Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-18

hospitality with insult and 'ngratitude.
I'd. With having repeatedly robbed our
hunters OF their game, ammunition and
wearing apparel, thereby breaking those
bands Of peace aud friendship, which they
hadpledged themselves TO observe. Thus
proving themselves false and treacherous.
unworthy either our protection or conf
dence.
Ia reply to these charges, their chief rose
and after casting his eyes overthe guard OF
soldiers which invested him, thus address
ed the commanding officer:
'sFather-Your young men are prescri-
bed within certain bounds; not one OF them
can pass that chain of sentineIs without
your permission, thus ever within your pow
er, you govern them with ease. Ny war
riors 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 Antelope, they bound
over mountain and moor, in the pursuit OF
pleasure, which nature has ordained they
should enjoy To con6ne them to one val
ley would deprive themoitheir subsistence,
they would pine and die in penury and
want.
Father-These woods AMI streams are
ours the beaver which inhabit this river,
and the buffaloe which range in these for
ests are ours, their skins afford US clothing
and shelter from the rude blast of winter ;
their meat luxurious subsistence. Shall
we then, who are lords Of the forest quit
the pleasures and the advantages of the
hunt, and like you, conine ourselves to one
solitary valley, to practise discipline and
suberdination, to live in idleness and indo-
lence. No, Father-In pursuit of the elk
and antelope. we will snuff the morning
breeze on the mountains, and in the even
ing repose among the lilies of the vale, re-
yelling on the spoils OF our hunters, and in
the embraces of our wives.
Fatber-These pleasures we invite you
to participate we also invest you with an
equal. right with ourselvesto take meat from
our forests and fish from our fountains 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 actions
Father were not within my control. Pun
ish not the innocent for the guilty. Free
our hands from these chains, we will seek
out The culprits who have injured you; al
though they crouch in the thickes, glen,
or lie concealed in the recesses of the most
inaccessible mountain.
Father-We will deliver them to you,
TO punish to your satisfaction, for the ou,ra-
ges they have committed against you and
pledge ourselves that should one of our ma
iion at any future period evince an evil dis
position towards you, we viii give him to
your power. that with the rod of correction,
you may open his eyes to reproot."
The sophs,ry Of this address however,
did not deter the commanding officer from
severely Aagellating five of the culprits who
were recognised as the offenders; after
which they were permitted to retire;
strongly enjoined to mend their manners
and morals.
l am happy to inform you that the
promptness with which captain Martin,
seized and punished these offenders has
made desirable and deep impression on
the minds OF the whole nation. since which
they have evinced the most pesceabe and
friendly disposition, uniformly whenever
they have met with our hunters, courte.
ousiytaken their burthen Of game andborne
il to our camp.
Notwithstanding The reluctance eyinced
by our troops On their embarkation, and
their present exled situation, the utmost
clteerfulness, harmony, and good l,umour
prevails, every one appears enrap'ured
with the expedition and " for bold adven-
lures eager"
This happy change may think be at
tributed to the uniform and correct system
cf discipline, which has been observed by
the officers and the prompt and regular
manner in which they have been paid
One of our best soldiers lately received
an occidental shot in the knee which has
eventuated IN the loss OF a leg on which
the commander Immediately very gene
rously presented him with donation of
- ILL., G. L.. &C., -.