of il. blows in the direction in the other
:" ''''' VI ' j. R. ORION. Committee.
Ntar Yoyk, Oct 20, 1852