The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-15

man Of great responsibility, living near the
spot where the circumstance occurred /:
In the latter part Of that bloody tragedy,
which spread dismay throughout this part OF
the State, there were about nine hundred In
dams encamped on the Illinois river, opposite
to the present town site of La Sale, compos-
ed principally Of the Iroquois tribe. They
had always maintained friendly intercourse
| with the whites in that vicinity, and had mani
Tested great partially for one in particular.
This was " old Myers" perfect prototype
of Cooper's trapper. This State was the fifth
in which he had erected his hut in advance OF
white population. He had Of course acquir-
ed more Of the habits Of the Indians than of
civilized men, and was Familiarity known
among them as The Panther title which
he had acquired from them, by daring ex-
plot in killing an animal OF that name, when
leading them in one Of the wild hunts. AT
the period referred To-, these Indians rallied
under the Black Hawk standard, and were
committing many depredations upon the set
tiers in the vicinity. When repulsed, they
did not hesitate 10 wantonly murder their for
mer friends. About the cabin Of the Panther,
nearly hundred settlers had come In for the
safety Of their wives and children, placing
them under his protection. But among the
victims of savage barbarity, there happened to
be a brother-in-law Of the Panther, with his
wife and three children. Herein they COM
mitted an objectionable outrage upon the
family of their ancient friend and demi-savage.
When the sad tidings Of their cruel fate reach
ed the garrison, the Panther was seen cloth
ing himself in battle array. With his rife, his
tomahawk and scaping knife, in open day,
he silently bent his steps to the Indian quar-
ter, about one mile distant. Fearlessly he
marched into the midst the savage band, le-
yelled his rifle at the head chief present, and
deliberately killed him on the spot. He then
severed the lifeless head from its trunk and
held il up by the hair before the awe-struck
my brother, his wife, and their three little ones,
even with you butt he added every one of
you that is found here Tomorrow morning at
sunrise is dead Indian All this was ac-
complished by the Panther without the least
molestation. They knew that he would take
vengeance for their deed of blood-and si-
lently acknowledged the justice of the daring
act. He then bore off the head in silence to
his cabin. The next morning not an Indian
could be found in that region. They left for
ever their homes and their dead, and that part
Of the State has not been molested by them
since.
few weeks since, this veteran Of eighty
winters sold his claim, and comparisoned with
the same hunting shirt and weapons which he
wore when he killed the chief started for Mis-
souri,. After travelling few rods, he return
ed and asked permission to give his /" grand
yell" The gentleman to whom he had sold
the land. giving his assent, he gave long,
loud, and shriIl whoop, that made the welkin
ring for miles around. /" Now" said he
"my blessing is on the land and on you
your ground will always yield an abundance.
and will always prosper" Again he took up
his march for new home in the wilderness,
where he could enjoy the happiness Of soil
tude, undistnrbed by social ties.
Party Namcs.--There seems to us to be nothing
so extremely ludicrous as the importance which
many politicians attach to names while comparative
~ but little regard paid to their appropriateness
or 10 their original and proper Specification. Let
name once become unpopular or odious, great efforts
are m de by small politicians to attach II 10 their
opponents Principles are too of lost sight Of while
men rally under name that may happen to carry
with it some pleasing association or be connected
with some period in history that gives it eclat In
the days of Alexander Hamilton, the great anago- |
nsts political measures were very properly desig-
mated as federal or democratic, as on the one hand
they gave undue weight to the national government
and tended 10 consolidation or as on The other, |
they served to the rights Of the staies and
prevent their distinct existence sovereign bodies
from being lost in the overshadowing influence Of
central power. The federaists of that day were |
for a strong government, and feared to leave too |
much discretion with the people, les, good order |
might be disturbed by the whims or caprices Of
tickle multitude, and there be no force adequate to
he he Aapnn crafca ntal
der the conviction that as The people were the
of all power, they should surrender nothing
not absolutely necessary for preserving individual
rights, or for securing the public good The same
distinction prevailed as between the national and /
State governments the one, anxious to strengthen |
the former that the several parts might be kept in
check, and be subservient TO the central influence
the other, determined that the states surrender
powers not necessary TO make the union complete, |
which reserved could be udiciously and effectu
ally exercised by the sovereign States. These being
the true distinctions, we should always rather judge
Of measures as they approach the one or the other,
and not by the appellation given them by political
demagogues. The loco-foco adherents Of Mr.. Van |
Buren,, conscious that they are recommending I'M |
popular measures, are making efforts TO disguise
and have the unparalleled impudence e dsiho
cratic, those things which are more uiif s;nc ~
than any which have ever been propnseu s,nce me
came unpopular, or why democracy best suited the |
nation large, II is not purpose to inquire
The distinctions are applicable TO parties al the pre-
sent day, certainly not very obvious though il
seems from some recent indications from head quar-
tiers, that efforts being nade 10 give to the Gene
raj Government those overshadowing powers which
were very wisely refused in the days Of ancient fe-
deralsm. OF these efforts il becomes TO be-
ware. The very appropriate distribution Of power,
which the trainers Of the constitution made among
the different branches Of the government that the
one might be check upon the other, ought to be
carefully retained Democracy requires the preser-
walton Of the check, while federalism would destroy
L. 10 strengthen single branch To one is given