American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-06-14

lence, nor indeed OF any other emotion, was mani.
Tested by them all their passions and feelings seem
ed t. be quelled by III Intensity their will AMI
with a calmness borderlng upon apathy, they lister
ed to the propositions OF the American commando
BY these they were required to remove to snot
assigned to them beyond one OF the western rivers
several hundred miles distant from the place oe
their present abode When he had finished tban
looked round upon another. as if lnquiring WIN
should deliver their answer to the American gene
raj but even then their composure and fortituds
did moi torsake them. The iron aspect of their
countenances was not softened, and their whole an.
pearance and conduct betokened men who wsro
prepared to suffer all that the most ruthless enemy
could conflict The pause and doubt were ratbs,
occasioned by reluctance 10 assume the preropatiy
OF wisdom and authority, than by hesitation as IN
the answer to be delivered. or fear of the consa
quences. if it should be a refusal. At length an
aged chreftain whose frame bore the marks Of lone
and severe service, his face seemed with scars and
wounds, which were still green. arose, and lettng
This blanket fall below his shoulders, looked around
upon his contrymen, as il asking their Consent n
his being their spokesman, and thus began:
i 'BRoTHtR-We are sorry to hear what you tell
4 us Your words come upon us like dark clouds
driven by the east wind. We would bring to your
mind the things which have passed. When th.
land, from the mountain to the ocean. They 6sb.d
in the rivers and hunted in the forests that the
4 Great Spirit had given to them They did not know
much. but their wants also few and those they
could easily crafty. They had never tasted of that
liquonr which now bewitches them, but thev
quenched their thirst at the brock. and never lonped
for any other drink than cold water. Our warriors
were panthers in strength and deer in feetness and
ALWAYS listened to the council of the aged chef
lNnsN. n,,w A..
and hunting, told the women in what month to pant
corn, and taught us all to worship the Great spirit,
alter the manner OF our fathers Notwithstanding
our ignorance, we were happy, and the forest was
hlled with our cornhelds. But your people came
among us We were hen stronger than you but
we were glad to see you, because we thought YOU
would make us wiser and happier. We shewedyou
land to plant and build upon. and sold you corn 10
1 eat in the winter.
BROTHER Your coming has been very unior-
tunate to us. You are now a great people and as
you have increased we have dwindled to nothing.
The deer have fed further back into the Forest the
beavers leave their habitaions at the approach Of
the white men, and we cannot support ourselves
10y hunting. The smoke of your dwellings is fatal
10 the Indians. Our people have learned little else
than to cheat, and get mad with rum. BY some
means you got all our lands, except this small
remnant and this you say we must now leave.
'DRoTHER-Etere were we born. These forests
are made dear to us by the recollectons of child
hood Where can we find again the pleasant pa.
ces OF our youth l'ere our burial grounds
Can we say to the bores Of our fathers rise and 20
W tn us into foreign land
'BRoTHER-We cannot quit our native country.
\ on are now stronger than we, and may force US
from it but while live, we will defend our Birth
places and sepuchres and the Great Spirit who
looks upon all with an equal eye, will protect his
red children, and suffer their blood 10 sink into
the ground unavenged.
'BRoTHEa-This may sound to you like the
words OF our ancient strength. You may turn a
deaf ear to the complaints of the red men. Our
warriors have become weak as old women, ard
Ia sickness which you have brought among US is
daily thinning the number OF our tribes. myself
am an old tree; but many young * vigorous shoots,
which have seen springing up at my root and
hoped that they would shade my people from the
storm when should have fallen, haze witheredbe-
tore my eyes, as if poison had been mixed with
their sap.
sWARRIoHs,' said he, turning to his tribes the
hand OF the Great Spirit is upon the red men The
tribes that once filed the country have disappeared
before the strength and policy OF the white men
They have beer driven from the sea to the lakes u
from the vallies to the mountains; and now, like the
remnant OF this mornings mist, pointing TO cloud
nat lowered on the top OF the ridge 'they wait only
Tor the signal for their departure. But it our peo'
pie must perish and our name be extnguished, lei
us show the courage of our fathers in our fall, and
meet our fate with the resolution of our tTibe.'-b.
CD -
From me .N,ssn Tyo1b Do;I,i gd-srt;eey