thepermanenceofthereligiousworldtothecontinualshiftingofpolitics;theexperienceofthepeopletoitstheoreticalignorance;anditspracticalknowledgeofbusinesstotheimpatienceofitsdesires。
TheAmericans，then，havenotrelieduponthenatureoftheircountrytocounterpoisethosedangerswhichoriginateintheirConstitutionandintheirpoliticallaws。Toevilswhicharecommontoalldemocraticpeoplestheyhaveappliedremedieswhichnonebutthemselveshadeverthoughtofbefore;andalthoughtheywerethefirsttomaketheexperiment，theyhavesucceededinit。
ThemannersandlawsoftheAmericansarenottheonlyoneswhichmaysuitademocraticpeople;buttheAmericanshaveshownthatitwouldbewrongtodespairofregulatingdemocracybytheaidofmannersandoflaws。IfothernationsshouldborrowthisgeneralandpregnantideafromtheAmericans，withouthoweverintendingtoimitatetheminthepeculiarapplicationwhichtheyhavemadeofit;iftheyshouldattempttofitthemselvesforthatsocialcondition，whichitseemstobethewillofProvidencetoimposeuponthegenerationsofthisage，andsotoescapefromthedespotismortheanarchywhichthreatensthem;
whatreasonistheretosupposethattheireffortswouldnotbecrownedwithsuccess？TheorganizationandtheestablishmentofdemocracyinChristendomisthegreatpoliticalproblemofthetime。TheAmericans，unquestionably，havenotresolvedthisproblem，buttheyfurnishusefuldatatothosewhoundertakethetask。
ImportanceOfWhatPrecedesWithRespectToTheStateOfEuropeItmayreadilybediscoveredwithwhatintentionIundertooktheforegoinginquiries。ThequestionherediscussedisinterestingnotonlytotheUnitedStates，buttothewholeworld;itconcerns，notanation，butallmankind。Ifthosenationswhosesocialconditionisdemocraticcouldonlyremainfreeaslongastheyareinhabitantsofthewilds，wecouldnotbutdespairofthefuturedestinyofthehumanrace;fordemocracyisrapidlyacquiringamoreextendedsway，andthewildsaregraduallypeopledwithmen。Ifitweretruethatlawsandmannersareinsufficienttomaintaindemocraticinstitutions，whatrefugewouldremainopentothenations，exceptthedespotismofasingleindividual？Iamawarethattherearemanyworthypersonsatthepresenttimewhoarenotalarmedatthislatteralternative，andwhoaresotiredoflibertyastobegladofrepose，farfromthosestormsbywhichitisattended。Buttheseindividualsareillacquaintedwiththehaventowardswhichtheyarebound。Theyaresodeludedbytheirrecollections，astojudgethetendencyofabsolutepowerbywhatitwasformerly，andnotbywhatitmightbecomeatthepresenttime。
Ifabsolutepowerwerere—establishedamongstthedemocraticnationsofEurope，Iampersuadedthatitwouldassumeanewform，andappearunderfeaturesunknowntoourforefathers。
TherewasatimeinEuropewhenthelawsandtheconsentofthepeoplehadinvestedprinceswithalmostunlimitedauthority;buttheyscarcelyeveravailedthemselvesofit。Idonotspeakoftheprerogativesofthenobility，oftheauthorityofsupremecourtsofjustice，ofcorporationsandtheircharteredrights，orofprovincialprivileges，whichservedtobreaktheblowsofthesovereignauthority，andtomaintainaspiritofresistanceinthenation。Independentlyofthesepoliticalinstitutions—
which，howeveropposedtheymightbetopersonalliberty，servedtokeepalivetheloveoffreedominthemindofthepublic，andwhichmaybeesteemedtohavebeenusefulinthisrespect—themannersandopinionsofthenationconfinedtheroyalauthoritywithinbarrierswhichwerenotlesspowerful，althoughtheywerelessconspicuous。Religion，theaffectionsofthepeople，thebenevolenceoftheprince，thesenseofhonor，familypride，provincialprejudices，custom，andpublicopinionlimitedthepowerofkings，andrestrainedtheirauthoritywithinaninvisiblecircle。Theconstitutionofnationswasdespoticatthattime，buttheirmannerswerefree。Princeshadtheright，buttheyhadneitherthemeansnorthedesire，ofdoingwhatevertheypleased。
