Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-10-15
NJ T 3 G II 4 4 a M Y.
From the Chicago American.
THE INDIA

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dams, who have come to receive the
last payment stipulated in the Treaty
Of 1888. They present singularly
interesting appearance, and to eastern
emlgrants, especially, are the objects
OF great curiosity. They display in
their dress and manners the wild fancy
uncultvated taste, and native simplici.
ty of the Indian character. Their ia.
ces and bodies arc painted with gro.
tesque figures Of divers co,ors; gauly
trappings of silver hang upon their
breasts or girt their arms beais and
other jewels hang from their ears or
noses, or load their necks; quilts and
feathers, and heads OF birds, are WOW.
en- into their hair; scarlet bands richly
interviewer with beads, from which
hang bells and tassels, grit their LEGS.
They traverse the streets on their Do.
MES, caparisoncd with feathei and bells
or on foot with spears and daggers.
pipes and tonahawks, &c.. entertain.
ing the citizens with songs and dances.
We suppose this is the last general Wis.
1t we snail receive from them. The
exploring party sent out by the Gov
ernment, accompanied by a deputaton
OF Indians TO visit the new country
which was given them in exchange for
the lands in this region, and to which
they will probably be removed in the
coming fail have not yet returned but
will soon be here. The removal of the
miserable remnants of these once pow.
eriul tribes, is not only the most advan.
tageous to the people Of the United
States, but also to the Indians them.
selves, who are now weakened in pow.
er, diminished in number, eniecbled
in constitution, and depraved iii morals
by their proximity to the white peonle.
Those tfibes now west Of the Lakes,
were the fierce nations which inhabited
the peninsula of Michigan. The war
like deeds and shrewd stratagems OF
Pontiac. the great Ottowa chief, are a
part ofthe history of this country
His assassination by the Illinois indians
was the cause ofthe introduction Of the
Ottowas and Pottawattomies into this
region, who pursued the murderers OF
Pontiac almost to utter determination.
The destruction ola great number OF
them upon Starred Rock at Utica, is
an account well known to all. The
Illinois Indians were pursued until they
took refuge upon the top Of this Rock /,
which is $50 ieet high, standing on the
banks of the Illinois river, and were
besieged by their fierce pursuers, until
they were starred 10 death, and for ma.
ny years after, their uncoffne' bones
whltened the summit ofthe rock. But
these powerful tribes are following the
Illinois, the Peorias, the Kickapoos,
the kaskuskias, &c. who now scarce.
ly retain their identity as separate
tribes. A removal beyond the Missis
sippi is doubtless the true policy for
them. They will not be reclaimed
from the Indian customs so long as
there are hunting grounds unsubdued.
The march of civilization and improve.
ment towards the west, brings blasting
and mlldew upon them. They do not
| acquire the knowledge of the white
man, but adopt his vices without i'm
itating his virtues. While we triumph
in our own prosperity, and look with
warm hopes to the future, we have the
melancholy example before our eyes oil
the increased degradation q destruction
lsof mighty people. We know that our
, success is their fall. And however ar.
IDENTIFY we may desire their improve.
ment, we find that the Indian charac.
ter has in the main thwafted all efforts
for its elevation. They possess a pro.
pensity for savage life which will not
hafmonize with the existence of civil
institutions-and though many efforts
have been made to Christanize them.
by teaching them the truth Of Christi.
anity, yet these labors cannot be said
to be generally successful. And jud.
ging from the history of the last three
hundred years, we may suppose they
will continue to retire before the pro-
gress of enlightened Improvement, to
the last thicket, and when worsted there
will find their grave.
/ |
JUpGr Lynch IN PEFTIcoATs.-.The
Bangor (Maine) Advertiser, tells Il sto-
! ry Of young man in that vicinity who
had for some time past, been paying
| his addresses TO a girl in the same
neighborhood; for some cause or other
the swain determined 10 withdraw, and
penned billet, intimating TO the lady
that he was no longer to be considered
among the number of her admirers
This epistle he confded TO the care OF
ms sister, who, ignorant ofits contents
presented it in person. A family
! council was immediately called and