The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-21
THE MADISONIAN.
CURRENT LITERATURE.


A DISCOURSE ON THE ABoRIciNEs OF THE VALLEY
OF THE oHo.-In which the opinions OF The conquest
of that valley by the Iroquos or Six Nations in the
seventeenth century, supported BY Cadwallader
Golden, Of New York, Governor Powpal, of Massa-
chusets, DR.. Franklin, the Hon. De Wit Clinton,
Of New York, and Judge Haywood, of Tennessee,
are examined and contested. To which are prefixed
some remarks on the study Of history. Prepared at
the request Of the Historical Society OF Ohio. BY
WM HENRY HANSON, of North Bend, Cincinnati
1888. Svo. PIP. 81.
Bolingbroke, we think, says that man Of genius
and experience, and conversant in history, is an
honor TO his country and public blessing" We
are not oversocked with such blessings" The
Americans are practical, business, money-geiling
people. They are not the greatest scholars nor the
proioundest thinkers. They get experience by
rough and tumble-their genius is developed in the
multifarious arts of turning penny not excepting
literary hoaxes, and ad captaadum fictions, They
endure little selEsacrifcing devotion 10 original
science-trouble themselves not with any pro-
found systematic application TO history, and, after
the impetus Of the District School," get knowledge
as they run. They know very little OF the history
of their own country, except by tradition, and less
of any other. Here we are, they may say great
republican people but they scarcely have any def
mite ideas Of how they came to such pitch Many
college graduated BOBBY, rushes abroad, into the
daylight of Europe, disporting himself in the sun
beams Of his own gracious vanity and gaping at the
outward forms Of foreign wonders, when to his own
mind the condition and history of his own country
as dark as the caves Of the Cimmerii. His mind
has not attempted to penetrate them. How few even
read the history of their own country-how many
less make il study! How many in a thousand
ever heard Of the lMagnal,a Christi Americana
how many of the General Historic Of Virginia and
New England by the sometymes Governor in those
counryes, and Admiral of New England"-how
many OF the works OF StaA Norton, Larson Bcrer-
ley, Bciknap Hutchinson, Robert Proud, or even of
Mrs Warrcn3
Gen. Harrison, in the pamphlet before us, which
opens with some sensible remarks on the importance
ofthe study of history, very truly says "lhere is
study at this day much neglected" 1t is the re-
suit he thinks Of "the great increase of works of
felton," and the inordinate desire for the accumu-
aton of riches, and indicates, he observes, de-
cline Of patriotism" This is sober truth. How ex-
celent is the philosophy of history which "teaches
by examples" How true it is, as the author
Justly remarks that the characters and leading fea-
lures of some of the best novels and tragedies are
drawn from real history-such especially as have
the greatest effect in promoting the love of country.
Witness some of the writings OF Shakespeare Scott,
Addison, James, Miss Porter, and even Knowles
William Tell.
We remember well the magnificent historical dis
course Of De Witt Clinton. 1t was production of
great power and research, and Of strong, compre-
hensive and philosophic mind One of the positions
attempted to be established by Mr. Clinton, in which
other authors also concurred was that the Iroquois
Six Nations came into possession of all the
try watered by the Ohio by conquest of the native
tribes attributing TO them at once, the ambition
OF the Remains for conquest and their martial
talents LOT securing IT, osnsral Harrison endea-
yours to prove that their alleged subiuga,io, ~
the North Western tribes, rests upon no competent
authority" and in good sooth, he enters upon his
task with the freshness of youth and vigor OF expe-
rienced prime. He brings to his task an extensive
knowledge ofthe Indian history OF the western coun-
try and its antiquities and very fairly in
conviction of the probability at least of the correct
of his very interesting and valuable narrative
We cannot lead our readers through the pleasant
meanderngs OF this elaborate essay, but content our
self with quoting few paragraphs.
The EARLIEST RACES OF THE WEsT-Fny-fve
years ago, there was not christian inhabilant with
in the bounds which now compose the State of Ohio
And if few years anterior to that period traveller
had been passing down the magnificent river which
forms our southern boundary, he might not have
seen in its whole course of eleven hundred miles
single human being-certainly not a habation, nor
the vesige of one, calculated for the residence of
man. He might indeed, have seen indications that
it was not Away thus. His eye might have rested
upon some supendous mound or heightened lines of
ramparts and traverses Of earth still of considerable
elevation, which proved that the country had once
Lab
But he would have seen, also, indubable evidences
that centuries had passed away since these remains
had been occupied by those for whose use they had
been reared. Whilst Illuminating upon the causes
which had occasioned their removal he would not
fail to arrive at the conclusion, that their departure
(if they did deparD must have been matter OF ne
cessi,y For no people, in any stage of civilization
would willingly have abandoned such country; en-
deared to them as il must have BEEN by long resi-
dence and the labor they had bestowed upon it,
Unless, like the descendants Of Abraham they had
fled from the face of tyrant and the oppression OF
unfecling task masters. II they had been made TO
yield TO more numerous or more gallant people
what country had received the fugitives and what
has become of the conquerors Had they, too, been
forced TO fly before new swarm from some northern
or southern hive Still would the question recur
what had been their fate 7 And why had so large
portion of a country, so beautiful and inviting, so
Astounding in all that is desirable in the rudest as
well as the most advanced state Of society, been le
as haunt for the beasts Of the forest, an occa
siona arena for distant tribes of savages to mngle
, mortal conflicts To aid us in coming to any thing
like satisfactory conclusion in answer to those
questions we possess only solitary recorded fact.
For every thing else, we must search amidst The re-
mains which still before us, for all that we wish
to know Of the history and character Of this ancient
and nameess people. And although the result Of
such an examination may be far from satisfactory, it
will not be entirely barren of information. We learn
first from the extensive country covered by their
remains that they were a numerous people. Second
w. that they were congregated in considerable cities
from the extensive works with which several favo-
rite situations are covered Thirdly, that they were
essentially an agricultural people, because, collected
as they were in great numbers, they could have de-
pended upon the chase, but for small portion of