Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-22

'N''o
oles in all these Indians that have been shot, the
same, and we know whose rifle they suit. Besides
this, horse tracks have been the trail of the
lnoccasln. They were very particular tracks, and
Just suited the hoof of certain horse.-Then GER
tain man known to be lying ont about that same
time; and WREN all these things put together, il
don't take Philadelphia lawyer to tell wlro done the
deed Phen he sometimes goes off, andis gone for
weeks, and people guess that he goes TO their own
hunting grounds to lie in wait for them. They do
say, he eau scent red skin like hound, and never
let's chance slip"
''But is it possible, that iu a civilized country
within tire reach Of our laws wretch is pernittedto
hunt down his fellow creatures like wild beasts. To
murder defencclcss Indian, who comes into our
territory in good faith, believing christian pco-
pe?"
"Why it is not exactly permitted VIC don't know
Tor CERTAIN who does it, nor Is it any particular mans
business to inquire more than another. Many ofthe
settlers have had their kin murdered BY the saeages
in early time; and all WHO have been raised in the
back woods, have been taught to fear and dislike
them. Then Monson is an honest fellow, works hard
pays his debts and is always willing to do good turn
and it seems hard to break neighboriluod with him.
for the matter of an Indian Or So"
"But the wickedness--thc siame-tie breath Of
lazy and hospitality!"
"Well, soft is.-It is sin; and sotry would be to
have it on my Conscience.--But then some think an
Indian or two, now and then, will never be missed
others again hate TO create interruption in the set
tlement; others, who pretend to know the law, say
tudI Tic general government mas the care OF the In
dams; and that our state laws wort kiYcr the CASE
and withal Dlonson keeps bis own counsel, and so
among hands he escapes. After all, to come to the
plain sentimental truth, AIonson has good cause TO
hate them; and many man, that would not dip his
own hand III the blood of Indian, would as soon
die as bctray Monsoon; for few of Us could lay our
hands our hearts, and say chat we would not do the
same in his situation-'
At this point of the conversations we were Joined
by several horscmcn, who were pursuing the sane
rDy
wiling to pursue the subject in their hearing, was
unable to learn from him what injury the Indian hatcr
had received, TO provoke his sanguinary oarerr of
vengeance. Nor did another opportunity occur; for
we soon carue TO n point where the road divorced;
and although my friendly companion with the usual
hospitality of the country, invited me to his house
was obliged to decline the invitation, and we parted
continued my journey into the northwestern
part OF Illinois which then just beginning to at
troct the attention of land purchasers, and contained
fey scattered settlements Delighted with this
beautiful country, and wsIl'n. to explore the lands
yin9 between this tract and the Wabash, dctcrmin-
cd on my return 10 strike directly through an
uninhabIcd wilderness of about $50 miles in extent
hired an Indian guide, who highly recomncn-
ded to me, and set out under bis protection.
II is NOT easy to describe the sensations OF ira
Weller, unacCusomed to such scenery on first behold
ing the vast praries, which set about to eyplorc
Those, which I had heretofore seen, we're compara
lively small. The points Of woodland which make
INTO thcln like so many cages pronontories, and
the groves which are interspersef like islands, arc in
these lesser prairIes, always sufficiently near to be
clearly dcHncd 10 the eye, and to give the scene nm
interesting variety. We see plan of several miles
in extent, not perfectly level but gently rolling or
unduatng like the swelling OF the ocean when near
~ calm The graceful curve OF the surface is seldom
broken, except when here and there the eve rests
upon one of those huge mounds, which are 50 pleas
ing to the poet and so perplcXng the antiunarian
The whole IS overspread with grass aud flowers con-
sttuting rich and varied carpet, in which ground
OF lively green is or1Iamruted with n profISiun of
the gaudiest hues. Deep recesses in the edoe Of tho
timber, resemble the bays and nlcts of lake, while
occasionally long vista. opening far back into tho
forest suffers the eye to off and refresh Itself
with the calm beauty Of distant perspective
The traveller as he rides along these smaller prai
es finds his eye continually attracted TO the edges of
the forest, and his imagination employed in tracuo
the beautiful outline, and in finding out Resemblance
between these wild scenes, and the most highly en-
belllShed productions OF art The flares. pleasure
grounds, the noblest parks of European princes whc,
millions have been expended to capiivate the fncy
with eysan scenes are but mimic REPRESENTATIONS OF
the beauties which are here spread by naure for here
are clumps and lawns, and avenues and rroves-tI,e
tangled thicket and the solitary trec--and all the
varieties of scenic attraction-but on n scale so cx
tesive, as to offer endless succession of chan0rs
to the eye There is an air OF civilization here that
wins the lieart-even here, where no human resi-
dence is seen, where no foot intrudes and where nor
an axe has trespasscd on the beautiful domain
So different is this feeling from any thing inspired nv
mountain, woodland scenery, that, the instant the
traveller emergcs from the forest into the prare he
no longer feels solitary The consciousness that he
is travelling alone. and in Wilderness escapes him.
and he INDUCES the pleasing sensations, which
are enjoyed by one, who, having been lost among the
labyrnths of savage mountain, suddenly descends
into rich and highly cultivated felds-The cav land
scape charms him. He is surrounded by the refresh
ing sweetness and graceful beauty of thcrnra scene
and recognizes at every step some well remembered
spot. enlarged and beautifed, and, as it were re-
touched by natures hand-The clusters Of trees "a
tancltuly arranged. seem to have been disposed bv
The hand of taste, and so complete is the dclusion
that 1t is difficult to dspc the belief that each avon
ne leads to village, and each grove coGceals spcn
did maDsfhD. f
Widely different vas the prospect exhibited in the
more northern prarics. Vast in extent the distant
forest was barely discovcrable in the shapoless ont
line OF blue, faiatly impressed on the horizon Here
and there solitary tree torn by the wind stood alono
Ire dlsinantlcd mast IN the ocean. As followed
nv i1p pi1rrht bp.O1 ,fo