Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-02-25
The Indian QuestiOn...NO. 1.

Mr.. Editor This question has been one Of
public interest in this country for near three
centuries. Its intrinsic difficulties have arisen
from disregarding the natural laws governing
human society; in the rights Of all men to be sus-
tanned from the fruits Of the earth; or to the
of 30 much Of the earth's surface as with such
labor as the individual can bestow upon it will
yield a support for himself and for those depend
ent on him. Whatever economies may be adopted
to the distribution Of land and property, the re-
suit is inevitably forced, that the lands will nev-
itably come to the use that will best meet the
emergencies Of the existing population in any
country. This law Of necessity will subordinate
to its power land monopolies landed arisocracies,
and tenures, failing to respect the life and sup
port of the population.
The title claimed to land sufficient to sustain an
Indian in the wild rowing life Of hunter is against
this natural law, expressed in the phrase, " The
greatest good to the greatest number" These
claims to hunting lands for the Indians may be
tolerated where there is no ready or skilled hand
to cultivate such lands; so, instead Of supporting
few rowing savages they will feed dense
population Of civilized people.
Those who would vest a rowing savage with the
title to a country, that he might hunt and live
according to his traditions and ignore the con-
dition Of famished cities In this or other lands
that might be fed from the virgin soil of this
Indians reservation II 1t were subjected to culti
vation, adopt theory that would justify the
game preserver and landed aristocracies Of the
old world, while gaunt famine rested down on the
habitations Of a crowded people. The title to
lands in distinct parcels is predcated on the ab-
ity Of the holder to turn such lands to utility In
the sustenance Of man. In this sense, as the late
Bishop Ames once remarked to the writer "the
Indian is not land-holder, but mere hunter,
using the lands by sufferance till some new den-
zens come In and appropriate them to cultivation,
| and 80 lay the foundation Of a permanent local
title therein" The theory Of vested titles In land
| held by Indian hunters would Justify the Duke
| OF Sutherland, who within the century drove out
his tenants from sixty miles square Of land In the
north Of Scotland that 1t might grow up to TIM
ber 80 he could hunt foxes there The Indian
title to lands, and the petty authority Of the
tribes and their chiefs, are absurdties admitted
as truths in all the pretended treaties made with
them since the discovery OF the country. II the
tribal organization had utility before the visits OF
the European, they bear no form Of civil govern
ment compatible with civilization, or under which
| ClNluLtlluu suuslsl lIcdty Win tut
Indians Is a make-shift for the hour, with a
thorough conviction that the antagonist forces
sought to be controlled on either side will break
the treaty on the first convenient occasion.
Treaties with Indians have only found perman-
ence where the Indians have found themselves
reduced to conditions OF abject weakness and the
old traditions Of the war-path have been ham
mered out Of them, or new conditions of indus
tries, compatible with civilization, have been
forced upon them. The Indian character, with
the instincts of his wild life, Is not now nor ever
has been reliable basis for treaty stipulations
1t may not be 80 much the love Of treachery as
his impatlence of restraint that has led him to
commit outrages In breach OF confidence reposed
In treaties. The atrocities Of savage warfare fol.
low, and the civilized world Is appalled, that
creatures 30 lost to all sense OF humanity should
ever have been judged as fit parties to any civil
treaty. Such experiences are the inspiration oi
fear in the settlers on the borders, who feel that
they are never safe from the raids and capricious
attacks of the red man, whether peace or war are
supposed to subsist between them. The ration
ale of morality In the border settler, "That who
soever killeth an Indian doeth God service" un
der such supposed jeopardy, becomes a convic
tion in his mind as based on sound principles. 1
is folly to say the Indians would keep the
treaties II white men would fulfil the stlpulations
when 1t is well-known that nothing would reall,
satisfy the Indians but the restoration Of tn,
whole country to the conditions OF hunting
grounds az 1t subsisted three centuries ago. Ii
other words, that forty millions OF people shoulc
consent to starvation that Indians might hunt anC
cherish the traditions OF their ancestors.
, | NH D. .,