Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-03
BoNAPARrE AND BLACK HAWK.


B0NAPARTE AND BLACK HAWK.
When Bonararte was dethrnned BY the allied
powers Of Europe, after the battle ot Wafer'0o,
he was obliged to take refuge on BOARD British
ship of war in the channel, thus throwing him
self upon the clemency Of his most pefsevering
and powerful enemy, the British government. -
Upun becoming possessed Of the person Of their
most active, inyetrrate. aud dangerous foe, it be
came question of great Importance, not only t.
Great Britain, but to the rest OF Europe, in what
manner he should be disposed Of, with reference
the Globe. For the purpose Of securing their
object, the combined powers determined to re
move him to a place so remote that he could ne
yer again disturb their peace. or endanger thei'
safety. IL pursuance Of this determination. they
trans parted him to distant island in the ocean,
far removed from ever region where he could
Chief, and particularly from the countries over
which he had exercised despoic dominion for so
many years, and on which he had inflicted the
most unexampled distress. At the time of this
memorable occurrence, the hardship and ipjus
,ce Of the case we're exclaimed against by The
friends Of French 'republicansm in this country,
cordially for their tyrannIcal conduct towards an
enemy, of whoa. they were in great dread. and
who had often reduced them to the necessity OF
accepting even their thrones FROM hi: generosity.
after ne had conquered them and humbIed them
at his foorstOol.
Last wear, we had an Indian war in one of our
remote and newly settled states. A tribe who
had gradually LOST large part Of their territory,
aud whu probably Thought the lime was not far
distant when they should De called upon to part
with the remainder. and "cross The Mississippi
in FIJI oi desperation ommenceh hostilities, and
Tor while threatened the neighboring country
with the horror, Of a saDguinary war. And such
was the excitement among the inhabitants. that
the most prnmp, and decided measures fur :her
security became necessary. and troops were or.
dered over from the Atlantic coast to the remote
borders Of the Union, to check the progress Of the
vindictive enemy. The war, as was to be ex-
pectcd, was termInated by the conquest Of the
savagps; and eventually their brave and warlike
chief, Black Hawk. became prisoner in the
hands Of his whiier and more civilized enemies
After due dellberation, in order to prevent fu.
ture mischief, and to guard the peace and safety
of the inhabitants of that part Of the country, It
was determined TO remove this uncivilized hero
to place Of security, where he could be kept
and guarded IS a state prisoner, or in softer
phrase, as hostage, to ensure the tranquility of
the inhabitahts upon the distant borders of the
Uniied states. Accordingly. the captive chief,
with his companions IN adversely, had at the last
adyices arrived at the seat OF government, on The
way to Fort Monroe, at old Point Comfort, the
place Of his confinement
We do not reculect having seen the slightest
remark Of disapprobaton from any quarter, of
the manner in which this Indian Bonaparte has
been treated by his e"nquerors. 1t Black Hawk
was cruel. 50 was BoDspdrte; If Black Hawk
was treacherous and vindlctlve, so was Bona.
par,e; If Black Hawk was ambitious, so was b.
-naparte: If Black Hawk was disposed to disturb
the peace, and shed the blood Of those who stood
in the way cf his ambition, SO was Bonaparte.
Ia what then do the principles Of the two cases
ee.entally diIftrl Black Hawk doubtless con-
siJered himself as fighting for his own and bis
nati1n's rights, in defence of his unqu sioD-
able dominious, and for the soil on which he was
born aud 10 which he was attached by the strong
eat affection of which his nature was susceptible
Bonaparte was not even a native of Frauce-a,n.
bition vas the motive to all his conduct. and his
renown grew oUt of the most bloody wars. aud
the prosecution Of the most extraordinary system
Of military oppression and tyranny. that the bis
tory Of modern ages contains. We have no
doubt that Black Hawks moral principles, tried
by the savage standard, were Of higher cast
than Bonaparte's, when estimated by the rules Of
civilization and Christianity.
We should like to hear the opinions OF casu-
ists on the relative merits Of these two cases
That Of Bonaparte must be acknowledged to
have been Of a more splendid and astounding
than that Of Black Hawk. But this 10
not the mural view Of the case. 10 what respect
was it more reprehensibIe 10 the allied powers Of
Europe, who had been involved for q long course
If years in the most destructive and desolatins
vars that modern history records, carried on by
he exercise Of the most remorseless Tyranny
hat the civilized world had ever experienced, to
,lace :he author Of all this misery, when they had
lin in their power, in q situation where he could