Butwhatnowremainsofthosebarrierswhichformerlyarrestedtheaggressionsoftyranny？Sincereligionhaslostitsempireoverthesoulsofmen，themostprominentboundarywhichdividedgoodfromevilisoverthrown;theveryelementsofthemoralworldareindeterminate;theprincesandthepeoplesoftheearthareguidedbychance，andnonecandefinethenaturallimitsofdespotismandtheboundsoflicense。LongrevolutionshaveforeverdestroyedtherespectwhichsurroundedtherulersoftheState;andsincetheyhavebeenrelievedfromtheburdenofpublicesteem，princesmayhenceforwardsurrenderthemselveswithoutfeartotheseductionsofarbitrarypower。
Whenkingsfindthattheheartsoftheirsubjectsareturnedtowardsthem，theyareclement，becausetheyareconsciousoftheirstrength，andtheyarecharyoftheaffectionoftheirpeople，becausetheaffectionoftheirpeopleisthebulwarkofthethrone。Amutualinterchangeofgood—willthentakesplacebetweentheprinceandthepeople，whichresemblesthegraciousintercourseofdomesticsociety。Thesubjectsmaymurmuratthesovereign’sdecree，buttheyaregrievedtodispleasehim;andthesovereignchastiseshissubjectswiththelighthandofparentalaffection。
Butwhenoncethespellofroyaltyisbrokeninthetumultofrevolution;whensuccessivemonarchshavecrossedthethrone，soasalternatelytodisplaytothepeopletheweaknessoftheirrightandtheharshnessoftheirpower，thesovereignisnolongerregardedbyanyastheFatheroftheState，andheisfearedbyallasitsmaster。Ifhebeweak，heisdespised;ifhebestrong，heisdetested。Hehimselfisfullofanimosityandalarm;hefindsthatheisasastrangerinhisowncountry，andhetreatshissubjectslikeconqueredenemies。
Whentheprovincesandthetownsformedsomanydifferentnationsinthemidstoftheircommoncountry，eachofthemhadawillofitsown，whichwasopposedtothegeneralspiritofsubjection;butnowthatallthepartsofthesameempire，afterhavinglosttheirimmunities，theircustoms，theirprejudices，theirtraditions，andtheirnames，aresubjectedandaccustomedtothesamelaws，itisnotmoredifficulttooppressthemcollectivelythanitwasformerlytooppressthemsingly。
Whilstthenoblesenjoyedtheirpower，andindeedlongafterthatpowerwaslost，thehonorofaristocracyconferredanextraordinarydegreeofforceupontheirpersonalopposition。
Theyaffordinstancesofmenwho，notwithstandingtheirweakness，stillentertainedahighopinionoftheirpersonalvalue，anddaredtocopesingle—handedwiththeeffortsofthepublicauthority。Butatthepresentday，whenallranksaremoreandmoreconfounded，whentheindividualdisappearsinthethrong，andiseasilylostinthemidstofacommonobscurity，whenthehonorofmonarchyhasalmostlostitsempirewithoutbeingsucceededbypublicvirtue，andwhennothingcanenablemantoriseabovehimself，whoshallsayatwhatpointtheexigenciesofpowerandtheservilityofweaknesswillstop？
Aslongasfamilyfeelingwaskeptalive，theantagonistofoppressionwasneveralone;helookedabouthim，andfoundhisclients，hishereditaryfriends，andhiskinsfolk。Ifthissupportwaswanting，hewassustainedbyhisancestorsandanimatedbyhisposterity。Butwhenpatrimonialestatesaredivided，andwhenafewyearssufficetoconfoundthedistinctionsofarace，wherecanfamilyfeelingbefound？Whatforcecantherebeinthecustomsofacountrywhichhaschangedandisstillperpetuallychanging，itsaspect;inwhicheveryactoftyrannyhasaprecedent，andeverycrimeanexample;inwhichthereisnothingsooldthatitsantiquitycansaveitfromdestruction，andnothingsounparalleledthatitsnoveltycanpreventitfrombeingdone？Whatresistancecanbeofferedbymannersofsopliantamakethattheyhavealreadyoftenyielded？
