The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-12

WIN me IN minute, but you Will be kicking in
The AIR half an hour after i am gone"
The following is copy Of the message of
Ih0mds Jefferson, nominating General Harri-
son sole commissioner 10 treat with the Indians
! nominate William Henry Harrison of In
diana, to be n Commissioner 10 enter into ANY
treaty or treaties which may be necessary, with
any Indian tribes, northwest of the Ohio and
within the territory of the United States, on the
subject of the boundary, or lands.
(Signed) Thomas JEFFERSON.
The message containing these nominations
was transmitted TO the Senate of the United
States, on the Sd day of February, 1903, read
on the 4th, and on the Sth taken up for conside-
ration, when the nomination of William Henry
HARRISON above recited, received the unanimous
sanction Of that honorable body
In September, 1909, Governor Harrison held
a council at Fort Wayne, and negotiated a trea-
ty with the Miamies, Delawares, Potawatames,
and kickapoos, by which he succeeded in pur-
chasing from those tribes an extensive tract Of
country on both sides Of the Wabash, and ex-
tending up that river more than sixty miles
above Vincennes. The tribes who owned these
lands were paid for them by certain annuities
which they considered = ssllsiactoEy equivalent.
uaAs, era ,h-4 ropiIsS, Mts fceiins himself inte-
rested, had not opposed it ; but on the return of
Tecumseh, some months after, both he and his
brother expressed great dissatisfaction, and even
threatened to put to death all those chiefs who
had signed the treaty, Hearing this, and anxi-
selves if possible, Governor Harrison despatch
ed messengers To invite them both TO Vincen-
mes, and to assure them that any claims they
might have to these lands were not affected by
the treaty but that if they would come to Vim
cennes and exhibit their pretensions, and they
should be found to be valid, the lands would be
given up or an ample compensation made for
them. Tecumseh came, without his brother
and though the Governor, having no confidence
in his good faith, had requested him not TO bring
with him more than thirty warriors, he came
with four hundred, completely armed The
Governor held a council on the 18th of August
1910, at which Tecumseh and forty of these
warriors were present. The Governor was at
tended by the judges of the supreme court, seve-
raj officers of the army, Wmnemack, a friendly
Chief and a few unarmed citizens A sergeant's
guard Of twelve men was likewise placed near
him, but as the day was exceedingly sultry, and
they were exposed to the sun, the Governor
with his characteristic humanity, directed them
to remove to shaded spot at some distance.
Tecumseh addressed this council with a
speech, in which he openly avowed the designs
OF himself and his brother He declared il to be
their intention to form coalition of all the red
men, to prevent the whites from extending their
settlements farther west-and to establish the
principle that the Indian lands belonged in com
mon TO all the tribes, and could not be sold with
out their united consent. He again avowed
their intention to put to death all the chiefs who
had signed the treaty at Fort Wayne, yet, with
singular inconsistency, he at the same time de-
MED all intention TO make war, and declared that
all those who had given such information TO the
Governor were liars. This was aimed particu-
larry at Winnemack from whom the Governor
had received timely notice of the designs Of
Tecumseh and his brother.
Governor Harrison replied to Tecumseh in a
mild and conciliatory tone, explaining the treaty
at Fort Wayne, and clearly proving that oil the
chiefs whose tribes had any claims upon the
land coded at this time to the United States,
were present at the treaty and had voluntarily
signed it--and that they had sold these lands
for an annuity which they considered sufficient
compensation. The interpreter to the Shaw
nees explained the Governors speech To the
warriors of that tribe but when the interpreter
to the Potawatamies was about TO begin, Te
cumseh interrupted him in rude and insulting
manner, using the most vehement language and
the most violent gesticulation, and loudly de-
caring that all the Governor had said was false,
and that he and the United States had cheated
and imposed upon the Indians. As he uttered
this, his warriors sprung to their feet and be-
gan to brandsh their tomahawks and war-clubs
their eyes all fercely turned upon the Governor.
Harrison rose Immediately and drew his sword.
The friendly chief Winnemack cooked pistol
with which he was armed, and some of the
officers in attendance drew their weapons and
stood on the defensive. During this critical
moment not word was spoken, until the guard
came running up and were about to fire on the
Indians, when the Governor, with singular cool
ness and presence of mind, restrained them.
He then turned to Tecumseh, and calmly but
authortatively told him that che was a bad
man--that he would hold no further talk with
him-and that he must now return to his camp,
and take his departure from the settlements
without delay" The council was Immediately
broken up, and Tecumseh and his warriors,
awed by the GOODNESS and intrepidity of the Go
vernon, withdrew in silence.
The next morning, Tecumseh, finding that
he had to deal with man of frmness and I'M
daunted bravery, whom he could neither intimi-
date by his audacious violence nor discomfort by
his cunning manGuvres, solicited another inter
view with the Governor, and apologiZed for the
improprieties he had committed at the council
the day before
Still anxious to conciliate this naughty savage,
the governor afterwards paved him visit to his
own camp, with no other attendant than the in
terpreter. Tecumseh received him with cour-
tesy and much attention; his uniform kindness
and nhexibe frmness having won the respect
of the rude warrior; but he still persisted in
rgidly adhering to the policy he had avowed at
the council on the preceding day.
The following is an extract from the official
report of Gen. Wayne, of the 9th of August,
1894, giving account of his celebrated battle
of Mdumee:
"The bravery and conduct of every officer
belonging to the army, from the generals down
to the ensigns, merit my highest appreciation.
There were, however, some whose rank and
situation placed their conduct in very conspicu-
Gus point of view, and which | observed with
pleasure and the most lively gratitude: among
whom beg leave to mention brigadier general
Wilkinson and Colonel uamfrancL he cnn,-