Gazette Of The United States

For the Gazette of the United States.
Mr. Fenno,
WHEN I wrote a few remarks on the benevolent sentiments of a Member of Congress, relating to the Indian Tribes, I had not seen the whole of the debates on the Bill for regulating intercourse with that People, but as further proceedings were published the succeeding day, I found that those sentiments were strikingly corroborated by another Member, who brought to remembrance the cruelties exercised on the innocent Inhabitants at the discovery of this Country, two hundred years ago—when, whatever might have been the doctrines respecting the right of possession, he did not believe they were adapted to the present time, merely because civilized Men could improve the Land better than the Natives; nor did he agree with the assertion of his "Colleague," which in fact was of such a nature as would give more pain than pleasure to repeat it.
If the Gentleman whose sentiments were so similar to those which were specified in my last, had been of the name of Madison, or Baldwin, I should have mentioned either of those names on such an occasion with pleasing satisfaction, because it would then be seen, that it was the principle I regarded in the present case, and that I gave no preference to persons, barely on account of the general turn of political opinions; but as neither of those Gentlemen, has given me the opportunity to attach his name to the sentiments alluded to, I shall proceed to other observations.
As to the sentiments of a Foreigner, however much I may have been amused with some parts of his lengthy Speeches, yet on this occasion I make no scruple to profess my disagreement; and I shall give my reasons in the following manner: I am a native of America, it is natural for a man to love his Country, and he is but a poor Patriot, who is not a friend to his Countrymen, especially those who (however just their cause) are deprived of the opportunity of pleading for themselves.—The ancestors of these people were the friends of my ancestors, as well as those of many of my fellow-citizens. They received them with kindness in their feeble state, they were ready to assist them, in time of need; and so recent was that happy scene, that I myself remember when the friendly Natives visited this City in considerable numbers, and delighted in the name of brothers, retaining a due affection for the memory of their much beloved Onas, who treated them with justice as his fellow men, entitled to the rights which "the God of nature" had given them.
I do not wish to extend these unexpected remarks to a great length, but I imagine, that if one of those native orators (whose capacity no sensible man can doubt) was present to defend his people, it might soon be known to every unprejudiced mind, whether the aggressions are all to be laid to their charge, or whether every manly Pennsylvanian, who knows any thing of the affairs of this country, would not acknowledge his belief, that the Indians have at least a right, to believe themselves an injured and much oppressed people.