Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 129 JANUARY, 1825.] Internal Trade with Maxico. [SENATE. Pawnees killed a Spaniard, on the Arkansas, system. And shall a measure of such moment in the service of William Anderson, and forcibly be defeated by a parcel of miserable bartook from him thirteen mules. The company barians, Arabs of the desert, incapable of apwhich went out last summer had upwards preciating our policy, and placing a higher value of forty horses and mules stolen, about fifteen upon the gun of a murdered hunter, than upon miles south of the Arkansas, by the Caman- the preservation of all the republics in the world! ches, who lost one man in the affair. The To the Indians themselves the opening of a same company, thirty-two in number, en- road through their country is an object of vital countered, on their return, a war party of importance. It is connected with the preservaeighty Pawnees. The war-whoop was raised, tion and improvement of their race. For two and both parties drew up for action; but the hundred years the problem of Indian civilization enemy agreed to a compromise when they has been successively presented to each generafound that they could not rob without losing tion of the Americans, and solved by each in the lives of their warriors. In the winter of the same way. Schools have been set up, col1822-'23, Mr. John McNight, of St. Louis, was leges founded, and missions established; a killed by the Camanches, at some distance south wonderful success has attended the commenceof the Arkansas." ment of every undertaking; and, after some The use of an unmolested passage between time, the schools, the colleges, the missions, Mexico and the United States, is as necessary and the Indians, have all disappeared together. in a political, as in a commercial point of view. In the South alone have we seen an exception. They are neighboring powers, inhabitants of There the nations have preserved themselves, the same continent, their territories contiguous, and have made a cheering progress in the arts and their settlements approximating to each of civilization. Their advance is the work of other. They are the two chief powers of the twenty years. It dates its commencement from New World, and stand at the head of that cor- the opening of roads through their country. don of Republics, which, stretching from pole Roads induced separate families to settle at the to pole, across the two Americas, are destined crossings of rivers, to establish themselves at to make the last stand in defence of human lib- the best springs and tracts of land, and to begin erty. They have the legitimates of Europe in to sell grain and provisions to the travellers, front, and the Autocrat of all the Russias in whom a few years before they would kill and the rear. They are Republican, and Republics plunder. This imparted the idea of exclusive have become "the abhorred thing," the exist- property in the soil, and created an attachment ence of which is not to be tolerated in the land. for a fixed residence. Gradually, fields were The time was, Mr. President, when the king- opened, houses built, orchards planted, flocks dom and the republic could exist together; and herds acquired, and slaves bought. The when the Swiss, the Dutch, and the Venetian acquisition of these comforts, relieving the body republics were the friends and allies of kings from the torturing wants of cold and hunger, and emperors. But that day has gone by. The placed the mind in a condition to pursue its time has come, when the monarch and the re- improvement. This, Mr. President, is the true publican can no longer breathe the same atmnos- secret of the happy advance which the Southphere. A speck of republicanism above the ern tribes have made in acquiring the arts of political horizon now throws all Europe into civilization; this has fitted them for the recepcommotion. Telegraphs play, couriers fly, ar- tion of schools and missions; and, doubtless, mies move, the Cossacks of the Don and of the the same cause will produce the same effects Ukraine couch their lances, kings and emperors among the tribes beyond, which it has provault into their saddles; a million of bayonets duced among the tribes on this side of the turn their remorseless points against the porten- Mississippi. tous sign! We Americans (I use the word in The right of way is indispensable, and the the broadest sense) we Americans see and hear committee have began with directing a bill to be all this, yet we remain strangers to each other, reported for that purpose. Happily, there are form no associations, and our communications no constitutional objections to it. State rights are as tardy and as difficult as they are between are in no danger! The road which is contemthe inhabitants of Africa and Asia. Even with plated will trespass upon the soil, or infringe Mexico, our nearest neighbor, we have no com- upon the jurisdiction of no State whatsoever. munication, except by a sea voyage, through a It runs a course and a distance to avoid all boisterous gulf, infested with pirates. The bill that; for it begins upon the outside line of the before you is intended to correct a part of this outside State. and runs directly off towards evil; it will make " straight the way " between the setting sun. The Congress and the Indians the United States and Mexico; it will open an are alone to be consulted, and the statute-book easy channel of communication between them, is full of precedents. Protesting against the not for merchandise only, but for thoughts and necessity of producing precedents for an act in ideas; for books and for newspapers, and for itself pregnant with propriety, I will yet name every description of travellers. It will bring a few, in order to illustrate the policy of the together the two nations whose power and Government, and show its readiness to make whose positions, make them responsible to the roads through Indian countries to facilitate the world for the preservation of the Republican intercourse of its citizens. VOL. VIII.-9

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 129
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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