Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-15

SON Is yet but child, ten years old, AMI
can be of no service to thee, bnt rather
trouble and charge; but here am |, truly
capable OF supporting and maintaining thee:
if thou wilt receive me as thy son, nothing
shall be wanting on my part to make thee
comfortable while thou livest." The wo-
man approving of the proposal, forthwith
adopted him as her son, and took the "ho'e
family TO her house.
TREATIES.
In early times, when Indian nations, after
long and bloody wars, met together for the
purpose of adjusting their differences, or
concluding peace with each other, it was
their Iaudable custom, as token OF their
sincerity, to remove Out of the place where
the peacemakers were sitting, all warlike
weapons and instruments Of destruction, OF
whatever form or shape. "For," said they,
when we are engaged in good work, moth
| ing that is bad must be visible. We are
met together to forgive and forget, TO bury
the destructive weapon, and put it quite
out of sight; we cast away from US the fatal
instrument that has caused so much grief
I to our wives and children, and has been
the source Of so many tears. 1t our earn
est hope and wish that it may never be
dug up again" SO particular were they on
this point, that single weapon had been
in sight, while treaty was negotiating,
i,would have disturbed their minds by re-
calling the memory of past events and in
stead [as they say,) of sladdening their
heats, by the prospect of a speedy peace,
would on the CONTRARY, have flled them
with sorrow.
f, Nor would they ever permit any war
like weapons TO remain within he Limits OF
! their connci! fire. when assembled tosetn-
err about the ordinary BUSINESS of govern
ment. Itmight, they said, have Dad es-
feet, and defeat the object for which they
had met. 1t might De check on so:ne Of
the persons assembled, end perhaps, pre-
vent those who had just complaint or re-
presentation to make from speaking heir
minds freely William Penn, said they,
when he treated with them, adopted this
ancient mode Of their ancestors, and con-
! veued them under grove Of shady trees,
where the little birds on their boughs we're
warbling their sweet notes. In commemo-
ration of these conferences (Which are al
ways to Indians subject of pleasing re-
membrance) they frequently assembled to-
gether in the woods, in some shady spot
! as nearly as possible similar TO those where
they used to meet their brother yNiquon,
! and there lay all his 'zgords" or speeches,
! with those Of bis descendants, on blanket
or clean piece of bark, and with great sa-
tisfac.iun 60 excessively over tie whole.
This practice (Which I have repeatedly
witnessed) continued until the year $780,
when the disturbances which then took
place put an end 10 it, probably forever.
These pleasing remembrances, these sa-
cred usages are no more. "When we treat
with the white people, do the Indians now
saw. "we have not the choice of the spot
where the messengers are to meet. When
we are called upon to conclude peace,
(and what peace p the meeting no long
er takes place in the shady grove, where
ia. innocent little birds with their cheerful
songs, seem as if they wished TO soothe and
enliyen our minds, tune them to amlty and
concord, and take part in the good work
for which we are met. Neither is it at the
sacred council house that we are invited to
assemble. No! it is at some of those hor-
rid places, surrounded with mounds and
bitches, where the most destructive or all
weapons, where great guns are gaping at
! Us with their wide mouths, as If ready to
/ deyour US and thus we are prevented from
| speaking our minds freely as brothers ought
! to do"
| HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.
The only members Of The cabinet who
remain at the seat OF government are, MIR.
I. John @. Adams, secretary of state, and hlr.
! VIM. Fl. Crawford, secretary OF the treasu-
ry. 80. 49,. IN
the 31st ultimo, in company with the pre-
sident, Tor South Carolira; alr. Thompson,
secretary of the navy, has left here on vi
sit to New ork and Mr. Writ, attorney