The Arkansas advocate., 1831-08-03

OHD dS tflC cSft0 1ttttS StiSdid t1 si'N'i't s-'N ,ropert, of the United States. 4 per iol oif those lands, Including 2 part of he village claimed by Black Hawk and lis band, have been sold by the govern nent. and the Indians have been repeat edly notified of the fact by authorized agents and required to remove, in com pIiance with the treaty. This they have not only refused to do, but have, during tie last twelve months, proceeded to commit many acts of aggression and hostility upon the citizens of illinois, settled near them-sucl asto drive some of them from their houses-throw down their tenees-turn their horses in upon their wheat and corn-fields-steal and destroy their hogs and cattle, ec. Nc. h a word, they had assumed the afti- tude of actual hostility against the U. States, and. as has recently come to light, have been active for the last year in try ing to persuade many other tribes of in- dians to join them-Sucii as tine fFinne- baeoes, pottawattamies, kickapoos,esc. and have even sent Fanners throughout all the southwestern Indians as far as Texas. There is BOW abundant eyi- dence of the fact asid yet such has been the secrecy with which they have pro- eeeded, that nobody suspectedshe Black Hawk depended upon any other resour- ces than the exertions of his own band.
 Such was the situation of things, when the governor of Illinois conceived 1t his duty 10 order out seven hundred militia for the protection of the frontier set tiers. We consider this step of the Governor, without any previous consul tation with the commanding generals of the Western Department of the army, as premature: inasmueh as General Gaines. as we understand from good au- thority, had the subject then under eon- sideration, and was about making such arrangements as to afford relzef to the citizens of Illinois, and pz0tectio,a against any further disturbaBces-no supposing the emergency so great, as to require
 inanediate ofensi7e operations before ad- yising the President of United States oi
 the situation of things; which he was de- sirous of doii 2, ard receiving his in-
 struetions relative thereto. The prem
 ature step of the governor of illinois,
 left him no other alternative than to an.
 ticipate the necessity of call uponthe
 militia, by promptly ordering to that
 point six campauies ofthe United States
 troops stationed at Jefferson Barracks,
 {. force which was deemed quite saffi- cient to restore tranquility, and to ef feet d removal of inc hostile Indians to the west of the Mississippi, in compli- ance with the treaty.
 In several councils which were held at Rock Island, after thu arrival of the troops, by General Gaines, after fully explaining to them the aboye-meHtion- ed treaties, he required them 10 act il3 pursuance herewith, and 10 remove to the left bank of the Aiississippi; but.
 with few exceptions, they obstinately refused and declared their resolutions to live or die on the ground where their fathers slept.
 It was not until things had progress ed thus far, that undoubted evidence otthe active eXertions which they had beensmaking for the last twelve months, to enlist in their cause many other tribes; and that they had actually been joined by considerable numbers of the
 Winnebagoes, K;ckapoos, &c. with ad- ditional prospects of speedy assistance in case they were attacked, making their numerical force double that Of the
 United States on that frontier, aided withal by the natural strength of their position. Under these circumstances, and anxious, TO doubt, to spare the effu- sion of blood, if possible, Gen. Gaines made a requisi!ion upon the Governor ofillinois fora detachment of mounted militia, the first orderior militia having been countefmanded. Shortly after the appearance Of the mounted militia,
 fifteen hundred strong, Black Hawk, with his whole band, removed to the west of the Mississippi, sent over white flag of truce, and sued for peace.
 It is probable, in case the Indians had been attacked previous to the arrival of the militia, that the United States troops might have succeeded in driving them from their village; bat this would have been attended with a considerable sacrifice, as the Indians were well arm- ed with rifles and other weapons, and were entrenched in rayines secure from the fire of artillery It would, more over, in all probability, have increased the yerY evil which if was sa desirah ahla