democracy in america-1-第80章
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es whose name is unknown to them； and who suffer the evils of usurpation long before they are acquainted with the authors of their distress。 *e
＇Footnote d： 〃Five years ago；〃 （says Volney in his 〃Tableau des Etats…Unis；〃 p。 370） 〃in going from Vincennes to Kaskaskia； a territory which now forms part of the State of Illinois； but which at the time I mention was completely wild （1797）； you could not cross a prairie without seeing herds of from four to five hundred buffaloes。 There are now none remaining； they swam across the Mississippi to escape from the hunters； and more particularly from the bells of the American cows。〃＇
＇Footnote e： The truth of what I here advance may be easily proved by consulting the tabular statement of Indian tribes inhabiting the United States and their territories。 （Legislative Documents； 20th Congress； No。 117； pp。 90…105。） It is there shown that the tribes in the centre of America are rapidly decreasing； although the Europeans are still at a considerable distance from them。＇
Bold adventurers soon penetrate into the country the Indians have deserted； and when they have advanced about fifteen or twenty leagues from the extreme frontiers of the whites； they begin to build habitations for civilized beings in the midst of the wilderness。 This is done without difficulty； as the territory of a hunting…nation is ill…defined； it is the common property of the tribe； and belongs to no one in particular； so that individual interests are not concerned in the protection of any part of it。
A few European families； settled in different situations at a considerable distance from each other； soon drive away the wild animals which remain between their places of abode。 The Indians； who had previously lived in a sort of abundance； then find it difficult to subsist； and still more difficult to procure the articles of barter which they stand in need of。
To drive away their game is to deprive them of the means of existence； as effectually as if the fields of our agriculturists were stricken with barrenness； and they are reduced； like famished wolves； to prowl through the forsaken woods in quest of prey。 Their instinctive love of their country attaches them to the soil which gave them birth； *f even after it has ceased to yield anything but misery and death。 At length they are compelled to acquiesce； and to depart： they follow the traces of the elk； the buffalo； and the beaver； and are guided by these wild animals in the choice of their future country。 Properly speaking； therefore； it is not the Europeans who drive away the native inhabitants of America； it is famine which compels them to recede； a happy distinction which had escaped the casuists of former times； and for which we are indebted to modern discovery！
＇Footnote f： 〃The Indians；〃 say Messrs。 Clarke and Cass in their Report to Congress； p。 15； 〃are attached to their country by the same feelings which bind us to ours； and； besides； there are certain superstitious notions connected with the alienation of what the Great Spirit gave to their ancestors； which operate strongly upon the tribes who have made few or no cessions； but which are gradually weakened as our intercourse with them is extended。 'We will not sell the spot which contains the bones of our fathers；' is almost always the first answer to a proposition for a sale。〃＇
It is impossible to conceive the extent of the sufferings which attend these forced emigrations。 They are undertaken by a people already exhausted and reduced； and the countries to which the newcomers betake themselves are inhabited by other tribes which receive them with jealous hostility。 Hunger is in the rear； war awaits them； and misery besets them on all sides。 In the hope of escaping from such a host of enemies； they separate； and each individual endeavors to procure the means of supporting his existence in solitude and secrecy； living in the immensity of the desert like an outcast in civilized society。 The social tie； which distress had long since weakened； is then dissolved； they have lost their country； and their people soon desert them： their very families are obliterated； the names they bore in common are forgotten； their language perishes； and all traces of their origin disappear。 Their nation has ceased to exist； except in the recollection of the antiquaries of America and a few of the learned of Europe。
I should be sorry to have my reader suppose that I am coloring the picture too highly； I saw with my own eyes several of the cases of misery which I have been describing； and I was the witness of sufferings which I have not the power to portray。
At the end of the year 1831； whilst I was on the left bank of the Mississippi at a place named by Europeans； Memphis； there arrived a numerous band of Choctaws （or Chactas； as they are called by the French in Louisiana）。 These savages had left their country； and were endeavoring to gain the right bank of the Mississippi； where they hoped to find an asylum which had been promised them by the American government。 It was then the middle of winter； and the cold was unusually severe； the snow had frozen hard upon the ground； and the river was drifting huge masses of ice。 The Indians had their families with them； and they brought in their train the wounded and sick； with children newly born； and old men upon the verge of death。 They possessed neither tents nor wagons； but only their arms and some provisions。 I saw them embark to pass the mighty river； and never will that solemn spectacle fade from my remembrance。 No cry； no sob was heard amongst the assembled crowd； all were silent。 Their calamities were of ancient date； and they knew them to be irremediable。 The Indians had all stepped into the bark which was to carry them across； but their dogs remained upon the bank。 As soon as these animals perceived that their masters were finally leaving the shore； they set up a dismal howl； and； plunging all together into the icy waters of the Mississippi； they swam after the boat。