Whatstrengthcanevenpublicopinionhaveretained，whennotwentypersonsareconnectedbyacommontie;whennotaman，norafamily，norcharteredcorporation，norclass，norfreeinstitution，hasthepowerofrepresentingorexertingthatopinion;andwheneverycitizen—beingequallyweak，equallypoor，andequallydependent—hasonlyhispersonalimpotencetoopposetotheorganizedforceofthegovernment？
TheannalsofFrancefurnishnothinganalogoustotheconditioninwhichthatcountrymightthenbethrown。Butitmaymoreaptlybeassimilatedtothetimesofold，andtothosehideouserasofRomanoppression，whenthemannersofthepeoplewerecorrupted，theirtraditionsobliterated，theirhabitsdestroyed，theiropinionsshaken，andfreedom，expelledfromthelaws，couldfindnorefugeintheland;whennothingprotectedthecitizens，andthecitizensnolongerprotectedthemselves;
whenhumannaturewasthesportofman，andprincesweariedouttheclemencyofHeavenbeforetheyexhaustedthepatienceoftheirsubjects。ThosewhohopetorevivethemonarchyofHenryIVorofLouisXIV，appeartometobeafflictedwithmentalblindness;andwhenIconsiderthepresentconditionofseveralEuropeannations—aconditiontowhichalltheotherstend—I
amledtobelievethattheywillsoonbeleftwithnootheralternativethandemocraticliberty，orthetyrannyoftheCaesars。*n[Footnoten:[ThispredictionofthereturnofFrancetoimperialdespotism，andofthetruecharacterofthatdespoticpower，waswrittenin1832，andrealizedtotheletterin1852。]]
Andindeeditisdeservingofconsideration，whethermenaretobeentirelyemancipatedorentirelyenslaved;whethertheirrightsaretobemadeequal，orwhollytakenawayfromthem。Iftherulersofsocietywerereducedeithergraduallytoraisethecrowdtotheirownlevel，ortosinkthecitizensbelowthatofhumanity，wouldnotthedoubtsofmanyberesolved，theconsciencesofmanybehealed，andthecommunitypreparedtomakegreatsacrificeswithlittledifficulty？Inthatcase，thegradualgrowthofdemocraticmannersandinstitutionsshouldberegarded，notasthebest，butastheonlymeansofpreservingfreedom;andwithoutlikingthegovernmentofdemocracy，itmightbeadoptedasthemostapplicableandthefairestremedyforthepresentillsofsociety。
Itisdifficulttoassociateapeopleintheworkofgovernment;butitisstillmoredifficulttosupplyitwithexperience，andtoinspireitwiththefeelingswhichitrequiresinordertogovernwell。Igrantthatthecapricesofdemocracyareperpetual;itsinstrumentsarerude;itslawsimperfect。Butifitweretruethatsoonnojustmediumwouldexistbetweentheempireofdemocracyandthedominionofasinglearm，shouldwenotratherinclinetowardstheformerthansubmitvoluntarilytothelatter？Andifcompleteequalitybeourfate，isitnotbettertobelevelledbyfreeinstitutionsthanbydespoticpower？
Thosewho，afterhavingreadthisbook，shouldimaginethatmyintentioninwritingithasbeentoproposethelawsandmannersoftheAnglo—Americansfortheimitationofalldemocraticpeoples，wouldcommitaverygreatmistake;theymusthavepaidmoreattentiontotheformthantothesubstanceofmyideas。Myaimhasbeentoshow，bytheexampleofAmerica，thatlaws，andespeciallymanners，mayexistwhichwillallowademocraticpeopletoremainfree。ButIamveryfarfromthinkingthatweoughttofollowtheexampleoftheAmericandemocracy，andcopythemeanswhichithasemployedtoattainitsends;forIamwellawareoftheinfluencewhichthenatureofacountryanditspoliticalprecedentsexerciseuponaconstitution;andIshouldregarditasagreatmisfortuneformankindiflibertyweretoexistallovertheworldunderthesameforms。
