Ihavebeenassuredthatthiseffectoftheapproachofthewhitesisoftenfeltattwohundredleagues’distancefromtheirfrontier。Theirinfluenceisthusexertedovertribeswhosenameisunknowntothem;andwhosuffertheevilsofusurpationlongbeforetheyareacquaintedwiththeauthorsoftheirdistress。*e[Footnoted:"Fiveyearsago，"（saysVolneyinhis"TableaudesEtats—Unis，"p。370）"ingoingfromVincennestoKaskaskia，aterritorywhichnowformspartoftheStateofIllinois，butwhichatthetimeImentionwascompletelywild（1797），youcouldnotcrossaprairiewithoutseeingherdsoffromfourtofivehundredbuffaloes。Therearenownoneremaining;theyswamacrosstheMississippitoescapefromthehunters，andmoreparticularlyfromthebellsoftheAmericancows。"]
[Footnotee:ThetruthofwhatIhereadvancemaybeeasilyprovedbyconsultingthetabularstatementofIndiantribesinhabitingtheUnitedStatesandtheirterritories。（LegislativeDocuments，20thCongress，No。117，pp。90—105。）ItisthereshownthatthetribesinthecentreofAmericaarerapidlydecreasing，althoughtheEuropeansarestillataconsiderabledistancefromthem。]
BoldadventurerssoonpenetrateintothecountrytheIndianshavedeserted，andwhentheyhaveadvancedaboutfifteenortwentyleaguesfromtheextremefrontiersofthewhites，theybegintobuildhabitationsforcivilizedbeingsinthemidstofthewilderness。Thisisdonewithoutdifficulty，astheterritoryofahunting—nationisill—defined;itisthecommonpropertyofthetribe，andbelongstonooneinparticular，sothatindividualinterestsarenotconcernedintheprotectionofanypartofit。
AfewEuropeanfamilies，settledindifferentsituationsataconsiderabledistancefromeachother，soondriveawaythewildanimalswhichremainbetweentheirplacesofabode。TheIndians，whohadpreviouslylivedinasortofabundance，thenfinditdifficulttosubsist，andstillmoredifficulttoprocurethearticlesofbarterwhichtheystandinneedof。
Todriveawaytheirgameistodeprivethemofthemeansofexistence，aseffectuallyasifthefieldsofouragriculturistswerestrickenwithbarrenness;andtheyarereduced，likefamishedwolves，toprowlthroughtheforsakenwoodsinquestofprey。Theirinstinctiveloveoftheircountryattachesthemtothesoilwhichgavethembirth，*fevenafterithasceasedtoyieldanythingbutmiseryanddeath。Atlengththeyarecompelledtoacquiesce，andtodepart:theyfollowthetracesoftheelk，thebuffalo，andthebeaver，andareguidedbythesewildanimalsinthechoiceoftheirfuturecountry。Properlyspeaking，therefore，itisnottheEuropeanswhodriveawaythenativeinhabitantsofAmerica;itisfaminewhichcompelsthemtorecede;ahappydistinctionwhichhadescapedthecasuistsofformertimes，andforwhichweareindebtedtomoderndiscovery！
[Footnotef:"TheIndians，"sayMessrs。ClarkeandCassintheirReporttoCongress，p。15，"areattachedtotheircountrybythesamefeelingswhichbindustoours;and，besides，therearecertainsuperstitiousnotionsconnectedwiththealienationofwhattheGreatSpiritgavetotheirancestors，whichoperatestronglyuponthetribeswhohavemadefewornocessions，butwhicharegraduallyweakenedasourintercoursewiththemisextended。’Wewillnotsellthespotwhichcontainsthebonesofourfathers，’isalmostalwaysthefirstanswertoapropositionforasale。"]
Itisimpossibletoconceivetheextentofthesufferingswhichattendtheseforcedemigrations。Theyareundertakenbyapeoplealreadyexhaustedandreduced;andthecountriestowhichthenewcomersbetakethemselvesareinhabitedbyothertribeswhichreceivethemwithjealoushostility。Hungerisintherear;warawaitsthem，andmiserybesetsthemonallsides。Inthehopeofescapingfromsuchahostofenemies，theyseparate，andeachindividualendeavorstoprocurethemeansofsupportinghisexistenceinsolitudeandsecrecy，livingintheimmensityofthedesertlikeanoutcastincivilizedsociety。Thesocialtie，whichdistresshadlongsinceweakened，isthendissolved;theyhavelosttheircountry，andtheirpeoplesoondesertthem:theirveryfamiliesareobliterated;thenamestheyboreincommonareforgotten，theirlanguageperishes，andalltracesoftheirorigindisappear。Theirnationhasceasedtoexist，exceptintherecollectionoftheantiquariesofAmericaandafewofthelearnedofEurope。
