Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-21

Cl.l
try we all know the bore of every mans rife. Mon
sons gun carries Just 20 to tho pound No wthe bullet
holes III all these Indians that have been shot, the
same, anu we know whose rifle they suit. Besides
lhs, morse tracks have been the trail Of the
inoccasin. They were very particular tracks, and
Just suited the hoof of certain horse.-rhen GER
tain man was known to be lying out about that Same
tlme and when all these things put together it
don't take PhiIadephis lawyer to tell who done the
deed Then he sometimes goes of, and is gone for
weeks and people guess that he goes to their own
hunting grounds to lie in wait for them They do
saw, lie scent red skin like hound, and never
let's chance Slip"
But is it possible, that in a civilized country
within the reach of our laws wretch is permitted 10
hunt down his fellow creatures like wild beasts? To
inurder defenccess Indian, who comes into our
territory IN good iulth, believing christian peo-
ple?"
why 1t is not exactly permitted: we don't know
Ter certain who docs It, nor is it any particular mans
business TO inquire more than another Many of the
settlers have had their kin murdered bv the savapes
In early time; and all who have been raised in the
pack woods, have been taught TO fear and dislike
them. Then Monson is an honest fellow works hu |,
pays his debts and Is always willing TO do good turn
and 1t seems hard to break neiyhborhoud with him.
Tor the matter Of an Indian or So"
! But tsc wickednvss-the sbame--tle breach OF
law and hospitalitv,"
"Wcll so it is.---It is sin; and sorry would he TO
have 1T OH my conscicnce.--lut then some think an
inGlan or two, now and then will never be missed
others again hate to create interruption in the set
! lement; othsrs, who pretend to know tho law saw
that the general government has the care of the In
dians; and that state laws won't kvcr the case:
and withal N1OnSon keeps his own COUNSEL and so
among hands he escapes. After all, to come to the
PLAIN sentimental truth, Monsoon has good cause to
hate them; and many man. that would not din hrs
own hand in the blood of an Indan would as soon
die as betray Monsoon; for few OF Us could lay our
hands on our hearts, and that would not DO the
same IN his stuatiOn.--'
AT this point of the conversation, VIC were Joined
thp
road with ourselves; and my companion seeming I'M
wiling to pursue the subject in their hearing, | was
unable to learn from him what injury the Indian huer
had received, TO provoke his sangunary career of
vengeance. Nor did another opportunity occur for
\ we soon came to point where the road dverged:
and although my friendly companion, with the usual
hospitality ct TIC country invited me to his house,
was Obliged TO decline the invitation aud we parted
| / continued my journey into the Northwestern
part OF Illinois, which was then just beginning to at
tract the attention of land purchasers and contained
few scattered settlements. Delighted with this
beautiful country, and wishing TO explore the lands
iying between this tract and the Wabash lce rn,;p
cd on my return to strike directly across hrouph an
uninhnbited wilderness Of about $50 miles in extent
hneu an iacaD guide, who was highly reconmcn-
deu to mo, and set out Under his projection
IL Is not easy TO describe the sensations of ira
weller, unaccustomed to such scenery, on first behold
ing the vast prairies, which | set about TO eyptpre
Those, which had heretofore seen, were compare
lively small The points of woodland which mike
INTO them like many cages or proinontorics and
the groves which are lnterspcrsed ike islands are in
these lesser praircs, always sufficiently near 10 be
clearly defined to the eye, and to give Tie scene an
interesting variety We plan OF several miles
IN extent not perfectly level, but gently ron,r or
unGulanS like the swelling Of the ocean when near
~ calm. The graceful curve Of the surface is d I'M
broken, except when here and there the eye rests
upon one OF those huge mounds which are so plcas.
ing TO the poet, and so pcrplexng 70 the ANTIQUARIAN
The whole is ovGrspread with grass and flowers c0n
sItuting rich and varied carpet, ia which ground
OF lively green IS ornamcnted with a profision off
the gaudlest haes Deep receSscs in the cdrc of the
timber, resemble The bays and nlcts of a lake while !
occasionally long vista. openihg far back into the
forest, suffers the eye to of and refresh ITSELF
with the calm beauty of a distant perspective.
The traveller as he rides a!oug these smaller p-ni-
RIGS finds his eye continually attracted TO the edgs o.,
the forest aud his Imagination employed in trac;rg
the beautiful outline, ani in finding ont resembanccs
between these wild sccncS, and the most highly en-
bc'hshed productions Of art Tie airest pleasure
grounds the noblest parks of European princes where
millions have been expended to captivatc the fpcy
with eysan scenes arc bat mimic representations oil
the beauties which here spread by naturc for here
arc clunPs, and lawns and avenues, and gfovcs-tae
tangled thicket and the solitary trec-and all the
varieties Of scenic attraction-but on q scale 50 cy-
tensve, as to offer an endless succession Of change
20 the eye. There Is an air OF civilization here. thai
wins The hesrt-even here, where 10 human resi-
dcnce is seen, where TO foot ntrudcs and where not
au axe has ever trespassed OH the beautiful domain
So different IS this feeling from any thing inspired by
traveller emerges from the forest into the prairie he
no longer feels solitary. The consciousness TINT he
is travelling alone and in a Wilderness escapes him.
and be INDUCES the same pleasing sensations which
are enjoyed by one, whD having been lost arnons The
labyrnts of 4 savage mountain, suddenly dcsccnJs
into rich and highly cultivated feds.-Tho cav land.
scapc charms him. lie is surrounded by the rcfrcst
ing sweetness, and graceful beauty Of tho rural SCENE
aud recognizes at every stcp some well rcu,rrnberi
spot. enlarged and boauifci, and, as il were ro
touched by natures h1nd.-1hc clusters of treos 60
innci!uly arranged, seem e. have been disposed nv
tic hand Of taste, and - complete is the deu,. q.
that is d9ict to disp. the belief tllt each avn
uc leads 70 village and each grove couccas slcn
did mansion
Widely different the prospect exhibited in n,
northern prairics. Vast in extent tho dis,or,
forest barely dscovcrable in the 5hapc'ess ont,
inc of bne, family impressed tie horizon Here
and there solitary tree torn by Tho wind stood acro
Ike dlslnantcd mast ~ the ocean. As | followed
my guide through this Do oatc region INV sanfg,i,
WHO similnE 10 those OF The vnvnrnr ,.l1,. -. /