In the present case, this State is guilty of a series of petty impositions upon a feeble band, which excite not so much indignation as disgust.  They may be, and doubtless are, the blunders of legislation; the philanthropy of proscriptive ignorance; the atoning injuries of prejudice, rather than deliberate oppression.  No matter who are the Overseers, (we know them not,) nor how faithfully they have executed the laws.  The complaint is principally against the State; incidentally against them.  They may succeed, perhaps, in vindicating their own conduct; but the State is to be judged out of the Statute Book, by the laws now in force for the regulation of the tribe.  Fearing, in the plenitude of its benevolence, that the Indians would never rise to be men, the Commonwealth has, in the perfection of its wisdom, given them over to absolute pauperism.  Believing they were incapable of self-government as free citizens, it has placed them under a guardianship which is sure to keep them in the chains of a servile dependance.  Deprecating partial and occasional injustice to them on the part of individuals, it has shrewdly deemed it lawful to plunder them by wholesale, continually.  Lamenting that the current of vitality is not strong enough to give them muscular vigor and robust health, it has fastened upon them leeches to fatten on their blood.  Assuming that they would be too indolent to labor if they had all the fruits of their industry, it has taken away all motives for superior exertions, by keeping back a portion of their wages.  Dreading lest they should run too fast, and too far, in an unfettered state, it has loaded them with chains so effectually as to prevent their running at all.  These are some of the excellencies of that paternal guardianship, under which they now groan, and from which they desire the Legislature to grant them deliverance.

We are proud to see this spontaneous, earnest, upward movement of our red brethren.  It is not to be stigmatized as turbulent, but applauded as meritorious.  It is sedition, it is true; but only the sedition of freedom against oppression; of justice against fraud; of humanity against cruelty.  It is the intellect opposed to darkness; the soul opposed to degradation.  It is an earnest of better things to come, provided the struggling spirit be set free.  Let this tribe have at least a fair trial.  While they remain as paupers, they will feel like paupers; be regarded like paupers; be degraded like paupers.  We protest against this unnatural order of things; and now that the case has come under our cognizance, we shall not abandon it hastily.

We are aware that another, and probably an opposite view of this case is to be laid before the public, on the part of a commissioner delegated by the Governor and Council, to inquire into the