IshouldbesorrytohavemyreadersupposethatIamcoloringthepicturetoohighly;IsawwithmyowneyesseveralofthecasesofmiserywhichIhavebeendescribing;andIwasthewitnessofsufferingswhichIhavenotthepowertoportray。
Attheendoftheyear1831，whilstIwasontheleftbankoftheMississippiataplacenamedbyEuropeans，Memphis，therearrivedanumerousbandofChoctaws（orChactas，astheyarecalledbytheFrenchinLouisiana）。Thesesavageshadlefttheircountry，andwereendeavoringtogaintherightbankoftheMississippi，wheretheyhopedtofindanasylumwhichhadbeenpromisedthembytheAmericangovernment。Itwasthenthemiddleofwinter，andthecoldwasunusuallysevere;thesnowhadfrozenhardupontheground，andtheriverwasdriftinghugemassesofice。TheIndianshadtheirfamilieswiththem;andtheybroughtintheirtrainthewoundedandsick，withchildrennewlyborn，andoldmenuponthevergeofdeath。Theypossessedneithertentsnorwagons，butonlytheirarmsandsomeprovisions。Isawthemembarktopassthemightyriver，andneverwillthatsolemnspectaclefadefrommyremembrance。Nocry，nosobwasheardamongsttheassembledcrowd;allweresilent。Theircalamitieswereofancientdate，andtheyknewthemtobeirremediable。TheIndianshadallsteppedintothebarkwhichwastocarrythemacross，buttheirdogsremaineduponthebank。Assoonastheseanimalsperceivedthattheirmasterswerefinallyleavingtheshore，theysetupadismalhowl，and，plungingalltogetherintotheicywatersoftheMississippi，theyswamaftertheboat。
TheejectmentoftheIndiansveryoftentakesplaceatthepresentday，inaregular，and，asitwere，alegalmanner。WhentheEuropeanpopulationbeginstoapproachthelimitofthedesertinhabitedbyasavagetribe，thegovernmentoftheUnitedStatesusuallydispatchesenvoystothem，whoassembletheIndiansinalargeplain，andhavingfirsteatenanddrunkwiththem，accosttheminthefollowingmanner:"Whathaveyoutodointhelandofyourfathers？Beforelong，youmustdiguptheirbonesinordertolive。Inwhatrespectisthecountryyouinhabitbetterthananother？Aretherenowoods，marshes，orprairies，exceptwhereyoudwell？Andcanyoulivenowherebutunderyourownsun？Beyondthosemountainswhichyouseeatthehorizon，beyondthelakewhichboundsyourterritoryonthewest，therelievastcountrieswherebeastsofchasearefoundingreatabundance;sellyourlandstous，andgotolivehappilyinthosesolitudes。"Afterholdingthislanguage，theyspreadbeforetheeyesoftheIndiansfirearms，woollengarments，kegsofbrandy，glassnecklaces，braceletsoftinsel，earrings，andlooking—glasses。*gIf，whentheyhavebeheldalltheseriches，theystillhesitate，itisinsinuatedthattheyhavenotthemeansofrefusingtheirrequiredconsent，andthatthegovernmentitselfwillnotlonghavethepowerofprotectingthemintheirrights。Whataretheytodo？Halfconvinced，andhalfcompelled，theygotoinhabitnewdeserts，wheretheimportunatewhiteswillnotletthemremaintenyearsintranquillity。InthismannerdotheAmericansobtain，ataverylowprice，wholeprovinces，whichtherichestsovereignsofEuropecouldnotpurchase。*h[Footnoteg:See，intheLegislativeDocumentsofCongress（Doc。
117），thenarrativeofwhattakesplaceontheseoccasions。Thiscuriouspassageisfromtheabove—mentionedreport，madetoCongressbyMessrs。ClarkeandCassinFebruary，1829。Mr。CassisnowtheSecretaryofWar。