ButIamofopinionthatifwedonotsucceedingraduallyintroducingdemocraticinstitutionsintoFrance，andifwedespairofimpartingtothecitizensthoseideasandsentimentswhichfirstpreparethemforfreedom，andafterwardsallowthemtoenjoyit，therewillbenoindependenceatall，eitherforthemiddlingclassesorthenobility，forthepoororfortherich，butanequaltyrannyoverall;andIforeseethatifthepeaceableempireofthemajoritybenotfoundedamongstusintime，weshallsoonerorlaterarriveattheunlimitedauthorityofasingledespot。
ChapterXVIII:FutureConditionOfThreeRacesInTheUnitedStates—PartI
ThePresentAndProbableFutureConditionOfTheThreeRacesWhichInhabitTheTerritoryOfTheUnitedStatesTheprincipalpartofthetaskwhichIhadimposeduponmyselfisnowperformed。Ihaveshown，asfarasIwasable，thelawsandthemannersoftheAmericandemocracy。HereImightstop;butthereaderwouldperhapsfeelthatIhadnotsatisfiedhisexpectations。
TheabsolutesupremacyofdemocracyisnotallthatwemeetwithinAmerica;theinhabitantsoftheNewWorldmaybeconsideredfrommorethanonepointofview。InthecourseofthisworkmysubjecthasoftenledmetospeakoftheIndiansandtheNegroes;butIhaveneverbeenabletostopinordertoshowwhatplacethesetworacesoccupyinthemidstofthedemocraticpeoplewhomIwasengagedindescribing。Ihavementionedinwhatspirit，andaccordingtowhatlaws，theAnglo—AmericanUnionwasformed;butIcouldonlyglanceatthedangerswhichmenacethatconfederation，whilstitwasequallyimpossibleformetogiveadetailedaccountofitschancesofduration，independentlyofitslawsandmanners。WhenspeakingoftheunitedrepublicanStates，IhazardednoconjecturesuponthepermanenceofrepublicanformsintheNewWorld，andwhenmakingfrequentallusiontothecommercialactivitywhichreignsintheUnion，I
wasunabletoinquireintothefutureconditionoftheAmericansasacommercialpeople。
Thesetopicsarecollaterallyconnectedwithmysubjectwithoutformingapartofit;theyareAmericanwithoutbeingdemocratic;andtoportraydemocracyhasbeenmyprincipalaim。
Itwasthereforenecessarytopostponethesequestions，whichI
nowtakeupastheproperterminationofmywork。
TheterritorynowoccupiedorclaimedbytheAmericanUnionspreadsfromtheshoresoftheAtlantictothoseofthePacificOcean。Ontheeastandwestitslimitsarethoseofthecontinentitself。Onthesouthitadvancesnearlytothetropic，anditextendsupwardstotheicyregionsoftheNorth。Thehumanbeingswhoarescatteredoverthisspacedonotform，asinEurope，somanybranchesofthesamestock。Threeraces，naturallydistinct，and，Imightalmostsay，hostiletoeachother，arediscoverableamongstthematthefirstglance。Almostinsurmountablebarriershadbeenraisedbetweenthembyeducationandbylaw，aswellasbytheiroriginandoutwardcharacteristics;butfortunehasbroughtthemtogetheronthesamesoil，where，althoughtheyaremixed，theydonotamalgamate，andeachracefulfilsitsdestinyapart。
Amongstthesewidelydifferingfamiliesofmen，thefirstwhichattractsattention，thesuperiorinintelligence，inpowerandinenjoyment，isthewhiteorEuropean，themanpre—eminent;
andinsubordinategrades，thenegroandtheIndian。Thesetwounhappyraceshavenothingincommon;neitherbirth，norfeatures，norlanguage，norhabits。Theironlyresemblanceliesintheirmisfortunes。Bothofthemoccupyaninferiorrankinthecountrytheyinhabit;bothsufferfromtyranny;andiftheirwrongsarenotthesame，theyoriginate，atanyrate，withthesameauthors。
