Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-06
COMMISSIONER AND SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN



'erintendent Of Indian Affairs in the Northwest,
which capacity, he negotiated large number
! j important treaties, and conducted all the rela-
IONS OF the United States with the Indians in a
plrt OF mingled dignity decision and humanity,
like honorable TO himself and to the Federal Gov
rnment. His vOluminous CORE, oondence with
t he Government on these matters appears in the
| licia documents Of the day, and is distinguished
" minuteness Of detail the full and accurate
taement of facts, benevolent and enlightened
policy, and a considerate regard as we'll for the
lights aud interests of the Indians themselves as
II the whole inhabitants of the Territory. The
same spirit al equity, torbearance, and manliness
this respect, pervades his addresses to the Leg
sla,ure Of Indiana, whenever occasion called for
any reference TO the subject.
Similar traits we're manifested by him in his
immediate intercourse with the Indians. This
department of public duty, always difficult one
TO discharge judiciously, was emphaticaly so at
that period. The Northwest was then filled, not
only with the tribes who had originally hunted
there, but with the broken remnants of trbes--
men whom the atrocious policy of Great Britain
had inveigled into war against us, and who. now
smartlng under successive defeats, and scattered
over the country, constituted the ready elements
Of disorder, il any Of the chances of events should
oher them inducements to raise the Ratchet anew.
Nor were they without continual indictments to
hostility. 1t was part of the system Of Great
Britannia system not yet reIinquished,--to as
sembe the tribes of the Northwest annually at a
convenient point on the Lakes, and there to pay
and deliver to them regular war subsidy, as the
price Of their allegiance to Britain and enmity to
the United States. The British traders in the
Northwest spared no pains to misrepresent the
acts Of the people and government OF the United
States, and to thwart all our enieavors either 10
keep the peace in that region, or to raise the In.
dams 10 the condition of civilized and christian
people. There, too, as almost every where ese
| fbp InIn uerp heir I,,
their obstinate adherence to the usages of savage
life, their reputation Of all regular government,
and their consequent exposure TO the criminal
acts of bad men along their frontier, who, from
avarice and prohigacy, supplied fatal nutrment
to the constitutional vices Of the Indians. Add 10
which, that mutual and long continued injuries,
between the whites on the one hand and the In
dams on the Other, had infused into the minds Of
each, a feeling of reciprocal hatred, which was
continually breaking forth into acts of common
aggression.
To conduct the business of the Indians in such
circumstances, and TO govern them, [as the su-
perintendent in fact must was in itself an affair
of the utmost dcicacy and difficulty, requiring the
highest qualities Of judgment, sagacity and firm
ness. But the task was rendered stlll more ar.
duous by the peculiar system Of the u. States
Government. Governor Harrison was instructed
To pursue, Sedulously, policy of peace with the
Indians, 10 avoid all appearance OF hostile and
forbearance and Cancellation; and to cultivate
friendly rea lions at every hazard. He was TO
pursue this policy along an exposed frontier, in
the midst Of numerous tribes of Indians who,
from the causes already specified, were unusually
fierce turbulent and vindictive, and who were
necessarily stimulated to acts of outrage by the
aqepts of Great Britain. 1t will be conceived
that in such circumstances, the pacific spirit Of
our Government, while it imperlecty attained its
object, never wholly staid the WORK of desoiatlon
augmented greatly the labors Of the, governor.
With Git has been well said) the>savage war
whoop yelling on one hand and government
commanding peace on the other--with a feeble
sell ement claiming protection atone point, and
band of martial borderers detsandng to be led to
battle on another, while the agents OF a nation
at peace with our own urged on the savages, and
her military posts supplied them with arms,--
there can scarcely be imagined post requiring
the exerton of greater skill, prudence and firm
ness than that OF the Governor oil Indiana. For
him there could be neither repose nor safety
He led the lie Of a warrior, yet discharged the
dute, Of civil magistrate. While executing the
laws and founding the institutions of new state,
he was continually called TO encounter danger in
the defence of the homes Of the people. Though
compelled TO restrain the Indians and the whites
by force of authority, it was his duty TO nerpose
with each minister of benevoence on the part
OF the United STATES.
Yet all these mutiarlous and most arduous
duties Governor Harrison fulfilled with fidelity
and with honor, and while atfording efficient PRO-
lection to the citizens of the country, and thus
displaying all the talents Of great statesman
and brave officer he never sullied his name
with any act of military violence or gratuitous
cruelty; so that when at length war could no
longer be avered, and it become incumbent on
him to lead the forces of the territory into the
field, he bore thher the stainless banner Of
a wanton assaiIant of the rights Of others-but the
r;ot;c dafa IF no oil nd
side.
INTERCOURSE WITH TEcUMTHE Tor TEcUMPsEH]
AND THE PROPHET.
For strenuousy as the United States Govern
ment, and Governor HARRISON acting under its
orders, strove to avert war, il become inevitable
through the operation OF causes over which he
had no control; namely, the perseverng agrees
sons of Great Britain on The commerce and pub
lie rights of the United States, which ended in
war between the two nations, preluded by Indian
hostltes in the Northwest.
At all times as before stated, both during the
Revolution and afterwards, as the incidents Of
ST. CIair's and Wavne's campaign evinced, Brit
ish agents were active in stirring up against us
the Indians within the United States. The anti
cipation of new war with the United States,
redoubed their activity; and they found efficient
agents among the Indians themselves, in two
Shawnee Chief, Tecumthe and his twin brother,
the Prophet. Tecumthe first began 10 be much
known in 1906 He had conceived and matured
design-the same which Pontiac had attempt
ed in vain-to combine all the western tribes for
the destruction of the western settlements. He
was daring, energetic and sagacious in character,
a shrew5 thinker, fluent speaker, an able war
rior and skiliul negotiation, animated by the
most inextingushabe hatred against the United
States. He had for his coadjutor his brother o.
Ii wa chi-ca, called the Prophet, who though in.
tror to Tecumthe in most respects was yet ca
pable of aiding his brother efficiently, by reason
of his influence over the supersttious Indians as
medicine man, pretending TO be inspired by the
Great Spirit and endowed by him with power
and wisdom, 10 expel the white men from the
valley of the Mississippi, TO redeem the red men
from their present degradation, and to restore to
them their ancient exclusive power in the New