"TheIndians，"saysthereport，"reachthetreaty—groundpoorandalmostnaked。Largequantitiesofgoodsaretakentherebythetraders，andareseenandexaminedbytheIndians。Thewomenandchildrenbecomeimportunatetohavetheirwantssupplied，andtheirinfluenceissoonexertedtoinduceasale。
Theirimprovidenceishabitualandunconquerable。ThegratificationofhisimmediatewantsanddesiresistherulingpassionofanIndian。Theexpectationoffutureadvantagesseldomproducesmucheffect。Theexperienceofthepastislost，andtheprospectsofthefuturedisregarded。Itwouldbeutterlyhopelesstodemandacessionofland，unlessthemeanswereathandofgratifyingtheirimmediatewants;andwhentheirconditionandcircumstancesarefairlyconsidered，itoughtnottosurpriseusthattheyaresoanxioustorelievethemselves。"]
[Footnoteh:OnMay19，1830，Mr。EdwardEverettaffirmedbeforetheHouseofRepresentatives，thattheAmericanshadalreadyacquiredbytreaty，totheeastandwestoftheMississippi，230，000，000ofacres。In1808theOsagesgaveup48，000，000
acresforanannualpaymentof$1，000。In1818theQuapawsyieldedup29，000，000acresfor$4，000。Theyreservedforthemselvesaterritoryof1，000，000acresforahunting—ground。
Asolemnoathwastakenthatitshouldberespected:butbeforelongitwasinvadedliketherest。Mr。Bell，inhisReportoftheCommitteeonIndianAffairs，February24，1830，hasthesewords:
—"TopayanIndiantribewhattheirancienthunting—groundsareworthtothem，afterthegameisfledordestroyed，asamodeofappropriatingwildlandsclaimedbyIndians，hasbeenfoundmoreconvenient，andcertainlyitismoreagreeabletotheformsofjustice，aswellasmoremerciful，thantoassertthepossessionofthembythesword。ThusthepracticeofbuyingIndiantitlesisbutthesubstitutewhichhumanityandexpediencyhaveimposed，inplaceofthesword，inarrivingattheactualenjoymentofpropertyclaimedbytherightofdiscovery，andsanctionedbythenaturalsuperiorityallowedtotheclaimsofcivilizedcommunitiesoverthoseofsavagetribes。Uptothepresenttimesoinvariablehasbeentheoperationofcertaincauses，firstindiminishingthevalueofforestlandstotheIndians，andsecondlyindisposingthemtosellreadily，thattheplanofbuyingtheirrightofoccupancyhasneverthreatenedtoretard，inanyperceptibledegree，theprosperityofanyoftheStates。"
（LegislativeDocuments，21stCongress，No。227，p。6。）]
ChapterXVIII:FutureConditionOfThreeRaces—PartII
Thesearegreatevils;anditmustbeaddedthattheyappeartometobeirremediable。IbelievethattheIndiannationsofNorthAmericaaredoomedtoperish;andthatwhenevertheEuropeansshallbeestablishedontheshoresofthePacificOcean，thatraceofmenwillbenomore。*iTheIndianshadonlythetwoalternativesofwarorcivilization;inotherwords，theymusteitherhavedestroyedtheEuropeansorbecometheirequals。
[Footnotei:Thisseems，indeed，tobetheopinionofalmostallAmericanstatesmen。"Judgingofthefuturebythepast，"saysMr。Cass，"wecannoterrinanticipatingaprogressivediminutionoftheirnumbers，andtheireventualextinction，unlessourbordershouldbecomestationary，andtheyberemovedbeyondit，orunlesssomeradicalchangeshouldtakeplaceintheprinciplesofourintercoursewiththem，whichitiseasiertohopeforthantoexpect。"]
Atthefirstsettlementofthecoloniestheymighthavefounditpossible，byunitingtheirforces，todeliverthemselvesfromthesmallbodiesofstrangerswholandedontheircontinent。
