Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-08-13
Fair, the sum of $4,000, raised entirely b,
themselves, for the purchase of parsonage.
1.-THE INDIANS ARE TOO FAR AWAY
FOR rs TO HELP,

Mr.. EDIroR The above is often the an
swer of good people when called upon to pre-
vent the wrongs inflicted upon the Indians.
You having promised me II place in your
columns, will try to meet the objection.
|. As matter of fact, it is obvious that
all who are near enough to be under the con-
troll of our government are also near enough
to be under its protection.
2. As we have taken the Indians lands
their submission, their independence and
power of government, and assumed to be
their GUARDIANSHIP follows, as a natter of
justice, that we should guard them from ag-
gressors.
The above propositions being true, trust
the objection is sufficiently met. But there
is a moral view which presents itself with re-
sistless force on the conscience of every can
did and rejecting mind.
Thus, if government derives its Just au-
thorty from the consent of the governed "a
principle which all hold fundamentally then
VIC have no right to govern the Indians, only
50 far as they consent and for mutual interest
their welfare as well as ours being duly
cared for any exercise of power contrary to
this is impolitic and unjust, alike unchris-
tan and cruel
Again, ours being government of the
People, every voter is responsible for public
wrongs, until he has done all he can to pre-
vent them. individual responsibility is no
less for being shared by the multitude If
six or dozen or more persons agree or con.
sent to rob or kill those in their power, each
of those six are as guilty of the wrong as
though one alone had done it,
know, Mr.. Editor, our people do not wish
to do wrong or sanction injustice towards
| any people At the same time there is n gen.
| eral conviction in the mind of every man and
woman, and even of school children, that we
are doing wrong to the Indians; but, unfor-
tunately, there has not been, as yet, any mp
proprate and comprehensive measures Of re-
dress.
The attention Of the churches has been ab-
sorbed with missions to China and Hindostan
to New Zealand and Australia, to the Isles of
the sea and to the ends of the Garth, whilst
our own American Indians. with hut few ex-
ceptions, have been left to the tender mercies
and unbridled lust and avarice Of border ruff.
fans and Spectators. \ sad and almost fatal
mistake has been made in undertaking to
govern Indians. instead of leaving them to
govern themselves :: and of sending troops
to chastise them, instead Of protecting
them from violence and outrage. We have
undertaken to Christianize heather nations
| dnTOdu, anu, III Jno same ullnc, Suspected our
near noighbors-the lndians-to the most
degrading condition and barbaric treatment
and at the present time there are hundreds oil
thousands of those people who are being in.
vadod and driven from their quiet homes in
| our distant Territories calling to the wise
and good of our nation for protection and
help.
The question comes home to every man ant
woman among us, for wrongs of such ma
ture and extent cannot exist without re-ac
tion Generalization and discomit upon those
who enact or passively consent to them. Il
may, therefore, safely be affirmed that there
is no phianthropic movement, no religious
enterprise or public bcnefcence of equal i'm
portance the Bible and Tract, and Mission
airy Societies are no exceptions for, until w
begin to make restitution to the remnants o
nation we have been destroying, the frs
step of a prominent reform is not taken, anC
as nation we shall go the down hill road tt
ruin, for it is in the maintenance of iustc,
and right alone that we and our children car
live long in the land.
But says the reader, what shall we do?
The answer is plain-Do as you would be
done by, plead for the rights of the Indian a
you would wish yours to be plead for were
you in their place-and thus, when all oul
| s:.:"o.,e DO ti.s, tho.o will ha no more Indiar
wars and massacres. Our frontier settler
will live in peace and safety, and both race
may live and flourish and rejoice together
Respectfully yours,
Aug. ., 1858. JONI BEEsoN.