Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Domestic News
May 21, 1791
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
From Bennington, a commentary estimates Native American population in America at over three times that of white men, disputes counterarguments, references Montezuma's era, and speculates on advanced civilizations in western regions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
BENNINGTON, May 9.
The number of the Indians on the continent, like the extensive circuit of a comet, leads the attentive mind to conceive almost an immeasurable scope of country possessed by them. The best informed persons suppose, that there are more than three aboriginals, in America, to one white man.
This hypothesis has been disputed by some, who argue, that from the scattered state in which they live, the country could not contain them: but when we consider that it is but a few years since the Spaniards first invaded South-America, at which period, Montezuma was said to have 30 Kings at his beck, each of whom could turn out 100,000 fighting men—and take into view the trifling extent of their territory, compared with the almost unlimited western wilds, the mind is swallowed up in wonder, and lost in uncertain conjecture.
No part of the world, it is said, has been discovered to be fertile and advantageous for the residence of man, but man has been found to inhabit it. If this be true, the idea, perhaps, will not be deemed altogether chimerical, that the more western parts of this continent, are at present possessed by nations,
Where other Montezuma's hold their reign,
And peaceful millions till the fertile plain:
Where arts, perhaps, to Europe's sons unknown,
Present their charms—and wisdom, all their own,
Guide them along, secure from foreign jars—
Internal discord, or destructive wars.
The number of the Indians on the continent, like the extensive circuit of a comet, leads the attentive mind to conceive almost an immeasurable scope of country possessed by them. The best informed persons suppose, that there are more than three aboriginals, in America, to one white man.
This hypothesis has been disputed by some, who argue, that from the scattered state in which they live, the country could not contain them: but when we consider that it is but a few years since the Spaniards first invaded South-America, at which period, Montezuma was said to have 30 Kings at his beck, each of whom could turn out 100,000 fighting men—and take into view the trifling extent of their territory, compared with the almost unlimited western wilds, the mind is swallowed up in wonder, and lost in uncertain conjecture.
No part of the world, it is said, has been discovered to be fertile and advantageous for the residence of man, but man has been found to inhabit it. If this be true, the idea, perhaps, will not be deemed altogether chimerical, that the more western parts of this continent, are at present possessed by nations,
Where other Montezuma's hold their reign,
And peaceful millions till the fertile plain:
Where arts, perhaps, to Europe's sons unknown,
Present their charms—and wisdom, all their own,
Guide them along, secure from foreign jars—
Internal discord, or destructive wars.
What sub-type of article is it?
Indian Affairs
What keywords are associated?
Native Americans
Population Estimate
Montezuma
Western Lands
Spanish Invasion
What entities or persons were involved?
Montezuma
Where did it happen?
Bennington
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Bennington
Event Date
May 9.
Key Persons
Montezuma
Event Details
Commentary estimating Native American population exceeds three times that of white men, disputing arguments based on scattered living, referencing Spanish invasion of South America and Montezuma's 30 kings each with 100,000 fighting men, and speculating on populous nations in western parts with advanced arts and wisdom.