*jTheyseveraltimesattemptedtodoit，andwereonthepointofsucceeding;butthedisproportionoftheirresources，atthepresentday，whencomparedwiththoseofthewhites，istoogreattoallowsuchanenterprisetobethoughtof。Nevertheless，theredoarisefromtimetotimeamongtheIndiansmenofpenetration，whoforeseethefinaldestinywhichawaitsthenativepopulation，andwhoexertthemselvestouniteallthetribesincommonhostilitytotheEuropeans;buttheireffortsareunavailing。Thosetribeswhichareintheneighborhoodofthewhites，aretoomuchweakenedtoofferaneffectualresistance;whilsttheothers，givingwaytothatchildishcarelessnessofthemorrowwhichcharacterizessavagelife，waitforthenearapproachofdangerbeforetheypreparetomeetit;
someareunable，theothersareunwilling，toexertthemselves。
[Footnotej:Amongstotherwarlikeenterprises，therewasoneoftheWampanaogs，andotherconfederatetribes，underMetacomin1675，againstthecolonistsofNewEngland;theEnglishwerealsoengagedinwarinVirginiain1622。]
ItiseasytoforeseethattheIndianswillneverconformtocivilization;orthatitwillbetoolate，whenevertheymaybeinclinedtomaketheexperiment。
Civilizationistheresultofalongsocialprocesswhichtakesplaceinthesamespot，andishandeddownfromonegenerationtoanother，eachoneprofitingbytheexperienceofthelast。Ofallnations，thosesubmittocivilizationwiththemostdifficultywhichhabituallylivebythechase。Pastoraltribes，indeed，oftenchangetheirplaceofabode;buttheyfollowaregularorderintheirmigrations，andoftenreturnagaintotheiroldstations，whilstthedwellingofthehuntervarieswiththatoftheanimalshepursues。
SeveralattemptshavebeenmadetodiffuseknowledgeamongsttheIndians，withoutcontrollingtheirwanderingpropensities;bytheJesuitsinCanada，andbythePuritansinNewEngland;*kbutnoneoftheseendeavorswerecrownedbyanylastingsuccess。
Civilizationbeganinthecabin，butitsoonretiredtoexpireinthewoods。ThegreaterroroftheselegislatorsoftheIndianswastheirnotunderstandingthat，inordertosucceedincivilizingapeople，itisfirstnecessarytofixit;whichcannotbedonewithoutinducingittocultivatethesoil;theIndiansoughtinthefirstplacetohavebeenaccustomedtoagriculture。Butnotonlyaretheydestituteofthisindispensablepreliminarytocivilization，theywouldevenhavegreatdifficultyinacquiringit。Menwhohaveonceabandonedthemselvestotherestlessandadventurouslifeofthehunter，feelaninsurmountabledisgustfortheconstantandregularlaborwhichtillagerequires。Weseethisprovedinthebosomofourownsociety;butitisfarmorevisibleamongpeopleswhosepartialityforthechaseisapartoftheirnationalcharacter。
[Footnotek:Seethe"HistoiredelaNouvelleFrance，"byCharlevoix，andtheworkentitled"Lettresedifiantes。"]
Independentlyofthisgeneraldifficulty，thereisanother，whichappliespeculiarlytotheIndians;theyconsiderlabornotmerelyasanevil，butasadisgrace;sothattheirpridepreventsthemfrombecomingcivilized，asmuchastheirindolence。*l[Footnotel:"Inallthetribes，"saysVolney，inhis"TableaudesEtats—Unis，"p。423，"therestillexistsagenerationofoldwarriors，whocannotforbear，whentheyseetheircountrymenusingthehoe，fromexclaimingagainstthedegradationofancientmanners，andassertingthatthesavagesowetheirdeclinetotheseinnovations;adding，thattheyhaveonlytoreturntotheirprimitivehabitsinordertorecovertheirpowerandtheirglory。"]
ThereisnoIndiansowretchedasnottoretainunderhishutofbarkaloftyideaofhispersonalworth;heconsidersthecaresofindustryandlaborasdegradingoccupations;hecomparesthehusbandmantotheoxwhichtracesthefurrow;andeveninourmostingenioushandicraft，hecanseenothingbutthelaborofslaves。Notthatheisdevoidofadmirationforthepowerandintellectualgreatnessofthewhites;butalthoughtheresultofoureffortssurpriseshim，hecontemnsthemeansbywhichweobtainit;andwhileheacknowledgesourascendancy，hestillbelievesinhissuperiority。Warandhuntingaretheonlypursuitswhichappeartohimworthytobetheoccupationsofaman。*mTheIndian，inthedrearysolitudeofhiswoods，cherishesthesameideas，thesameopinionsasthenobleoftheMiddleagesinhiscastle，andheonlyrequirestobecomeaconquerortocompletetheresemblance;thus，howeverstrangeitmayseem，itisintheforestsoftheNewWorld，andnotamongsttheEuropeanswhopeopleitscoasts，thattheancientprejudicesofEuropearestillinexistence。
