The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-12-12
An Indian Opinion Of Citizenship.

An Indian Opinion Of Citizenship.
The remnant of Narragansett Indians
living in Rhode Island has been invested
Iby the Legislature with the prerOgatives
of citizenship, and committee Which was
appointed for the purpose held conference
with them on the 9th inst. The remarks
on the part of. the committee We're tothis
effect: ~ That there had been tendency
in the public mind toward the conclusion
that all men in equal conditions should be
equal before the law without regard to
race or color; that this idea had culmin.
ated in the enactment by Congress of the
"Civil Rights Bill" which was now the
slaw Of the land. That it was matter Of
concern in the Legislature and among the
people Of this State, that this tribe, to
whose ancestors our ancestors were under
tEsn many obligations, shonld still claim to
Lowe allegiance to- theirtrihe rather than
to the State, and to maintain even the
semblance of another jurisdiction among
MS. That the committee were strongly in
clined to the. opinion that there ought to
he ilo privileged class in the State, and
thatln6 right Or privilege ought to lie en-
Loved by one man Of mature age and sound
mind, who had not forfeited his rights by
crime, which was. not open TO, be -enieyed
lby every other man. That the committee,
[ however, had come there to obtain infor-
NATION, and that they would gladly listen
| to the views of the officers and members of
1.-THE tribe, and that they would hear, the
views Of others interested in the investiga-
ton Of matters before Them 49,
The reply made by the Indians to this
expression Of opinion, was substantially as
follows: .ziy st.I9b ia t,,.,u; 5t.,,
We have not sent for this committee,
and we know of no particular occasion for
it's visiting us at this time! So faras we
know, we are at peace and enjoyinga good
degree of prosperity. 1t is said By the
committee that there is u desire that we
should he made citizens, and he subjected
to the duties and given the rights pf white
citizens. We have travelled mnch over the.
country, have visited many States, and
have seen many men, both white, and
black We have heard much said about
the nights ofcthe negro iofnegro citizen
ship and negro equality bht We have not
found the place where this geqnalitp and
these rights exist, or the negroes who ell
joy them. Negro citizenship, aslwe have
seen,it, means the right to have the negro
vote for somebody but not to be voted for;
no white man votes for asnegre werdonot
want'this negro citizenship, and if we are
toihaye some other citizenship, we prefer
to see it enjoyedsby some one else before
we acceptit We do notwish tOiump off the
foundation where we stand until we know
where We are to jump to, We. .are not nc
groes, I'VE arsthe heirs Of iNinagrit and of
The great chiefs and warriors Of the Nara.
gansetts Because, when your ancestors
stole the negro from Africa and brought
him among ns, and ins.aae a slave ns =, nun
we extended to him the hand of friendship
and permitted his blood t0 he mingled
with ours. arc we to be called negroes ?.
and to be told that we may be made negro,
citizens! We claim that, while one. drop
of Indian biHod remains in our veins we
ME entitled to the rights and privjleoest
guaranteed by yOpr ancestors to ours by
solemn treaty, which, without a breach of
AtiS't I'VE SNhuop sIVldtt. Wo SAl(l uOV 90
to the white man, but the white man came
to usa When re iyege powerful and he
was weak, he claiIned dit protection and
we extended it. We are now weak, and
our grasping neighbors, Of ~ crashing race
are seeking tie remaining remnant Of onr
inheritance. and will not give over while
an inch of our territory remains to MS, and
until tho members Of our tribe; are beneath
the soil, s9r,are' scattered to the winds5of
heaven They propose no measures for our
good, but foment onr quarrels, trespass
upon our inheritance, detract from our Just
merits, and even desecrate the graves of
our kings. Our individual estates are
mostly heldsby orr women. II, tlIey were
compelled to pay taxes, to, make fences.
and were liable to be SIZED, their estates
would soon pass from their hands, and the
homes upon which they rely for shelter in
old age, and it may bein poverty, will be
taken from them Your imperious draft
cannot touch us now we may .yolufteerto
hight light your battles, hut now you cannot
force us into the ranks Of your army tn be
shot down without our consent. And as
for yonr right of voting, what is it worth /?
We do. not want it now. We desired to
vote for the great and good Lincoln. Had
we been gratifed, we should have also
voted for Andrew Johnson. The 10y of
having voted for the one wonld have been
darkened by the sorrow that We had voted
for the other We are attached to the ira
ditions Of our fathers. We reverence the
memory Of our kings. Our title deeds
came from the great Jehovah. They have
never been obscured by your writings-
we deny your righteto take from US that
which never came from you. - =