Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-08-02
INoL4N sUEFRAep IN MICHrGAE

Z
The Constitutional Convention in Mich
ligan has taken the lead of the whole
American people on the question of the
ultimate disposal of the abOrigines. In
adopting the principle of manhood suf-
frage they have inserted a clause eE-
pressly including all the Indians living
| in the state. A motion to exclude those
Indians who adhere to their tribal re-
lations was decisively rejected. This is
in effect an extension of the laws OF
the state over all its inhabitants. All
are alike controlled by the laws, and
all alike protected by the laws. There
remains no legal distinction among the
| people of Michigan after the adoption
Ofthis amendment.
A motion was made requiring that
the Indian should receive a certain
amount of civilization or education be-
fore being allowed to vote. This mo-
ton was decisiFelY rejected, on the
! ground of the difficulty of its applica-
[ ton. and because it was of no practical
value. The just view was taken that
voting is the best education for voting,
just as swimming IS the, only way to
learn to swim.
The tribal relation, with all its man
| fold wrongs and absurdities, falls of
itself. One class of citizens have no
more right to exercise prerOgatives IN
consistent with the laws, by calling
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ses have to set the laws at defiance by
calling themselves a lodge or. a church,
or by any other corporate title. 1t will
be the duty of the legislature to make
wise provision to protect and preserve
all the rights Of individuals as to the
property now held in common by these
tribes, SO that an equitable distribution
can be made, giving to each individual
his Just share in absolute ownership.
1t may be necessary also to make
laws that viii protect individuals
against any assumed authority of the
tribes to control or punish their late
members.
This policy at once merges and dis
perses the remaining Indians among
the mass of the people; and whenever
adopted, viii render the tribes no lon
ger dangerous or nOxiOus. Their settle
ments viii cease to be plague-spots on
the face of the earth. They will no lon
ger be kept together by any external
pressure, as mutual helps or screens or
instigatOrs. Each one viii look out for
himself, and go wherever he likes, and
do whatever he thinks viii better his
condition. His children will be trained
in the common schools, and learn the
common language of the country The
old heather jargOn viii cease to De used
and these people will be at once admit
ted to the all the blessings of knowI-
edge. The attempts to ChristianiZe
them as tribes, which have failed from
the days of Eliot and the NIayhews, VIII
be abandoned and the whole apparatus
of civilization viii apply itself to them,
precisely as to others, as human beings.
Another effect viii be to add cOnsid-
erabIe amount of property to the COM
mon stock of the state, both for trade
and for taxation. The Indian, on re-
ceiving his share of the land viii not
only have to cultivate it as the means
of support, but will also be able to sell
it, in whole or part, as his necessities or
inclnations indicate. It viii come un-
der the general laws of Improvement as
well as Of trade, liable 10 highways as
we'll as to mortgages and sales, and all
the other contingencies, to descend by
Inheritance, and to be sequestered for
debt.
1t is difficult to realize in advance the
influence which this change is likely
to exert upon the character Of the In
dian, He is no longer an aimless out
law, hopeless outsider in society,
poor member of a helpless and despised
tribe. He is a man among men. He
has got to look out for himself and for
his children. He now has something
to live for, and he knows what it is.
He now has rights, and the means of
vindicating them by law. The condi-
ton of his family and the prospects of
his children depend upon him, and
nothing else. He and they are just as
good as Others-and no better. He
ceases to be an Indian, in thought or
feeling or position, and becomes a man.
N. ]. Post