Ifwereasonedfromwhatpassesintheworld，weshouldalmostsaythattheEuropeanistotheotherracesofmankind，whatmanistotheloweranimals;—hemakesthemsubservienttohisuse;andwhenhecannotsubdue，hedestroysthem。Oppressionhas，atonestroke，deprivedthedescendantsoftheAfricansofalmostalltheprivilegesofhumanity。ThenegrooftheUnitedStateshaslostallremembranceofhiscountry;thelanguagewhichhisforefathersspokeisneverheardaroundhim;heabjuredtheirreligionandforgottheircustomswhenheceasedtobelongtoAfrica，withoutacquiringanyclaimtoEuropeanprivileges。
Butheremainshalfwaybetweenthetwocommunities;soldbytheone，repulsedbytheother;findingnotaspotintheuniversetocallbythenameofcountry，exceptthefaintimageofahomewhichtheshelterofhismaster’sroofaffords。
Thenegrohasnofamily;womanismerelythetemporarycompanionofhispleasures，andhischildrenareuponanequalitywithhimselffromthemomentoftheirbirth。AmItocallitaproofofGod’smercyoravisitationofhiswrath，thatmanincertainstatesappearstobeinsensibletohisextremewretchedness，andalmostaffects，withadepravedtaste，thecauseofhismisfortunes？Thenegro，whoisplungedinthisabyssofevils，scarcelyfeelshisowncalamitoussituation。
Violencemadehimaslave，andthehabitofservitudegiveshimthethoughtsanddesiresofaslave;headmireshistyrantsmorethanhehatesthem，andfindshisjoyandhisprideintheservileimitationofthosewhooppresshim:hisunderstandingisdegradedtothelevelofhissoul。
Thenegroentersuponslaveryassoonasheisborn:nay，hemayhavebeenpurchasedinthewomb，andhavebegunhisslaverybeforehebeganhisexistence。Equallydevoidofwantsandofenjoyment，anduselesstohimself，helearns，withhisfirstnotionsofexistence，thatheisthepropertyofanother，whohasaninterestinpreservinghislife，andthatthecareofitdoesnotdevolveuponhimself;eventhepowerofthoughtappearstohimauselessgiftofProvidence，andhequietlyenjoystheprivilegesofhisdebasement。Ifhebecomesfree，independenceisoftenfeltbyhimtobeaheavierburdenthanslavery;forhavinglearned，inthecourseofhislife，tosubmittoeverythingexceptreason，heistoomuchunacquaintedwithherdictatestoobeythem。Athousandnewdesiresbesethim，andheisdestituteoftheknowledgeandenergynecessarytoresistthem:thesearemasterswhichitisnecessarytocontendwith，andhehaslearntonlytosubmitandobey。Inshort，hesinkstosuchadepthofwretchedness，thatwhileservitudebrutalizes，libertydestroyshim。
OppressionhasbeennolessfataltotheIndianthantothenegrorace，butitseffectsaredifferent。BeforethearrivalofwhitemenintheNewWorld，theinhabitantsofNorthAmericalivedquietlyintheirwoods，enduringthevicissitudesandpractisingthevirtuesandvicescommontosavagenations。TheEuropeans，havingdispersedtheIndiantribesanddriventhemintothedeserts，condemnedthemtoawanderinglifefullofinexpressiblesufferings。
Savagenationsareonlycontrolledbyopinionandbycustom。
WhentheNorthAmericanIndianshadlostthesentimentofattachmenttotheircountry;whentheirfamiliesweredispersed，theirtraditionsobscured，andthechainoftheirrecollectionsbroken;whenalltheirhabitswerechanged，andtheirwantsincreasedbeyondmeasure，Europeantyrannyrenderedthemmoredisorderlyandlesscivilizedthantheywerebefore。Themoralandphysicalconditionofthesetribescontinuallygrewworse，andtheybecamemorebarbarousastheybecamemorewretched。
Nevertheless，theEuropeanshavenotbeenabletometamorphosethecharacteroftheIndians;andthoughtheyhavehadpowertodestroythem，theyhaveneverbeenabletomakethemsubmittotherulesofcivilizedsociety。
