The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-05-10

f--.-l 1
The evil which lies .. the foun-
dation Of AL our dealings with the
Indians hitherto has been lack Of
mutual good faith This IL one Of
the giant shames Of our American
history. Who will forget the long |
series o: complaints uttered BY the
Indian orators from the beginning
with . pathos and, eloquenee Pc
culiar to themselves, and which no
classical refinement Of the schools
can ever initiate. tsi'z-i-sla''A
{ Who can forget the violation OF the
most sacred obligation known.to ha-
man honor, by our people In Penn
sylvania during the colonial period
when they come down to old Ian,
caster. entered the gates Of . prist
on where Indisn children weRe con-
fined, and. before the eyes OF their
fathers ana mothers, dashed ont
their brains against the prison
wills. Who can forget that .ct Of
treachery perpetrated by the very
officers Of our army upon the Sim
mole chiefs in Florida during the
administration Of Jackson, when
remorselessly violating the sacred
flag OF truce. and oil the plighted
troth Of the nation, they seized
them in tho very council to which
they had called them, and made
them prisoners for lite. So 0sce-
OILS died. captive after long years
of misery-died Of broken
heart.
The news of the fall of Canby
and the peace commissioners 10
more than embittered by tho re :
mem brance OF these thingsi
I The present Administration, tax.
ing into the account oil such con.
siderations, has attempted what
has never been done before, to in
aug urate q general Indian policy
upon the principles of peace,
friendship and good fsilh. It's oh.
iect is to do all that wise, just,
and paternal Christian government
can do to preserve the remnants
of . race that is fast fading from
the earth; to civilize and Chris
tianize them; to elevate and con-
fer upon them all the blessings
which belong to the most favored
communities Of men. For the
first time in the history OF the Gov
1 ,rnment it has undertaken to in
spire the Indians with confidence
in it's good and wise Intentions; Il
beget ii them . spirit of good will
to repair as far IS possible the
wrongs OF the past, AMI to show
the red men that our object IL mol
injustice and oppression; bu
Brotherhood, smity, and Goa
cord.
| It is 4 difficult task The loves
passions the most sordid vices o
human nature on both sides Or,
againstFit. All the rough savage
selfishness of the reckless and re.
morseless life of the border i
| agains:. it. All the fierce avaric
every where, that has 50 long prey
ed upon and plundered the Indial
heritage, is against it.
Appreciating the manifold oh
stacles and possible dangers Q
this undertaking, the administers
tion has appealed to the hishes
moral sympathy OF the nation. !
has called to its aid the Christian
sentiment of the country. L ha
commissioned the best rnen whicl
ou- times can furnish TO conduc
it's negotiations with the India
tribes. It has assigned the wor
of enforcing its policy to some .
the brsvest, wisest. noblest officer
and portions Of our army. It .hs
designed by all possible meanl
both material and moral, to col
ciliate tho red men. II has bee
exercising all patience and 4
diligence to effect this objec>. i
purpose is to collect the scattere
and rowing bands upon suitabl
reservations. where thcy shall liv
in an orderly, peaceful, and pro
perous manner-slail be plentiful
ly supplied-shall be thorough
protected in oil their riglts, ar
shall in return fulfill al their ju
obligations.