American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-12-31
From the National Journal, Dec. %.

From the National Journal, Dec. %.
| DIED, at bis lodgings al Tennison's, on Thurs
day night last, at about IL O'clock in his slxtleth
lyear, PUSH MA-TA HA, one OF the Choctaw Deie-
cation, now at Washington, on business with the
Government. The best attendance and the best
medical skill were employed to save him, but IN
vain. He died OF Tie Group, and was Ill but day.
He was buried on Saturday with military honors,
which were performed by the Marine Cops, by
directions Of the Secretary of the Navy, assisted by
Captain Mauro's and Captain Dyer's companies OF
volunteers: Christian ceremonies by the Rev. Mr..
Hawley The procession was large (at least Two
tnousand) and highly respectable. General Jack
son, who knew and appreciated the services OF this
Chief, paid his last respects to his memory, did
also many members of both Houses OF Congress,
and members of the government, some OF whom
attended him, though SO distant, to the grave.
Pash-ma ta-ha was an extraordinary man. He
of the three great Chiefs of his nation, and
had attained that distinction by his powers OF
Try and military prowess. Nature had impressed
him with the stamp Of greatness and he was him
self even in death g i am told,'' said he, lin his
native tongue, for he spoke no English,) /" that !
am better 1t is mistake. | shall die-and al
about IL O'Clock to night. II has always been In
my heart that should die in the land OF strangers
He then gave some directions respecting his family,
and the disposition OF his affairs, and concluded by
saying" When | am dead, let the big guns be
fred over me" Hi. request respected He
had won this high distinction by his uniform at
tachment to the people and cause of the United
States, and by the scars he had received and the
blood he had shed in seconding our power on our
borders, when II was exefted TO save our citizens
from The hostile OF his own race, and the combined
hostility OF the enemy with them, and especially In
the late war. He olled Tecumseh-though
not with the sword. lie saw his opportunity, and
seized ii he knew his means, and he employed
them. He triumphed over that maser-spiit, broke
The spell IN which he was attempting 10 bind his
patton, and turned the sword oil his people upon
our enemies. IL l0as By The p0iCers Vt his 0ratory
Every arm fell when Push ma a-ha had spoke
Every hostile spirit was hushed-and the Lhoctaw
nation, powerful as it was, were united 10 US. He
put himself at the head ot 500 warriors, and enter
ed our ser,lce-was in twenty four battles-seryed
under the eye OF General Jackson in his Pensacola
and won the admiration OF even this vet
eran. Push-ma ta-ha remembered his leader in
death. 81 want" said he, 6 to see General Jack.
son. But it was late at night, and the knowledge
OF tins wish vas not conveyed. 10 the writer oil
this hasty notice, General Jackson said, when in
formed OF II the next day" deeply regret
II. Had it been midnight, would have risen and
gUne TO see him."
Push ma ia ha though uneduca,ed himself, saw
the necessity OF improving his people-and demon
srateG his attachment TO civilization, by giving
$4,000 OF his annuity, for Is years, towards the
support Of the sthoo system.
Push ma ta.ha sleeps with the great and the ven
Grated oil our land. lie lies in the same enclosure
with our Clintons and GeIrys. When the lidngs
OF his death shall reach his people, they will be like
The tall OF The nobes tree III their forest, which had
long furnshed them with shelter and shade every
ear will To he hing ad hu fan
and all hearts will mourn the mighty rum. But LEI
them remembers though he " died in the land OF
Strangers" that he was respected and treated like
friend, aud that : the big guns" were fired over
him, not bal ely In compliance with his last request
but out oil respect for his services and show that
mis- attachment 10 our people, and his efforts in our
cause, were not forgotten.
1t was the boast of Push.mata ha that "his
hand ras tchte.' =" 1t has never been stained, 2
said he, "by the blood oil Americans But il is
red with that OF their euemies." am an A amer
ican," said he, the other day to the write, OF this
" My skin is red-but my heart is white" He was
asked about ten weeks ago, how he was? He threw
his eyes upwards, and with most devotional and
grateful look, spoke =" He says" said his inter
prefer, " he feels that the great Spirit loves him 10
day. He is SO well that he ieels happyo
On his way to Washington he met an old ac.
quantance going to the land Of hi, achievements
III var" You have come in path so far,'' said
Push ma .ha, (which is straight AID the green
and flowers border it. The trees are all leaiy
and the birds sing amidst their branches. You are
going where the paths are all crooked, and where
the land is desolate, and white with The bones oil
my enemies."
Agreeably to appointment, Bishop Rarenscrofl
preached the annual Discourse for the North Caro-
lima Bible Society the Brick Church in this Civ
on Sunday last, taking for the ground OF his dis
course, the Eunuch's reply 10 Philip, Acts VIII.