Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-07-17

we 90 Tor those OF the people around him. The
ulilerent communications from correspondents,
OF Which, when proper for publication, every
common sense editor avails himself, presenting
the opinions, and arguments, of their respec-
i've authors, furnish so many evidences of the
literary taste, OF the moral and political prin-
clPies, and OF the talent and general intelli-
gence OF the society The same evidence is,
IN the proper degree, afforded by the character
OF the original, and selected matter, of the pa
per. We presume, that an editor, anxious to
crafty his readers will select for their instruc-
ton or entertainment only such articles as are
consonant in their spirit with his readers feel
ings, and as thew can rightfullv approve =
I Whenever he does violence to the feelings, or
dlsregards the known sentiments of those for
whom he caters, he should be under the ntlu-
ence Of stern sense of justice, lmpelng him
TO the course he takes; and he should exhibit
he principles and reasoning by which he is led
to disagree with the known opinion of eommu-
ITty; orelse he subjects himself to implications
Ibreludlcial to his characterasa public herald
] The Illinois Journal has unfortunately, we
/ think, entered an lnroad upon the feelings and
sentiments Of the people Of Illinois, which it
would severely tax its ingenuity to excuse
While facts of doubtful character and tendency
exist, representations of them will differ, and
the most erroneous may find their apology; in
ierences variant as the most direct contra
dichons can create may be drawn. and no rule
Iof logic be violated. But when facts, bare and
exposed, present but one aspect; when all the
torture of prejudice, and partysm produces no
distortion, no change Of hue or figure,--the
Ims-statement Of them brands its author with
folly and ignorance, or leaves him to wrtheu
der the charge of wilful perversion. 1t SIM
meterlal how this mis-statement is mlde-
whether as original, or upon the authority of
another, when we are left without any quaii
cation to receive it, as he did, for so much truth :;
nor does it matter whether we are misinfrm-
ed in the style of sober editorial detail o'Ioc-
currences, in the glowing numbers oflthe
poet, the orations of the eloquent, or the be-
lwltchlng tales of romance, while these purtort
1 to be founded on events that have actually
ltranspired.
! Let any citizen Of our frontier, any of bur
volunteers, or indeed any of our citizens, Rad
the "speech of Black Hawk as quoted viii.
out remark or comment by the Journal, and his
indignation viii boil Already has it ben
limited about that we took up the son of Block
Hawk, and gave him the ash-that the EN-
croachmens of the whites, their rapacity, ind
brutal overbearing, provoked the just resmt-
ment of the savage that we were the ag<
gressors that We took their lands, withoure-
compense, defrauded them of neir little pelrv,
sandered them, abused their squaws. All this
finds ready circulation, whe'e the truth has hot
reached, and where jealousy, malice, Or mean
spirited penuriousness sprcsals. But we did
not L4i f1,l !, tse~o. We supposed all knew too
well the causes of our ate InQian disturbances.
and felt too much regard for their own charac-
tiers, and those of their lellow-cnizens, to ven
ture any countenance to asperslons, throwing
the odium upon us, which is involved in the
charges made against US
Black Hawk is made to represent himself
and nation as the victims OF our perfdy of
the cause of the war he is made to say, peI
ought to be asha med We are decctful but
they, the Indians, are flIIhful and honest
San INDIAN" says this speech, ''who is as bad
as the white man could not live in our nation,
he would be put to death and eat by the
wolves"
The sanguine admirer of Indian character,
the benevolent philanthropist, warmed by all laeI
sympathy which the real misfortunes of tae
aborlginees can inspire, recognizes in the re-
SUITS Vi our iale war the retrlOutlOn which III
lows treachery and cruelty, However, vel
may lament the calamity, the censure Of pos
ducing it applies to Black Hawk and his band
alone.
This unfortunate selection for the Journal
we must in charity ascribe to a want of knovl-
edge upon the subject to which it refers, and off
the lacerated state of public feeling. Cur
country has been invaded in violation off
solemn engagements, our farms and stock tu'n-
ed to waste, and destroyed, our .amilies threat
ened, and driven about, and when we turn ,ut
to repel the assailant, he tells us blood was lot
his obJect-when we attempt to coerce him to
an unwilling performance Of his stpulatins,
our families are butchered, and when at he |
expense of fatigue and blood, we subdue HIM
We are branded as prosecutors, oppressors-de-
celtfu and cruel. Our farmers in the busiest
part OF the year are called from home to de-
tend the frontier, and the pitifnl compensation
to each one, of sixty cents for the services of
himself and horse, is by some pronounced
waseIul and extravagant; the war is denounc-
ed as a speculation, Il scheme to draw the treas
ury dry. This is the color in which in some
parts of this Union our late Disturbances are
painted. BE it so, at distance, where too
thick veil of prejudice hangs for the light off
truth to enter-but let US be true to ourselves.