Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-22
From the Vermont Washingtonian.
10 WHAT A CHANGE. 8

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From the Vermont Washfngtonian.
10 WHAT A CHANGE. 8 q.
The acting governor of the Indiana
Territory in a late speech to the Legi..
lature thus proceeds to contrast the pre-.
sent situation Of that Territory, with
what it was previous to the battle of
Tippecanoe.
I" At your last assemslage gentlemen,
our political horizon seemed clear; our
infant territory bid fair for rapid and
rising grandeur; our population was
highly flattering; our citizens were be.
coming prosperous and happy, and Sc.
curity dwelt every where, even on our
frontiers: But alas the scene has
changed-and whether this change, as
it respects our territory, has been owing
10 an oper anxiety In xs to erfend our
dominions or to wish for retaliation BY
our foes, or to foreign influence, l
shall not pretend to decide. But that
there is change, and that too, a dis.
tressing one, is evident. For the Abo.
rhymes, our former neighbors s. friends,
have becomes'our most inveterate foes |;
they have drawn the scalping knife and
raised the tomahawk, and shouts of sa.
wage fury are heard at our THRESHOLD
Our frontiers are now wilds, and our
inner settlements have become frontiers;
some of our best citizens, old mon worn
down with age, and helpless women, <
innocent babes, have fallen victims to
savage cruelty. Our citizens, even in
our towns, have frequent alarms, end
constant apprehensiens, as to their pre-.
servation."
What simple and unaffected picture
of the distresses of the Indiana Terri
tory is here given.
But why is this ?-Whsnse this "dis.
tressing change ?"-He does not, in
deed pretend to say" positively; but
" as it respects that Territory" he ad-
mits. that it is owing to an over anri.
ety in rs TO ersend our territory" or to
" a wish for retaliation" on the part of
the Savsges-or to a " foreign influ.
encs."
That the savage war is not owing to
the latter, he we'll knows-for every
man, who has resided in tho Indian
country knows that the "foreign inaa.
ence" there is tho influence of the
traders, whose Influence is always ex.
erted in such way, as to promote their
own interests that is, to cultivate
peace. An Indian war is fatal TO the
views Of Traders; and equally SO, whe-
Their it be with Americans, or with the
British, or only with each other, For
when the Tribes are at war, there is no
hunting; and, of course the Traders are
ruined.
No-the last clause, foreign inau-
ence," was lugged il e. compliment 10
=" MI Madison's heart" and to the hs.
70 of Tippecanoe-but he ha: ina plain
honest way, told us the whote ruth,
without pretending to say" which
is, taatt the Indian war. so fatal to their
peace and prosperity, Gas it respects
their territory" is owing to an over anx.
iety in US to extend our territory, & on
the part Of the savages, or wish for re-
ta1atiOn-Or, in plain English, to our
aggrcssions, and to their resentments.
We have long known this to be pre-
ciscly the fact but have never before
it officially avowed, by such high and
unquestionable authority.
Had not Harrison invaded the Indian
country ! have no doubt, bat the sa.
wages, with proper management, might
ave been induced to remain neutral,
during the war with England, or, il we
mad chosen it, they might have been
brought to act On our side.