Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-02-24
THE INDIANS FATE

Inc NatcneZ tribe Ot Indiana, inhn-
biting the luxuriant soil Of the Missis.
sipp', were n mild. generous and hos
p'table people. The offspring of eli.
mate serene and productive. their cha
racter was marked by nothing Zero.
cious; and beyond the necessity of
self defence, or the unavoidable COLI
slons With ncighbouring tribes, by no.
thing martial. Their government. il
Us true, was most despoiic, and the his
tory of mo other nation north Of the
line, presents n parallel; and vet no
charge at an unnecessary or unwar-
rantable exercise Of this great power.
Is made against them. even BY their
historians. who were also the country
men at their opprcssors. Their king.
or chief, was called The SUM- and
the exalted station which he held. was
designated by a representation of that
iuminary. worn upon his breast. He
united also with his civil functions, the
priesiiy power and supremacy:-and
thus entrenched behind the ramparts
OF physical force. aud welding the ter
rors OF superstition, he was absolute
master, Of the lives and property of his
subjects. His equal in dignity and
power was his wife under tie title of
The Wife of the SUM-
Thus then, living in undisturbed re-
pose, and in the innocent enjoyment
oi tue bounties of nature, there came
IN an evil hour to their shores. a party
OF French emigrants who sbout the
end OF the 18th or beginning of the Sth
century, pavigated the Mississippi ia
quest OF wealth and territory. They
were received with all the cordiality
and affection that these guileless aud
inoffensf,e beings could bcstow. The
choicest gifts of the beneiicent creator.
had been bestowed upon them with u
lavish hand, and with a spirit. some
what allied TO his who had conferred
them, they eheerfully tendered 10 these
houseless wanderers, a participation in
the blessings they bad enjoyed.
These substantial pledges Of ami,y
and good feelings were received with
apparent gratitude by the emisrsnts.
but, their immediate wants supplied.
they were again thrown back upon their
evil passions, which Tor the momen,
i bad been quelled by misfortune, and
! perpetrated acts OF injustice and cruel
~, which excited the Indignation Of
their benefactors. Driven almost 10
frenzy, by repeated acts Of aggression.
they attempted 4 re-esta5lisl.ment Of
their rights; but were eventually sub
dued, and basely massacred.
The French upon their arrival, affect.
aI 10. e
for the products Of the soil; viewing.
however, the unsuspicious temper oI
the generous Indians, they threw Oh
the mask; and urged novel. and extra
VACANT demands; even extending 10
the fields which supported their wives
and chiidren-aud not until they were
driven in ignominy from them, into
the depth Of the wilderness. we're their
shameless oppressors satisfied.
AT this period commenced the league
against the French, which c,nbra, ed
Some Of the neighbOuring tribes living
ON the east; 10 the failure of which,
through the unmeritcd compassion 81
thcir queen, they owed their defeat and
determination.
Messengers were despatched TO diff.
fcrcnt quarters and a general massacre
oil The common enemy was agreed up
on. n day was appointed, but beng
unatquaInted with The art Of writing.
or the use of numbers, the period wa.
designated by number of si,cks.eVcr,
stick representing day each Of the
cOnfederated chiefs prepared bundle
corresponding ~ number with those III
his assoc iates; one ~ which was 90 be-
burnt daily: and the committing Of
the last 60 the flames, was to be the
signal for the attack
The wife Of the sun still attached
10 the French. by many recollections.
being the strangers whom she had pro
iected. and loved; trembling ~ the tor
rents Of blood which must flow. and
forgetting the wrongs which had been
hesped upon her country, determined
60 preserve them: aud minated "a
their commander, the necessity &c eau
tion-hy some singular incredibly. he
de-piscd and Neglected the counsel thu,
rendered 10 him. Frustrated Ia he,
purpose of saving those. within The II.
iniis Oi her own tribe. she determined.
by The anticipation of their fate. a.
preserve the majority scattered through
out other tribes Having tree scces.
20 the temple. she removed several ol
the sticks there DEPOSITED; and ihs
Warriors On repairing thither Gndin.
but one symbol remaining. ptepaf, d
lOf tie dreadful business on which ihe,
had resolved. They then Consigned
the last stick 10 the Grr. add suppos
ing that the united nations. wete eli
]. engaged in the same bloody work.
they fell upon the French. and cut
them Ell almost 60 q man.