Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-04-14
From the Georgetown metropolitan.


An interesting scene wa. witns...a i.
me e''y; at the Masonic Hall. on Wed.
y 'as, II was council Of the OF
'o"ay ana Chippeway chiefs, now in the
.n .,;' WIN Mr. shoolcralt, acting as Com.
missioner on the part OF the Government
~ Ie'auon 70 the sale of their lands with.
10 The peninsula OF Michigan. There wcrs
about twenty five Indian chiefs. = rsw -
them old, but The greater part al th.I
young men, the length OF the tourney ~
wing, IN general, deferred the old ch;sh
from coming in person. They have bro't
however. full delegated power, to make !
treaty with the United States, for the sale
Of their lands. The conference was MAJ
concluded on Wednesday, and was "a.
newed on the following day. whcn thew
assented to tho sale, and delegated tHa
negotiation of the terms and details. an
their part. to three gentlemen. in whose
integrity. and kind zeal in their behalf
.hey Justly repose implicit confidence, MI
nix Robinson. Mr.. Robert Stewart, both
OF Michigan aud whites, and MIR. Hymlin.
an educated half breed and their in,crpre.
Yer. 10 these gentlemen, they entrusted
me charge OF making the best terms pos-
sioie, with the government; and they hold
another council 10 day, or to morrow. 10
consider and sign the treaty. as arranged.
between them and the Commissioned. II
they are satisfied with the terms.
Ihe Indians came to the council With
great diversity of views among themselves
all ofwhich were brought forward and dis.
cussed. They related chiefly to what por.
ton Of their lands should be sold. and
what reserved. At last. however allcsme
round to the first offer Of the commissioner.
which was, that they should agree to sell
the whole with the exception Of small
reservations for their own occupation. -
ihe great argument to which they felt
themselves compelled TO yield. was ncccs.
say. They knew that they must yield
or submit, eventually. TO forced expul-
SION, or else destruction. They saw also.
the impolIcy Of retaining very large res.
ervatlons, which would tempt the future
cupidlty OF the whites. They concluded.
therefore, to retain, the Ottowas two. and
the Chlppewas three, small reservations,
making but few hundred thousand acres
in the whole with the guarantee of a fn.
ture retreat in the country south of Lake
- WY SuVuiu Cttf utStfe H.
Within these reservations they are 10 At!
tempt to civilize themselves.
The Otiowa delegation represents ali
The tribes Of that nation, within the PENN
sula, comprising about 5000 souls; that
OF The Chippeways. represents few small
bands, who own, however, a tract or land
almost equal in extent to that owned BIZ
the former.
The whole amount Of the lands IN oues-
tion' Is from twenty TO twenty five mill
ions OF acres; for which tho government
VIII realize, very quickly at least that sum
oil dollars. II is considered, that tho In.
dams will be fortunate il they can get for
them one tenth of that value,
The Indians are disposed TO be terrible
prosers, require TO constantly called TO or
der, and kept TO the immediate point.
They wander TO endless talk of their wars,
their ancestors, &c., &c. They under.
derstand. and generally pretty correctly.
their own unhappy position in the coun-
try; nothing, indeed, lees than this con-
seriousness, would induce them TO give Or
their lands.