The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-02 00:00:00

EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER, DATED ST. LOUIS

SEPTEMBER ,8."
You have no doubt heard 'witch of the late troubles in our
Indian country, probably exaggeratedand, all of them 'over-
.
whelming the poor savages with " anathemas
and curses vile."
and devoted prayers offered up for their extermination, without
one word of inquiry as to the cause of the difficulty ; or, with-
out one lisp of n suspicion that the Whites may have been the
aggressors. The question naturally arises, what is the cause
of the present difficulties ? Sitnatedos I eta, unbiassed by -any
of those causes, which induce many people to wish to put the
poor savages in the wrong, I think I can give you a pretty cor7
rest account of the orrigin.of this unhappy dispute, I pass aver
the many, the very many, outrages committed,on.them, by in.•
dividuals of our nation—and, that they are many„ I appeal to
every Indian Agent whoni the adierntnent has in the country,
and come to the case under review, merely stopping to state
one little tact which I have from iNlajor Indian Agent,
in our vicinity. Two Indians had, as is believed; been basely
murdered by whites, while protecting some cattle that the
whites had taken ;the, evidence necessary, according to our
laws, and, on account of the bias in their favour, was not sta.,
dent to indict theni' for -the Offence, and they accordingly
escaped unpunished. Some time'after a few horses were MP
sing, and were found in the precincts of those Indian lodges;
and were taken sans ceremonie. At an interview that took
place some time after, between the Chief and the Agent above
named, the Chief put the following questions:—
" Illy father, how is that you white men come and. take away
our horses with.impunity ; the bones of our brothers and our
sons He bleaching before the cabins of our white men, crying
to us for vengeance, and we can get no redress—but: if any of
our ,bad yarsug men (jiyr we have bud .young man us welt as
you trespass on von, we never hear the last of it until every
farthing. of the loss is paid."
A party of the Missouri Fur Company ascending the Missouri
were accompanied , by, or were in company of, a party of the
Sioux Indians whO were at war with the iticaries. A few of
the former, who were at some distance from the Trading House,
fell in with some of the latter Indians, and were pursued by
them; when, on approaching the. Trading. House or Camp, or
whatever they please to call the establishment, the Americans
fired on the Iticarees, and killed several, the lowest account
says two. This I assert, without, fear of Contradiction, is the
origin of the, affair. General Ashley, proceeding on, to his
trading 'ground, Was informed of these circumstances, and
rather feared opposition, as his own letter indicates, had an
interview with them. " They demanded payment for the bo-
dies of the men killed by the whites—Ashley replied, that the
payment which they had to expect, in case of opposition on
theirpart, was from the deck of his boat, or expressed to that
e,114;, alluding .to his large force" The • Indians then lulled
them into security, and the result you know. The few lines
quoted, I have from one. of Ashley's own men, who gives
it ,as.his opinion, that thirty or. forty.dollars worth of presents
would have prevented all difficulties, and would , have healed
'the former irritation. But for resenting an injury done,tu their
tribe, which every nation tin the world would have resented,
they. are to be exterminated—and, the principal witnesses
.against them are men whose object it is, as well as their wish
and interest, to drive thern off their lands, to take their game.
Laany one who has seen the men • that Ashley and the Miss
.souri Fur Company, have sent into the country (I except the
leaders) say, whetherthe Indians ought to be judged and pu-
nished on their evidence alone? No,. Sir, the Indians are a
poor, despised, persecuted race, more. sinned .agvinst than sin-
ning, andunle.sa another• Las Cases: be raised by HeaVen for
their defence, the time is now fast approaching when ,the
place that now ' knows them, will 'know then no- more for
ever. . „

OXFORD MT:MALL—The Concerts •et our Music Room
on, Monday and Tuesday lest,, were attended by a fashionahle,
and very crowded audience, amongst whom we noticed several
of the county gentlemen. The selection on the first evening
afforded full scope for the abilities of Miss Stephens, who sung;
Hush; ye pretty warbling, choir," .and ,the. spat of
WIC delight," with much sweetness and fine expresston.—
Mr. Bellamy also gave to the songs of the giant Po-
lypheme the. fullest effect-0 ruddier titan the cherry,'!
was. loudly encored...," Love sound the, alarm," and.
" Why does the God., of Israel sleep," were sung by Mr.
Vatighan • with g.rest spirit, and deservedly applauded. The
various ItaliartAirs, Duetts, Trios, &c. were wcil.sung; among
those best received may be noticed, " Crude, sorte,", a fine trio,.
admirably, sung by Miss Stephens, Miss Venes, and Mr.
Vaughan ; a QUartett Mt Manes," and the beautiful
finele .. of •. Mozart's - " ,Dove son," a particularly :tine
composition. ' The IntrodUction and Chorus " Glaris ;n
excelsis," composed by Haydn, was performed each even.
ing, the solo parts at which. were exceedingly well exe-
cuted. The audience were much pleased. with a ,pretty.
Scotch ballad, If a body meet a body," and a fine air from.
the Irish Melodies, " The last glimpse of Erin," both sung by
Miss Stephens in a way to excite an .unanimous call for repot-
tion,. The concerts, from the, many encores were by some con-
sidered too long; and we cannot help expressing our .opinion
that a little more mercy should be shewn to the female perform-
ers, who ought not to be called upon tomept songs requiring
great exertion, merely tugratify the wish (in some.mstances) of
one or two individuals. Miss Stephens appeared to be much
fatigued at the close of the Second Concert, flair- the charm.
ahnaxivionugs4" -sneered. (u peaelyall her songs, which
froma ce
herof
desire to please the audience, she had gene-
,
stn
'rously complitux4 It D's CliAitacTEß.,--(Frorn. A vo•
lied with
lume of fiemphleta, lettered /ifirecnertsour 3-hear, presented
,D
by ar,Museuni. The date IS
10-10.)—A drunkard is the annoyance of modesty ; the trouble.
King corge 111. to the Ilfith
of ; the spoil sof wealth the instraetion of reason.; he.
is only. the bre vrt.m's,agen t ; the tavern and alehouse benefac-.
s.
for ; the beggar's companion ;
sorrow;: the constable's'-trotible he is
his wife's woe; his children'
sleep : i
as pie
w tui
tr of
pi a
et beast;sure and
we a
observer monster o
that a i nana.
his. neighbOur's scoff;
Insh
own shame; in summer be- is .a tub of swill; .a spirit of
meeting, 3di.Decetnber hits, b called, •een, by tt
• • •.
sequisition signed by many of the first Noblemen
.end Oentletoen of this.of
.country, and politi.
I,tl f I •,
or: tal, .purposo of. coutributing to
.urea a monument to the memory or the,litte Lord
lionTous.—(Edinburgit Courant; N0v.27.)
public