Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-15

and with The POtawatonieS. Tor the CcsAoloi ca
tensive districts in Illinois ard Indiana.
The recent hostllities, commenced by the Sac
and Fox Indians, may be traced tocauses, which
have been for some time 10 operation. and which
left little doubt upon the minds of those acquaint-
ed with the savage character, that they were de-
termined to commit some aggression upon the
frontier.
The confederate tribes of the Sacs and Foxes
have been long distinguished for their daring
spirit of adventure, and fnr their restless and
reckless disposition. At the commencement OF
the eighteenth century. one of these tribes made
desperate attempt to seize the post OF Detrait;
and. during period Of forty years, subsequent
to that effort they caused great trouble anal EN-.
barrnssment to the French colonial government,
which was only terminated BY most formidable
military expedition. sent BY that enterprsing
people into the then remote regions west of
Green Bay.
During the last war with Great Britain, this
Confederacy entered zeaously INTO the contest,
and was Among the most active and determined
of our enemies. Atter the peace, their cOmmu-
nication with the Canadian authorities was pre-
served; aud. every year, large parties OF the
most influential chiefs and warriors visited Up
per Canada. and returned laden with presents
That this continued intercourse kept alive feel.
ings of attachment to a toreisn power, and weak
ened the proper and necessary influence OF the
United States, is known to every one who has
marked the progress OF events and conduct ut
the Indians upon the northwes ern frontier. The
tribes upoa the Upper Mississippi, particularly
the Sacs aud Foxes and the Wlnnebasoes, con-
fideni in their position, and in their natural eou'
! rage, and totally ignorant of the vast dspropnr.
ton between their power aud that OF the United
States. have always been disseminated, Keeping
the frontier in alarm, and continually commit
ting some outrage upon the persons or property
of the inhabitants. All this is the result Of i'm
pulse, and is the necessary aud almost inevitable
consequence of Institutions which make war
the great object of life. Il is not probable that
any Indian, seriously bent apon hostlitiPs. ever
stops to calcu ate he force of the white man.
and to estimate the disastrous consequences
which we know must be the result. HI, Is i'm.
PEELED onward in hts desperate career by pas
sions. which are fostered and encouraged by the
whole frame of society; ard he l., very proba.
bly,, simulated by the predictions OF snme fana-
,ioal leader, who promises hin glory, victory,
aud seal s
In this state nf feeling. and with, these inctc
menls TO war. the Sncs aad Foxes claimed the
right al occupying a part of he country upon
Rack river. even after it had been sold to thr
citizens 1t the United States, and settled by
them. la 1929. aud IN 1850, Ierinus difficulties
rp,u ird from heir efforts ~ establish tncmsrl
in that sectioo. and ir.Iaen collisions with
the inhabitants were III" consequence. k"pre-
spn'atinuS werp madr TO them. and every effort,
shutt of actual ho.tihtIcs. used by the proper
nii ers. 10 indnff tieIn TO abandon these IN
founded preteusnu.. and 20 ounhne themselves
10 their uHn CnVgtiy 1n the west SIDE ni the
Mississippi river These Efforts were successful
with the Wei disposed portion OF the tribes, but
were Wholly unavain with the band known by
the nam, If the BRITISH ,,,arty" In 1881.
their aggrcsslo1s Nere 81 serious. and the an
tude they assumed SO formidable. that a COS side
rabie detachment u' the army. aud OF the m'i'
ii, Ut ilno,s. wa, called into the field; and the
dlsaffrcted Indians. alarmed by the preparation
; for their chasl>ement. agreed to reside and
hunt .upon their own lands west of the Ms
si.sippi r,,er,' and that they would not ''ree'oss
this river 10 me usual pace of their residen
nor - any pat of tneir i hunting grounds east
OF the Mi>ssspp. without the exoress perinls-
sion OF the President at the Uniled States, or
tn. Governor oi The State Of Illinois y
Tbs arrangement had scarcely been conclud
ed before ilasrant outrage was committed, BY
party of these Indians, upon band nt friendly
Menomunies, aluust under the guns OF FOi'
Crawford Twenty five persons were wantoniy
murdered. and mapy wounded, while encamped
in the village of Prairie du CHEN. ard resting in
faneied security upon our soil, and under our
han. II an act like this had been suffered to
pass uuuotlced and UNPUBLISHED. war betweea
these tribes would nave been the consequence,
IL which our frontiers would have been Involved,
and the character ard Influence Of the Cavern.
ment would have Deen lost ~ the opinion OF the
Indians.
Apprchensive, from the course OF events al
ready stated, aud from other ere umNtances. that
the dl.affected band of Sacs and Foxes would
again harass and disturb the settlements upon
our borders, and determined that the murderers
of the Men, monies should BE- surrendered or ia
ken. the department ordered General Atkinson,
on the 7th Of March last, 20 ascend the MIsss
sipp, with the dispnsabe regular troops AZ Jff fer
SON Barracks, and TO carry into effect the in
strucuons issued ny your direction. Still fur
ther to strengthen the frontiers, orders were Civ
en- fur the re oupaticn OF Chicago.
The demand fur the surrender vt the Nenomo-
ME murderers anurelv dsreps rded; and the