[Footnotem:Thefollowingdescriptionoccursinanofficialdocument:"Untilayoungmanhasbeenengagedwithanenemy，andhasperformedsomeactsofvalor，hegainsnoconsideration，butisregardednearlyasawoman。Intheirgreatwar—dancesallthewarriorsinsuccessionstrikethepost，asitiscalled，andrecounttheirexploits。Ontheseoccasionstheirauditoryconsistsofthekinsmen，friends，andcomradesofthenarrator。
Theprofoundimpressionwhichhisdiscourseproducesonthemismanifestedbythesilentattentionitreceives，andbytheloudshoutswhichhailitstermination。Theyoungmanwhofindshimselfatsuchameetingwithoutanythingtorecountisveryunhappy;andinstanceshavesometimesoccurredofyoungwarriors，whosepassionshadbeenthusinflamed，quittingthewar—dancesuddenly，andgoingoffalonetoseekfortrophieswhichtheymightexhibit，andadventureswhichtheymightbeallowedtorelate。"]
Morethanonce，inthecourseofthiswork，Ihaveendeavoredtoexplaintheprodigiousinfluencewhichthesocialconditionappearstoexerciseuponthelawsandthemannersofmen;andIbegtoaddafewwordsonthesamesubject。
WhenIperceivetheresemblancewhichexistsbetweenthepoliticalinstitutionsofourancestors，theGermans，andofthewanderingtribesofNorthAmerica;betweenthecustomsdescribedbyTacitus，andthoseofwhichIhavesometimesbeenawitness，I
cannothelpthinkingthatthesamecausehasbroughtaboutthesameresultsinbothhemispheres;andthatinthemidstoftheapparentdiversityofhumanaffairs，acertainnumberofprimaryfactsmaybediscovered，fromwhichalltheothersarederived。
InwhatweusuallycalltheGermaninstitutions，then，Iaminclinedonlytoperceivebarbarianhabits;andtheopinionsofsavagesinwhatwestylefeudalprinciples。
HoweverstronglythevicesandprejudicesoftheNorthAmericanIndiansmaybeopposedtotheirbecomingagriculturalandcivilized，necessitysometimesobligesthemtoit。SeveraloftheSouthernnations，andamongstotherstheCherokeesandtheCreeks，*nweresurroundedbyEuropeans，whohadlandedontheshoresoftheAtlantic;andwho，eitherdescendingtheOhioorproceedinguptheMississippi，arrivedsimultaneouslyupontheirborders。Thesetribeshavenotbeendrivenfromplacetoplace，liketheirNorthernbrethren;buttheyhavebeengraduallyenclosedwithinnarrowlimits，likethegamewithinthethicket，beforethehuntsmenplungeintotheinterior。TheIndianswhowerethusplacedbetweencivilizationanddeath，foundthemselvesobligedtolivebyignominiouslaborlikethewhites。Theytooktoagriculture，andwithoutentirelyforsakingtheiroldhabitsormanners，sacrificedonlyasmuchaswasnecessarytotheirexistence。
[Footnoten:ThesenationsarenowswallowedupintheStatesofGeorgia，Tennessee，Alabama，andMississippi。TherewereformerlyintheSouthfourgreatnations（remnantsofwhichstillexist），theChoctaws，theChickasaws，theCreeks，andtheCherokees。Theremnantsofthesefournationsamounted，in1830，toabout75，000individuals。ItiscomputedthattherearenowremainingintheterritoryoccupiedorclaimedbytheAnglo—AmericanUnionabout300，000Indians。（SeeProceedingsoftheIndianBoardintheCityofNewYork。）TheofficialdocumentssuppliedtoCongressmakethenumberamountto313，130。ThereaderwhoiscurioustoknowthenamesandnumericalstrengthofallthetribeswhichinhabittheAnglo—AmericanterritoryshouldconsultthedocumentsIreferto。（LegislativeDocuments，20thCongress，No。117，pp。90—105。）[IntheCensusof1870itisstatedthattheIndianpopulationoftheUnitedStatesisonly25，731，ofwhom7，241areinCalifornia。]]