Thelotofthenegroisplacedontheextremelimitofservitude，whilethatoftheIndianliesontheuttermostvergeofliberty;andslaverydoesnotproducemorefataleffectsuponthefirst，thanindependenceuponthesecond。Thenegrohaslostallpropertyinhisownperson，andhecannotdisposeofhisexistencewithoutcommittingasortoffraud:butthesavageishisownmasterassoonasheisabletoact;parentalauthorityisscarcelyknowntohim;hehasneverbenthiswilltothatofanyofhiskind，norlearnedthedifferencebetweenvoluntaryobedienceandashamefulsubjection;andtheverynameoflawisunknowntohim。Tobefree，withhim，signifiestoescapefromalltheshacklesofsociety。Ashedelightsinthisbarbarousindependence，andwouldratherperishthansacrificetheleastpartofit，civilizationhaslittlepoweroverhim。
Thenegromakesathousandfruitlesseffortstoinsinuatehimselfamongstmenwhorepulsehim;heconformstothetastesofhisoppressors，adoptstheiropinions，andhopesbyimitatingthemtoformapartoftheircommunity。Havingbeentoldfrominfancythathisraceisnaturallyinferiortothatofthewhites，heassentstothepropositionandisashamedofhisownnature。Ineachofhisfeatureshediscoversatraceofslavery，and，ifitwereinhispower，hewouldwillinglyridhimselfofeverythingthatmakeshimwhatheis。
TheIndian，onthecontrary，hashisimaginationinflatedwiththepretendednobilityofhisorigin，andlivesanddiesinthemidstofthesedreamsofpride。Farfromdesiringtoconformhishabitstoours，heloveshissavagelifeasthedistinguishingmarkofhisrace，andherepelseveryadvancetocivilization，lessperhapsfromthehatredwhichheentertainsforit，thanfromadreadofresemblingtheEuropeans。*aWhilehehasnothingtoopposetoourperfectionintheartsbuttheresourcesofthedesert，toourtacticsnothingbutundisciplinedcourage;whilstourwell—digestedplansaremetbythespontaneousinstinctsofsavagelife，whocanwonderifhefailsinthisunequalcontest？
[Footnotea:ThenativeofNorthAmericaretainshisopinionsandthemostinsignificantofhishabitswithadegreeoftenacitywhichhasnoparallelinhistory。FormorethantwohundredyearsthewanderingtribesofNorthAmericahavehaddailyintercoursewiththewhites，andtheyhaveneverderivedfromthemeitheracustomoranidea。YettheEuropeanshaveexercisedapowerfulinfluenceoverthesavages:theyhavemadethemmorelicentious，butnotmoreEuropean。Inthesummerof1831IhappenedtobebeyondLakeMichigan，ataplacecalledGreenBay，whichservesastheextremefrontierbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheIndiansonthenorth—westernside。HereI
becameacquaintedwithanAmericanofficer，MajorH。，who，aftertalkingtomeatlengthontheinflexibilityoftheIndiancharacter，relatedthefollowingfact:—"IformerlyknewayoungIndian，"saidhe，"whohadbeeneducatedatacollegeinNewEngland，wherehehadgreatlydistinguishedhimself，andhadacquiredtheexternalappearanceofamemberofcivilizedsociety。WhenthewarbrokeoutbetweenourselvesandtheEnglishin1810，Isawthisyoungmanagain;hewasservinginourarmy，attheheadofthewarriorsofhistribe，fortheIndianswereadmittedamongsttheranksoftheAmericans，uponconditionthattheywouldabstainfromtheirhorriblecustomofscalpingtheirvictims。Ontheeveningofthebattleof……，C。cameandsathimselfdownbythefireofourbivouac。Iaskedhimwhathadbeenhisfortunethatday:herelatedhisexploits;
andgrowingwarmandanimatedbytherecollectionofthem，heconcludedbysuddenlyopeningthebreastofhiscoat，saying，’Youmustnotbetrayme—seehere！’AndIactuallybeheld，"saidtheMajor，"betweenhisbodyandhisshirt，theskinandhairofanEnglishhead，stilldrippingwithgore。"]
