Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-01-30
burlington, January, 1873.
An Indian Government.

The plans are all ripe for bringing
forward in Congress the Territorial
Government scheme for the red man.
a scheme that is suspiciousIy prctixed
with the cant phrase, = broad humani-
tartan principles" There was bill
reported at the last session from the
Committee on Territories, for organic
ing the Territory Of Oklahoma, and
an attempt is to be seriously made to
pass it this winter A similar bill has
also been introduced into the Senate
by Mr. pomeroy, Of Kansas, who on
the subject of Indian lands is of tire
less industry aud slecpless watchful-
ness, There are always two prcmin-
en-. points about this Interesting bust
ness, and they are worked with wond-
ertnl assiduity; the moral right Of a
civilized people TO the lands Of q pco-
pie not civilized, and the real philan,
thropy that is Intended toward those
who are marked for victims. The
present bill reported last session,
proposes itself to- the favor Of Con-
gress as - bill for the better protec-
ton Of the Indian tribes and their con-
solidation under civil government,
to be called the Territory of Okla
homa.' The first serious symptom of
a drawback to this phiIanthropic de-
sign is the reported opposition of the
Indians themselves an obstacle which,
if proved to exist, might OF least be
allowed some small space in the argyll
ment. There are certain treaties with
the Indians still in existence, which
are supposed TO have solemn force
and authority. Under them the In
dians have acquired the sole right to
certain lands by virtue Of reIinquish-
ing certain others. The Government
having long ago received the benefit
Of its bargain, is clearly debarred from
claiming what it paid for it also. II
would be a very pretty rule for one
individual to adopt in practice, that
he could 90 and get back the money
he had paid for his cloth or his grain
Yet that is just what prompts the &C
ton of the railroad corporators, whc
generously look on the lands owned
/ by the red men.
As soon as the proposed Territorial
pill passes Congress, if it should there
will be a torrent Of immigration into
the new Indian Territory, i'll order &c
drown out all yestiges of tribal exis
tence in the assertions Of a newly-ac
qulrcd citizenship; and thus it il
hoped to destroy the honest claims
and authority Of the tribe by insisting
that as such they have become merged
in the character of citizens. The mel
who hold grants from Congress 70
railroad purposes conditioned ON th,
extinction Of the Indian ownership
are the ones who will he strenuous t.
enforce this predatory style of reason
ing. Their grants depending ON th'
will Of the Indians, they would natm
ally be anxious to annul the force o
that will, which it is hoped to do by
setting up a Territorial Government
and making the member of a tribe
citizen. BY this metamorphosis i
will be claimed that his authority il
a tribal capacity to refuse or ratfy thu
claims Of outsiders to laml has lapseC
altogether; and that whites and re'
men being equally citizens, the latte
cannot annul a grant conferred b,
Congress. The reasoning is wonder
fully calculated TO make the child o
nature DESTROYS OF rushing into tht
=. compromising arms Of citizenship
/ Whatever may be thought of the pre-
! position for erecting number 0
peaceful and advanced tribes into
} territorial form Of government, in TIT
present instance the motive tina
prompts it Is too ill-concealed to de
ceive auy one The scheme involve
is simply to obtain possession OF land
which belong to the Indians by treaty
lands for which they have paid a
, equivalent. The plan may be CARRIE
out if Congress is resolved to blacke
the character of the Government
treaty PIECES, but not otherwise. =
Boston Post.