The ejectment of the Indians very often takes place at the present day； in a regular； and； as it were； a legal manner。 When the European population begins to approach the limit of the desert inhabited by a savage tribe； the government of the United States usually dispatches envoys to them； who assemble the Indians in a large plain； and having first eaten and drunk with them； accost them in the following manner： 〃What have you to do in the land of your fathers？ Before long； you must dig up their bones in order to live。 In what respect is the country you inhabit better than another？ Are there no woods； marshes； or prairies； except where you dwell？ And can you live nowhere but under your own sun？ Beyond those mountains which you see at the horizon； beyond the lake which bounds your territory on the west； there lie vast countries where beasts of chase are found in great abundance； sell your lands to us； and go to live happily in those solitudes。〃 After holding this language； they spread before the eyes of the Indians firearms； woollen garments； kegs of brandy； glass necklaces； bracelets of tinsel； earrings； and looking…glasses。 *g If； when they have beheld all these riches； they still hesitate； it is insinuated that they have not the means of refusing their required consent； and that the government itself will not long have the power of protecting them in their rights。 What are they to do？ Half convinced； and half compelled； they go to inhabit new deserts； where the importunate whites will not let them remain ten years in tranquillity。 In this manner do the Americans obtain； at a very low price； whole provinces； which the richest sovereigns of Europe could not purchase。 *h
＇Footnote g： See； in the Legislative Documents of Congress （Doc。 117）； the narrative of what takes place on these occasions。 This curious passage is from the above…mentioned report； made to Congress by Messrs。 Clarke and Cass in February； 1829。 Mr。 Cass is now the Secretary of War。
〃The Indians；〃 says the report； 〃reach the treaty…ground poor and almost naked。 Large quantities of goods are taken there by the traders； and are seen and examined by the Indians。 The women and children become importunate to have their wants supplied； and their influence is soon exerted to induce a sale。 Their improvidence is habitual and unconquerable。 The gratification of his immediate wants and desires is the ruling passion of an Indian。 The expectation of future advantages seldom produces much effect。 The experience of the past is lost； and the prospects of the future disregarded。 It would be utterly hopeless to demand a cession of land； unless the means were at hand of gratifying their immediate wants； and when their condition and circumstances are fairly considered； it ought not to surprise us that they are so anxious to relieve themselves。〃＇
＇Footnote h： On May 19； 1830； Mr。 Edward Everett affirmed before the House of Representatives； that the Americans had already acquired by treaty； to the east and west of the Mississippi； 230；000；000 of acres。 In 1808 the Osages gave up 48；000；000 acres for an annual payment of 1；000。 In 1818 the Quapaws yielded up 29；000；000 acres for 4；000。 They reserved for themselves a territory of 1；000；000 acres for a hunting…ground。 A solemn oath was taken that it should be respected： but before long it was invaded like the rest。 Mr。 Bell； in his Report of the Committee on Indian Affairs； February 24； 1830； has these words： … 〃To pay an Indian tribe what their ancient hunting…grounds are worth to them； after the game is fled or destroyed； as a mode of appropriating wild lands claimed by Indians； has been found more convenient； and certainly it is more agreeable to the forms of justice； as well as more merciful； than to assert the possession of them by the sword。 Thus the practice of buying Indian titles is but the substitute which humanity and expediency have imposed； in place of the sword； in arriving at the actual enjoyment of property claimed by the right of discovery； and sanctioned by the natural superiority allowed to the claims of civilized communities over those of savage tribes。 Up to the present time so invariable has been the operation of certain causes； first in diminishing the value of forest lands to the Indians； and secondly in disposing them to sell readily； that the plan of buying their right of occupancy has never threatened to retard； in any perceptible degree； the prosperity of any of the States。〃 （Legislative Documents； 21st Congress； No。 227； p。 6。）＇
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part II
These are great evils； and it must be added that they appear to me to be irremediable。 I believe that the Indian nations of North America are doomed to perish； and that whenever the Europeans shall be established on the shores of the Pacific Ocean； that race of men will be no more。 *i The Indians had only the two alternatives of war or civilization； in other words； they must either have destroyed the Europeans or become their equals。
＇Footnote i： This seems； indeed； to be the opinion of almost all American statesmen。 〃Judging of the future by the past；〃 says Mr。 Cass； 〃we cannot err in anticipating a progressive diminution of their numbers； and their