Thenegro，whoearnestlydesirestominglehisracewiththatoftheEuropean，cannoteffectif;whiletheIndian，whomightsucceedtoacertainextent，disdainstomaketheattempt。
Theservilityoftheonedoomshimtoslavery，theprideoftheothertodeath。
IrememberthatwhileIwastravellingthroughtheforestswhichstillcovertheStateofAlabama，Iarrivedonedayattheloghouseofapioneer。IdidnotwishtopenetrateintothedwellingoftheAmerican，butretiredtorestmyselfforawhileonthemarginofaspring，whichwasnotfaroff，inthewoods。
WhileIwasinthisplace（whichwasintheneighborhoodoftheCreekterritory），anIndianwomanappeared，followedbyanegress，andholdingbythehandalittlewhitegirloffiveorsixyearsold，whomItooktobethedaughterofthepioneer。A
sortofbarbarousluxurysetoffthecostumeoftheIndian;ringsofmetalwerehangingfromhernostrilsandears;herhair，whichwasadornedwithglassbeads，felllooselyuponhershoulders;
andIsawthatshewasnotmarried，forshestillworethatnecklaceofshellswhichthebridealwaysdepositsonthenuptialcouch。ThenegresswascladinsqualidEuropeangarments。Theyallthreecameandseatedthemselvesuponthebanksofthefountain;andtheyoungIndian，takingthechildinherarms，lavisheduponhersuchfondcaressesasmothersgive;whilethenegressendeavoredbyvariouslittleartificestoattracttheattentionoftheyoungCreole。
Thechilddisplayedinherslightestgesturesaconsciousnessofsuperioritywhichformedastrangecontrastwithherinfantineweakness;asifshereceivedtheattentionsofhercompanionswithasortofcondescension。Thenegresswasseatedonthegroundbeforehermistress，watchinghersmallestdesires，andapparentlydividedbetweenstrongaffectionforthechildandservilefear;whilstthesavagedisplayed，inthemidstofhertenderness，anairoffreedomandofpridewhichwasalmostferocious。Ihadapproachedthegroup，andIcontemplatedtheminsilence;butmycuriositywasprobablydispleasingtotheIndianwoman，forshesuddenlyrose，pushedthechildroughlyfromher，andgivingmeanangrylookplungedintothethicket。I
hadoftenchancedtoseeindividualsmettogetherinthesameplace，whobelongedtothethreeracesofmenwhichpeopleNorthAmerica。Ihadperceivedfrommanydifferentresultsthepreponderanceofthewhites。ButinthepicturewhichIhavejustbeendescribingtherewassomethingpeculiarlytouching;abondofaffectionhereunitedtheoppressorswiththeoppressed，andtheeffortofnaturetobringthemtogetherrenderedstillmorestrikingtheimmensedistanceplacedbetweenthembyprejudiceandbylaw。
ThePresentAndProbableFutureConditionOfTheIndianTribesWhichInhabitTheTerritoryPossessedByTheUnionGradualdisappearanceofthenativetribes—Mannerinwhichittakesplace—MiseriesaccompanyingtheforcedmigrationsoftheIndians—ThesavagesofNorthAmericahadonlytwowaysofescapingdestruction;warorcivilization—Theyarenolongerabletomakewar—Reasonswhytheyrefusedtobecomecivilizedwhenitwasintheirpower，andwhytheycannotbecomesonowthattheydesireit—InstanceoftheCreeksandCherokees—
PolicyoftheparticularStatestowardstheseIndians—PolicyoftheFederalGovernment。
NoneoftheIndiantribeswhichformerlyinhabitedtheterritoryofNewEngland—theNaragansetts，theMohicans，thePecots—haveanyexistencebutintherecollectionofman。TheLenapes，whoreceivedWilliamPenn，ahundredandfiftyyearsago，uponthebanksoftheDelaware，havedisappeared;andI
myselfmetwiththelastoftheIroquois，whowerebeggingalms。
ThenationsIhavementionedformerlycoveredthecountrytothesea—coast;butatravelleratthepresentdaymustpenetratemorethanahundredleaguesintotheinteriorofthecontinenttofindanIndian。Notonlyhavethesewildtribesreceded，buttheyaredestroyed;*bandastheygivewayorperish，animmenseandincreasingpeoplefillstheirplace。Thereisnoinstanceuponrecordofsoprodigiousagrowth，orsorapidadestruction:themannerinwhichthelatterchangetakesplaceisnotdifficulttodescribe。