TheCherokeeswentfurther;theycreatedawrittenlanguage;
establishedapermanentformofgovernment;andaseverythingproceedsrapidlyintheNewWorld，beforetheyhadallofthemclothes，theysetupanewspaper。*o[Footnoteo:IbroughtbackwithmetoFranceoneortwocopiesofthissingularpublication。]
ThegrowthofEuropeanhabitshasbeenremarkablyacceleratedamongtheseIndiansbythemixedracewhichhassprungup。*pDerivingintelligencefromtheirfather’sside，withoutentirelylosingthesavagecustomsofthemother，thehalf—bloodformsthenaturallinkbetweencivilizationandbarbarism。Whereverthisracehasmultipliedthesavagestatehasbecomemodified，andagreatchangehastakenplaceinthemannersofthepeople。*q[Footnotep:SeeintheReportoftheCommitteeonIndianAffairs，21stCongress，No。227，p。23，thereasonsforthemultiplicationofIndiansofmixedbloodamongtheCherokees。
TheprincipalcausedatesfromtheWarofIndependence。ManyAnglo—AmericansofGeorgia，havingtakenthesideofEngland，wereobligedtoretreatamongtheIndians，wheretheymarried。]
[Footnoteq:UnhappilythemixedracehasbeenlessnumerousandlessinfluentialinNorthAmericathaninanyothercountry。TheAmericancontinentwaspeopledbytwogreatnationsofEurope，theFrenchandtheEnglish。Theformerwerenotslowinconnectingthemselveswiththedaughtersofthenatives，buttherewasanunfortunateaffinitybetweentheIndiancharacterandtheirown:insteadofgivingthetastesandhabitsofcivilizedlifetothesavages，theFrenchtoooftengrewpassionatelyfondofthestateofwildfreedomtheyfoundthemin。Theybecamethemostdangerousoftheinhabitantsofthedesert，andwonthefriendshipoftheIndianbyexaggeratinghisvicesandhisvirtues。M。deSenonville，thegovernorofCanada，wrotethustoLouisXIVin1685:"Ithaslongbeenbelievedthatinordertocivilizethesavagesweoughttodrawthemnearertous。Butthereiseveryreasontosupposewehavebeenmistaken。
ThosewhichhavebeenbroughtintocontactwithushavenotbecomeFrench，andtheFrenchwhohavelivedamongthemarechangedintosavages，affectingtodressandlivelikethem。"
（"HistoryofNewFrance，"byCharlevoix，vol。ii。，p。345。）TheEnglishman，onthecontrary，continuingobstinatelyattachedtothecustomsandthemostinsignificanthabitsofhisforefathers，hasremainedinthemidstoftheAmericansolitudesjustwhathewasinthebosomofEuropeancities;hewouldnotallowofanycommunicationwithsavageswhomhedespised，andavoidedwithcaretheunionofhisracewiththeirs。ThuswhiletheFrenchexercisednosalutaryinfluenceovertheIndians，theEnglishhavealwaysremainedalienfromthem。]
ThesuccessoftheCherokeesprovesthattheIndiansarecapableofcivilization，butitdoesnotprovethattheywillsucceedinit。ThisdifficultywhichtheIndiansfindinsubmittingtocivilizationproceedsfromtheinfluenceofageneralcause，whichitisalmostimpossibleforthemtoescape。
Anattentivesurveyofhistorydemonstratesthat，ingeneral，barbarousnationshaveraisedthemselvestocivilizationbydegrees，andbytheirownefforts。Whenevertheyderiveknowledgefromaforeignpeople，theystoodtowardsitintherelationofconquerors，andnotofaconquerednation。Whentheconquerednationisenlightened，andtheconquerorsarehalfsavage，asinthecaseoftheinvasionofRomebytheNorthernnationsorthatofChinabytheMongols，thepowerwhichvictorybestowsuponthebarbarianissufficienttokeepuphisimportanceamongcivilizedmen，andpermithimtorankastheirequal，untilhebecomestheirrival:theonehasmightonhisside，theotherhasintelligence;theformeradmirestheknowledgeandtheartsoftheconquered，thelatterenviesthepoweroftheconquerors。Thebarbariansatlengthadmitcivilizedmanintotheirpalaces，andheinturnopenshisschoolstothebarbarians。Butwhenthesideonwhichthephysicalforcelies，alsopossessesanintellectualpreponderance，theconqueredpartyseldombecomecivilized;itretreats，orisdestroyed。Itmaythereforebesaid，inageneralway，thatsavagesgoforthinarmstoseekknowledge，butthattheydonotreceiveitwhenitcomestothem。
