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


the fact II they belong TO either Of the casses OF
philosophers which prevailed In the declining ages
Of Greece and Rome, il is TO that Of Epicureans For
no Indian will forego an enjoyment suffer an In
convenience, ii he avoid it, But under peculiar
circumstances when for instances he is stimulated
by some strong passionbut even the qualification OF
this he is ever ready to postpone, whenever its ac-
complishmeni is attended with unlocked for DANGER
or unexpected hardships. Hence their military ope-
raions were always feebe-their expeditions few
and far between, and much the greater number
abandoned without an efficient stroke, from within,
caprice or an aversion TO encounter difhculues.
But il the Indian will NOT like Cato, throw from
him the pomps and pleasures" with which his
good fortune furnishes him--when evils come which
he cannot avoid, when SHE stngs and arrows OF
outrageous fortune" fall thick upon him. then will
he call up all the spirit Of the man into his bosom,
and meet his fate, however hard, like the best
Roman them alb
!" II may be proper that should say something
more as TO The character of the now scattered and
almost extinct tribes which so long and so success
fully resisted onr arms, and who for many years
after, stood in the relation Of dependents acknow-
lodging themselves under our exclusive protection.
Their character, as warriors, has been already re-
marked upon. Their bravery has never been ques-
toned, although there was certainya considerable
difference between the several tribes in this respect
With all but the Wyandols, flight in battle, when
meeting with unexpected resistance, or obstacle,
brought with il no disgrace. 1t was considered
rather as principle Of tactics And think II may
be fairly considered having its source in that Pc
culiar temperament of mind which they often mani
tested Of not pressing fortune under any sinister
circumstances but patiently waiting until the chances
of successful issue appeared to be favorable. With
the Wyandos, il was otherwise. Their youth were
taught to consider any thing that had the appear
ance Of an acknowledgment Of the superiority OF an
enemy, as dsgraceful. In the battle OF the Miami
Rapids OF thirteen Chiefs of that tribe, who we re-
present one only survived, and he badly wounded.'
As It regards their moral and intellectual quail
ties, the difference between the tribes was still great
or he nala and nic uyer
much superior TO the other members of the confede-
racy. have known individuals among them, of
very high order Of talents but these were not gene
rally TO be relied upon for sincerity. The Little
Turtle, of the Miami Tribe, was of this description
as was the Blue Jacket, Shawanoe Chief think
probable that Tecumlhey possessed more integrity
than any other of the Chiefs, who attained to much
distinction, but he violated solemn engagement,
which he had freely contracted and there are strong
suspicious OF his having formed treacherous de-
sign, which an accident only prevented him from
accomplishing Sinister instances are, however, TO
be found in the conduct Of great men, in the history
Of almost all civilized nations But these instances
are more than counterbalanced by the number OF
individuals OF high moral character, which were to-
be found amongst the principal and secondary Chiefs,
Of the four tribes above mentioned. This was par
tcularly the with Tarhe, or the Crane, the
Grand Sachem of the Wyandos, and Black Eoof,
the Chief Of the Shawanoes Many instances mighg
be adduced TO show the possession, on the part OF
these men, OF an uncommon degree of disinerested-
ness and magnanimity, and strict performance OF
their engagements, under circumstances which
would be considered by many as justifying evasion.
But OF the brightest parts Of the character OF
those Indians is their high regard 10 the obligations
of friendship A pledge ofthis kind once given by
an Indian, of any character becomes the ruling pas
sion of his soul, to which every other was made to
yield He regards it as superior to every other ooli-
CATION And the life of his friend would be required
at the hands of him. Cor his tribe who had taken it.
il II had occurred in fair field Of battle, and
in the performance Of his duty as warrior An
event light have occurred in the late war with
Great Britain and their allies in which most strik
ing exemplifcation of this principle would have
been exhibited In the autumn OF 1893, the Chief
Stiff Knee, OF the Seneca tribe, who had been the
friend of General Richard Butler, who had fall
en- on the fatal 4th Of November 1871 joined the
army Of General Wayne, for the purpose Of aveng-
ing his death The advance upon the enemy having
been arrested from the laeness Of the season, and
the troops placed in environments for the winter, inn
patient Of the delay the Chief earnestly solicited the
General to be permitted to go with detachment TO
attack one of the positions of the enemy. This re-
quest was Of course, refused. To satisfy him. and
TO prevent his going alone, the General informed
him that an ample opportunity of vengeance would
be offered in the spring But the soul fthe warrior
could not brook this delay. To the officer with
whom he lodged, he expatated upon the insupporta-
Bile weight by which his mind was oppressed, at the
posponement of the day of retrbution for the death
of his brother, whose spir, was constantly calling
on him for vengeance. Upon one of these occasions,
he said, that denied an opportunity OF performing
this sacred obligation, nothing remained but 10 con-
vince his friend how readily he would have Gied for
him, and before his could be caught, he plunged
apolgnard in his BOSOM"
When General Wayne assumed the position of
Greenvile, in 1898 he sent for Captain Wells, who
commanded company Of scouts, and told him that "he
wished him to 60 SaLdusky and take prisoner, for
the purpose Of obtaining information" Wells, (who,
having been taken from Kentucky, when boy and
brought up amongst the Indians, was perfectly
\ mr.
take a prisoner, but not from Sandusky." "And why
not from Sandusky!" said the General. because"
answered the Captain, 'there only Wyandots there
"Well, why will not Wyandots do ~ " For the best
OF reasons said Wells, because Wyandots will not
be taken alive
g. Edison >..
Worthy and indispensable Diedrich! Thou art
ever welcome, and we love thee much for thine al
ways varied and tasteful lore-.hine interesting and
instructive discoursings.
The present number contains great variety Of
readable articles, from the title page to the third of
the cover. The editors address their readers in a
note as follows:
"Ollapodiama" will be resumed in due season,
and " Brandrethiana" will follow close upon the
event. We have an inkling of something uni usually
clever, in the shape of series Of letters of which
have been permitted TO read the imitatory epise,
entitled Letters trom Pafmyra." Lest the reader
should infer that we are going to repeat a popular
series il may be well TO state that the letters are sup
posed 10 be written by eminent parsonage al Pal
myra in this State TO distinguished lady in Rome,
in Oneida county, the daughter of a renowned citi'
OF that famous place. The opening is rich, be-
ing descriptive of the more prominent scenes that
surround the writer, and trenching family, toward
the last, upon what would seem TO be intended as
the germ of the papers, namely, the first glimmeriDgs
of the Mormon religion, which had its origin, as the
reader will remember, near the PalmyIene capital
of Wayne county The spread Of the faith, and the
persons and character OF its defenders will doubt
less constitute the staple ofhese papers intermingled