[Footnoteb:InthethirteenoriginalStatesthereareonly6，273
Indiansremaining。（SeeLegislativeDocuments，20thCongress，No。117，p。90。）[Thedecreaseinnowfargreater，andisvergingonextinction。Seepage360ofthisvolume。]]
WhentheIndianswerethesoleinhabitantsofthewildsfromwhencetheyhavesincebeenexpelled，theirwantswerefew。
Theirarmswereoftheirownmanufacture，theironlydrinkwasthewaterofthebrook，andtheirclothesconsistedoftheskinsofanimals，whosefleshfurnishedthemwithfood。
TheEuropeansintroducedamongstthesavagesofNorthAmericafire—arms，ardentspirits，andiron:theytaughtthemtoexchangeformanufacturedstuffs，theroughgarmentswhichhadpreviouslysatisfiedtheiruntutoredsimplicity。Havingacquirednewtastes，withouttheartsbywhichtheycouldbegratified，theIndianswereobligedtohaverecoursetotheworkmanshipofthewhites;butinreturnfortheirproductionsthesavagehadnothingtoofferexcepttherichfurswhichstillaboundedinhiswoods。Hencethechasebecamenecessary，notmerelytoprovideforhissubsistence，butinordertoprocuretheonlyobjectsofbarterwhichhecouldfurnishtoEurope。*cWhilstthewantsofthenativeswerethusincreasing，theirresourcescontinuedtodiminish。
[Footnotec:Messrs。ClarkeandCass，intheirReporttoCongressonFebruary4，1829，p。23，expressedthemselvesthus:—"ThetimewhentheIndiansgenerallycouldsupplythemselveswithfoodandclothing，withoutanyofthearticlesofcivilizedlife，haslongsincepassedaway。Themoreremotetribes，beyondtheMississippi，wholivewhereimmenseherdsofbuffaloareyettobefoundandwhofollowthoseanimalsintheirperiodicalmigrations，couldmoreeasilythananyothersrecurtothehabitsoftheirancestors，andlivewithoutthewhitemanoranyofhismanufactures。Butthebuffaloisconstantlyreceding。Thesmalleranimals，thebear，thedeer，thebeaver，theotter，themuskrat，etc。，principallyministertothecomfortandsupportoftheIndians;andthesecannotbetakenwithoutguns，ammunition，andtraps。AmongtheNorthwesternIndiansparticularly，thelaborofsupplyingafamilywithfoodisexcessive。Dayafterdayisspentbythehunterwithoutsuccess，andduringthisintervalhisfamilymustsubsistuponbarkorroots，orperish。Wantandmiseryarearoundthemandamongthem。Manydieeverywinterfromactualstarvation。"
TheIndianswillnotliveasEuropeanslive，andyettheycanneithersubsistwithoutthem，norexactlyafterthefashionoftheirfathers。ThisisdemonstratedbyafactwhichI
likewisegiveuponofficialauthority。SomeIndiansofatribeonthebanksofLakeSuperiorhadkilledaEuropean;theAmericangovernmentinterdictedalltrafficwiththetribetowhichtheguiltypartiesbelonged，untiltheyweredelivereduptojustice。
Thismeasurehadthedesiredeffect。]
FromthemomentwhenaEuropeansettlementisformedintheneighborhoodoftheterritoryoccupiedbytheIndians，thebeastsofchasetakethealarm。*dThousandsofsavages，wanderingintheforestsanddestituteofanyfixeddwelling，didnotdisturbthem;butassoonasthecontinuoussoundsofEuropeanlaborareheardintheirneighborhood，theybegintofleeaway，andretiretotheWest，wheretheirinstinctteachesthemthattheywillfinddesertsofimmeasurableextent。"Thebuffaloisconstantlyreceding，"sayMessrs。ClarkeandCassintheirReportoftheyear1829;"afewyearssincetheyapproachedthebaseoftheAlleghany;andafewyearshencetheymayevenberareupontheimmenseplainswhichextendtothebaseoftheRockyMountains。"