550 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



civilized by tlie aids and examples of good and moral peojile. Of the Indians in their 

 general capacity of civilized, along our extensive frontier, and those tribes that 1 

 found in their primitive and disabused state, I have drawn a table, which I offer as an 

 estimate of their comparative character, which I trust will be found to be near the 

 truth, generally, though, like all general rules nor estimates, with its exceptions. 

 (Vide Appendix C.) 



RESULTS OP ATTEMPTS AT INDIAN CIVILIZATION PRIOR TO 1838. 



Such are the results to which the present system of civilization brings that small 

 part of these poor unfortunate people who outlive the first calamities of their coun- 

 try, and in this degraded and pitiable condition the most of them end their days in 

 poverty and wretchedness, without the power of rising above it. Standing on the 

 soil which they have occupied from their childhood, and inherited from their fathers, 

 with the dread of pale faces, and the deadly prejudices that have been reared in their 

 breasts against them for the destructive influences which they have introduced into 

 their country, which have thrown the greater part of their friends and connections 

 into the grave, and are now promising the remainder of them no better prospect 

 than the dreary one of living a few years longer, and then to sink into the ground 

 themselves, surrendering their lands and their fair hunting grounds to the enjoyment 

 of their enemies, and their bones to be dug up and strewed about the fields, or to bo 

 labelled in our museums. 



For the Christian and philanthropist, in any part of the world, there is enough, I 

 am sure, in the character, condition, and history of these unfortunate people to en- 

 gag's his sympathies ; for the nation, there is an unrequited account of sin and injus- 

 tice that sooner or later will call for national retribution ; and for the American citi- 

 zena, who live, everywhere proud of their growing wealth and luxuries, over the 

 bones of these x'oor fellows who have surrendered their hunting-grounds and their 

 lives to the enjoyment of their cruel dispossessors, there is a lingering terror yet, I 

 fear, for the reflectirg minds, whoso mortal bodies must soon take their humble 

 places with their red but injured brethern under the same glebe, to appear and 

 stand, at lUst, with guilt's shivering conviction, amidst the myriad ranks of accusing 

 spirits that are to rise in their own fields at the final day of resurrection. 



(Appendix " A " and the " Welsh Colony " will be found under " Man- 

 dans " herein. ) 



