The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-20
SECOND EDITION
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH.
An Appeal for Justice and
Mercy to the Aborigines.
FROM WASHINGTON TO-DAY.
Special Despatch 10 The Evening Telegraph
An Appeal In Benaif OF "Tns Poor
lndtan.D

Special Despdtch TO The Evening Telegraph
An Appeal In Benaif OF "Tns Poor
1Bdtas."
WASHINGTON, July 2O.-senator Morgan in the
Senate, and Representative Brooks in the
House, to day preseut memorial, signed by
the Executive Committee OF the United States
Indian Commission, of which the Rev. Ho ward
Crosby, d. D., is President aud Peter Cooper a
Vlce.President, making an earnest appeal for
justice to the remaining aboriginal inhabitants
of the country. The memorialists say
1t has long been the convection of the humane
amongst us that our Aboriginal inhabitants
have been the victims OF great wrongs, cruelties,
and outrage: but 1t Is only recently that the
particular nature, the atrocous character, and
the frghttul results OF these crimes have been
brought distinctly be ore us. We stand charged
before the civilized world, Dy the testimony OF
our witnesses, with having been "unitormly
unjust TO the lndians;" and it Is stated by Gen.
Sherman aud his associate Commissioners that
this injustice has been the cause of all the wars
which th ey have waged against us, Among the
chiet causes of these wars which have entaied
the loss OF many lives, and been the pretext
upon which the people OF the United States
have been robbed of millions OF hard-earned
treasure, we enumerate the tolowng:-
/. The dissatisfaction OF the Indians in con-
sequence OF having sometimes been betra yed
into the ccssion of their lands by pretended
treaties.
2 The constant failure of the Government to
fulfil in good faith its treaty obligations with the
tribes.
g. The frequent and uuprovoked outrages and
mui ders OF Indians By soldiers aud white
citizens.
l. The impossibility OF obtaining Justice in
local Courts, or of Furnishing white criminals,
for The reas on that The testimony of Indians is
not allowed in these Courts.
5. The unlaw ul occupation by the whites of
lands not ceded or treated or.
6. The shameful fact that of all the appropria-
tions made by Congress for their benefit, bat
small part ever reaches them.
1t is also affirmed, BY the same authorities,
that the Indian race is becoming not only mo-
rally graded, but al>o phys .caiy undermincd,
by The n ost lodthsome disease which intests our
civilization; that one OF the finest PHYSICAL types
of man has already become seriously enfeeDled;
and that tribes, originally comparatively pure,
are fast sinking into grossness of vice which
threa ems their utter ext notion. This latter evil,
in all its destructive extent, seems to be dn
inevitable attendant of the presence of our
many other dissrtc .fui iac.s, are attested by
respectable officers of the Government, by a
large number of Indian chiefs, and by
many trustworthy private citizens. The
peaceable Indians, chiefly women and chill
dren, by ColoUel Chiviugton, as detail d in the
official eviden' above referred to- is enough TO
brand with last Dg iniamv any nation that could
suffer it to pass uupun. shed. We respectfully
submit that 1t is our ma ional duty to make such
provision as shall insure the faithful perform
dDC0 Ol our DdllOudl OUIlgaUOuS' NO ndLlOn
can safely disregard the just claims of even the
bumblest class ef it, tcitizens, The promise
made by General Sherman to the Indians, that
their rights should be respected, aud that they
should be justly com pensated for the necessary
infringement of shose rights, found an echo in
the hearts OF all honorable men. No nation is
more sensitive to the claims and obligations OF
justice than our own; and we are sure that
when the true history OF the Indians wrongs is
laid before our countrymen their united voice
will demand that the honor and the interests OF
the nation shall no longer be sacrhccei to the
Unsuitable lust and avarlce Of unscrupulous men.