IftheIndiantribeswhichnowinhabittheheartofthecontinentcouldsummonupenergyenoughtoattempttocivilizethemselves，theymightpossiblysucceed。Superioralreadytothebarbarousnationswhichsurroundthem，theywouldgraduallygainstrengthandexperience，andwhentheEuropeansshouldappearupontheirborders，theywouldbeinastate，ifnottomaintaintheirindependence，atleasttoasserttheirrighttothesoil，andtoincorporatethemselveswiththeconquerors。ButitisthemisfortuneofIndianstobebroughtintocontactwithacivilizedpeople，whichisalso（itmustbeowned）themostavariciousnationontheglobe，whilsttheyarestillsemi—barbarian:tofinddespotsintheirinstructors，andtoreceiveknowledgefromthehandofoppression。Livinginthefreedomofthewoods，theNorthAmericanIndianwasdestitute，buthehadnofeelingofinferioritytowardsanyone;assoon，however，ashedesirestopenetrateintothesocialscaleofthewhites，hetakesthelowestrankinsociety，forheenters，ignorantandpoor，withinthepaleofscienceandwealth。Afterhavingledalifeofagitation，besetwithevilsanddangers，butatthesametimefilledwithproudemotions，*rheisobligedtosubmittoawearisome，obscure，anddegradedstate;andtogainthebreadwhichnourisheshimbyhardandignoblelabor;suchareinhiseyestheonlyresultsofwhichcivilizationcanboast:andeventhismuchheisnotsuretoobtain。
[Footnoter:Thereisintheadventurouslifeofthehunteracertainirresistiblecharm，whichseizestheheartofmanandcarrieshimawayinspiteofreasonandexperience。ThisisplainlyshownbythememoirsofTanner。TannerisaEuropeanwhowascarriedawayattheageofsixbytheIndians，andhasremainedthirtyyearswiththeminthewoods。Nothingcanbeconceivedmoreappallingthatthemiserieswhichhedescribes。
Hetellsusoftribeswithoutachief，familieswithoutanationtocalltheirown，meninastateofisolation，wrecksofpowerfultribeswanderingatrandomamidtheiceandsnowanddesolatesolitudesofCanada。Hungerandcoldpursuethem;everydaytheirlifeisinjeopardy。Amongstthesemen，mannershavelosttheirempire，traditionsarewithoutpower。Theybecomemoreandmoresavage。Tannersharedinallthesemiseries;hewasawareofhisEuropeanorigin;hewasnotkeptawayfromthewhitesbyforce;onthecontrary，hecameeveryyeartotradewiththem，enteredtheirdwellings，andwitnessedtheirenjoyments;heknewthatwheneverhechosetoreturntocivilizedlifehewasperfectlyabletodoso—andheremainedthirtyyearsinthedeserts。Whenhecameintocivilizedsocietyhedeclaredthattherudeexistencewhichhedescribed，hadasecretcharmforhimwhichhewasunabletodefine:hereturnedtoitagainandagain:atlengthheabandoneditwithpoignantregret;
andwhenhewasatlengthfixedamongthewhites，severalofhischildrenrefusedtosharehistranquilandeasysituation。IsawTannermyselfatthelowerendofLakeSuperior;heseemedtometobemorelikeasavagethanacivilizedbeing。Hisbookiswrittenwithouteithertasteororder;buthegives，evenunconsciously，alivelypictureoftheprejudices，thepassions，thevices，and，aboveall，ofthedestitutioninwhichhelived。]
WhentheIndiansundertaketoimitatetheirEuropeanneighbors，andtotilltheearthlikethesettlers，theyareimmediatelyexposedtoaveryformidablecompetition。Thewhitemanisskilledinthecraftofagriculture;theIndianisaroughbeginnerinanartwithwhichheisunacquainted。Theformerreapsabundantcropswithoutdifficulty，thelattermeetswithathousandobstaclesinraisingthefruitsoftheearth。
