Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-03-16

hunters Of their game, ammunition and
wearing apparel, thereby breaking those
bands Of peace and friendship, which they
had pledged themselves TO observe. Thus
Iproying themselves false and treacherous,
unworthy either our protection or conf
dence.
In reply to these charges, their chiel
rose, and after casting his eyes over the
guard Of soldiers which invested him, thus
addressed the commanding officer.
Father-Your young men are prescri-
bed within certain bounds; not one of them
can pass that chain of seniinels without
your permission; thus ever within your
power. you govern them with ease.--My
warriors, impatient of restraint as the wild
horse in the tolls Of the hunter, brook no
control free as the air which they
breathe, light and impetuous as the ante
lope, they bound over mountain and moor,
in the pursuit Of pleasures which nature
has ordained they should enjoy. TO
conline them to one valley would deprive
them of their subsistence, they would pine
and die in pennry and want.
Father-These woods and streams are
ours The beaver which inhabit this river,
and The buffalo which range 10 these for
ests are ours; their skins afford us clo-
thing aud shelter from the rude blasts OF
winter; their meat a luxurious subsist-
enc e. Shall we then, who are lords oil the
forest, quit the pleasures aud advantages
of the hunt, and like you, conGne ourselves
to one solitary valley, TO practice disci,
pline and subordina,ioD, TO live in idle
ness and indoleuce No, Father-In pur-
suit of the elk and antelope, we will snuff
the morning breeze on the mountains, and
in the evening repose among The lilies Of
the vale, revealing on the spoils CT the
hunters, and in the embraces of our wives.
Father-These pleasures We invite you
10 participate; we also invest you with an
equal right with ourselves TO take meat
from our forests and fish from our four
tains; as freely, as the Great Spirit gave
them to us.
Father-We love and respect you, and
mourn that there are bad men among US,
who have done you wrong. Their ac-
tons, Father, were not within my control.
Punish not the innocent for the guilty.
Free our hands from these chains, We will
seek out the culprits Who have injured
you; although they crouch in the thick
est glen, OF lie concealed in the recesses
of the most inaccessible mountain.
Father-We will deliver them to you,
| to punish to your satisfaction, for the out
RACES they have committed against you,
and pledge ourselves that should one Of
our nation at any future period evince an
evil disposition towards you, we win give
him to your power, that with the rod OF
correction, you may open his eyes ore
proof"
The sophistry of this address, howev-
| er, did not deter the commanding officer
from severely flagellating FIVE of the cul-
prits who were recognised as the Offend
lers; after which they we're permitted to
retire, strongly enjoined to mend their
manners and morals.
am happy 10 inform You that the
promptness with which capt. Martin seiz-
ed and punished these offenders has made
a desirable and deep impression on the
minds of the whole nation, since which
they have evinced the most peaceable and
friendly disposition, uniformly, whenever
they have met with our hunters, courte-
ously taken their burthen OF game, and
borne il to our camp.
Notwithstanding the reluctance evinc-
ed by our troops on their embarkation,
and their present exiied situation, the ut
most cheerfuIness, harmony and good hui
NOR prevails; every one appears enrap-
tured with the expedition, and "for bold
adventures eager"
This happy change may, | think, be at
tributed to the uniform and correct sys-
tenn of discipline which has been obsery-
ed by the officers, and the prompt and reg
ular manner in which they have been
paid.
One of our best soldiers lately receiv-
ed an accidental shot 10 the knee, which
eyentuated in the loss of leg; on which
the commander Immediately very gene
rously presented him with donation Of
seven hundred dollars for his future sup
port.
The troops are remarkably healthy,
and the season beyond description fine.