TheEuropeanisplacedamongstapopulationwhosewantsheknowsandpartakes。Thesavageisisolatedinthemidstofahostilepeople，withwhosemanners，language，andlawsheisimperfectlyacquainted，butwithoutwhoseassistancehecannotlive。HecanonlyprocurethematerialsofcomfortbybarteringhiscommoditiesagainstthegoodsoftheEuropean，fortheassistanceofhiscountrymeniswhollyinsufficienttosupplyhiswants。WhentheIndianwishestoselltheproduceofhislabor，hecannotalwaysmeetwithapurchaser，whilsttheEuropeanreadilyfindsamarket;andtheformercanonlyproduceataconsiderablecostthatwhichthelattervendsataverylowrate。
ThustheIndianhasnosoonerescapedthoseevilstowhichbarbarousnationsareexposed，thanheissubjectedtothestillgreatermiseriesofcivilizedcommunities;andhefindsisscarcelylessdifficulttoliveinthemidstofourabundance，thaninthedepthofhisownwilderness。
Hehasnotyetlostthehabitsofhiserraticlife;thetraditionsofhisfathersandhispassionforthechasearestillalivewithinhim。Thewildenjoymentswhichformerlyanimatedhiminthewoods，painfullyexcitehistroubledimagination;andhisformerprivationsappeartobelesskeen，hisformerperilslessappalling。Hecontraststheindependencewhichhepossessedamongsthisequalswiththeservilepositionwhichheoccupiesincivilizedsociety。Ontheotherhand，thesolitudeswhichweresolonghisfreehomearestillathand;afewhours’marchwillbringhimbacktothemoncemore。Thewhitesofferhimasum，whichseemstohimtobeconsiderable，forthegroundwhichhehasbeguntoclear。ThismoneyoftheEuropeansmaypossiblyfurnishhimwiththemeansofahappyandpeacefulsubsistenceinremoterregions;andhequitstheplough，resumeshisnativearms，andreturnstothewildernessforever。*sTheconditionoftheCreeksandCherokees，towhichIhavealreadyalluded，sufficientlycorroboratesthetruthofthisdeplorablepicture。
[Footnotes:Thedestructiveinfluenceofhighlycivilizednationsuponotherswhicharelessso，hasbeenexemplifiedbytheEuropeansthemselves。AboutacenturyagotheFrenchfoundedthetownofVincennesupontheWabash，inthemiddleofthedesert;andtheylivedthereingreatplentyuntilthearrivaloftheAmericansettlers，whofirstruinedthepreviousinhabitantsbytheircompetition，andafterwardspurchasedtheirlandsataverylowrate。AtthetimewhenM。deVolney，fromwhomIborrowthesedetails，passedthroughVincennes，thenumberoftheFrenchwasreducedtoahundredindividuals，mostofwhomwereabouttopassovertoLouisianaortoCanada。TheseFrenchsettlerswereworthypeople，butidleanduninstructed:theyhadcontractedmanyofthehabitsofsavages。TheAmericans，whowereperhapstheirinferiors，inamoralpointofview，wereimmeasurablysuperiortotheminintelligence:theywereindustrious，wellinformed，rich，andaccustomedtogoverntheirowncommunity。
ImyselfsawinCanada，wheretheintellectualdifferencebetweenthetworacesislessstriking，thattheEnglisharethemastersofcommerceandmanufactureintheCanadiancountry，thattheyspreadonallsides，andconfinetheFrenchwithinlimitswhichscarcelysufficetocontainthem。Inlikemanner，inLouisiana，almostallactivityincommerceandmanufacturecentresinthehandsoftheAnglo—Americans。
ButthecaseofTexasisstillmorestriking:theStateofTexasisapartofMexico，andliesuponthefrontierbetweenthatcountryandtheUnitedStates。InthecourseofthelastfewyearstheAnglo—Americanshavepenetratedintothisprovince，whichisstillthinlypeopled;theypurchaseland，theyproducethecommoditiesofthecountry，andsupplanttheoriginalpopulation。ItmayeasilybeforeseenthatifMexicotakesnostepstocheckthischange，theprovinceofTexaswillveryshortlyceasetobelongtothatgovernment。