The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-11-13
INDIAN ELOQUENCE.

character, soft is noble monument Of lhpir
literature. Oratory seldom finds more
suspicious field. A wild people, their re-
glon Of thought, forbade leeblcness: un-
cultivated, but intelligent and sensitive, u
purity Of idea, ohastely combined with
energy of expression, ready nuency, and
lmagery-low eXquisitcly dclicac,,-now
soaring to the sublime, all united to rival
the efforts Of any ancient or modern ora
tor.
What can be imagined more impressive
than warrior rising in the council-room
to address those who bore the same scar
redmarks of their tile to fame and to chief
talnship2 The dignifed stature-the easy
repose Of limbs-the graceful gesture, the
dark speaking eye, excite admiration and
expectation. We would anticipate elo-
quence from an Indian. He has animat-
ing remembrances-a poetry of language,
which eSacts rich and opposite metaphor
lcal illusions, even for ordinary CONVEX
salon--a mind which like his body has
never been trammelled and mechanised
by the formalities of society, and pas
sions which, from the very outward res
tralnt imposed upon them, burn more
tierccl y within. There is mine of truth
in the reply Of Red Jacket, when called
warrior: "a varriorn said he; 81 am
an orator--I was barn an orator."
There are not many speeches reman-
ing on record, but even in this small num-
Der there is such rich yet varied vein Of
all the characteristics of true eloquence,
that we ever rise from their perusal with
regret that so few have been preserved.
No where can be found a poetic thought
clothed in more captivating simplicity of
expression, than in the answer of Tecum-
sch to Governor Harrison, in the CONFER
ence at Vnccnnes. 1t contains a high
moral rebuke and a sarcasm heightened in
effect by an evident consciousness oflofi-
ness, above the reach Of insult. At the
close Of his address he found that no chair
had bee placed for him, neglect which
Governor Harrison ordeIed to be remedi-
ed as soon as discovered. Suspecting,
perhaps, that it was more an ailronl than q
mistake. with an air of dignity elevated
almost to haughliness he declined the seat
prohercd with the words, ''Y our father
requests you to take a chair" and an
swercd, as he calmly disposed himself on
the ground; 'My father? The sun is my
father, and the earth is my mother. IwiH
rcposc upon her BOSOM"
Some Of the speeches of Shenandoah,
a celebrated Oneida chief contain the tru-
est touches of natural eloquence. He
lived loa great age, and in his last coun-
ell, he opened with the following sublime
and beautiful sentence, "Drothers-I am
an 0gcd hcml0ck. THE minds of an hun-
dGcd winierS hare ,chialed Mrough mn
branches, and / an dcad at tie top"
Every reader, who has seen tall hem
lock, with a dry and leaAess top surmoun.
ting lis dark green foliage, will feel the
force Of the smile. II am dead at the top"
Ills memory, and all the vigorous powers
OF youth, had departed forever.
Not less fglcitous was tho close of
speech made by Pushmataha, venerable
"hiet, of western tribe, at council held
We believe, in Washington, many years
since. In abiding to his extreme age,
and to the probability that he might not
even survive the journey back TO his tribe,
he said: "My children will walk through
the forests. and the Great Spirit will whls-
per in the tree-tops, and the flowers spring
up in the trails-but Pushmataha will
hear not--he will see the flowers no more.
lie will be gone. His people will know
that he is dead. The news will come to
their ears, as the sound Of Mc fall ofa
mighty oak in the Stiffness ofthe woods."
The most powerful tribes have been
destroyed; and as Sadekanalie expressed
it, Strike at the root, and when the
trunk shall be cut down, the branches
shall fall of course" The trunk has fall
len, the branches are slowly whitening,
and shortly the question "Who is there 10
mourn for Logan" may be made of the
whole race, and find not a sympathizng
reply.
Their actions meg oulve, but their
oratory we think must survive their fate.
1t contains many attributes of true ell
oquence. With language too barren,
md minds too free for the rules of rhe-
orics they still attained power oftouch-
ng the feelings, and subimty of style
which rival the highest productions Of
heir more cultivated enemies. Expression
apt s pointed,language strong and fgura-
ive-comparsons rich and bold-dcs-
:riptions correct and picturesque-and
gesture energetic and graceful, were the
most striking peculiarities of their oratcry.
The better orations, accurate mirrors Of
heir character, their bravery, immoveable
'toicism, and native grandeur, heightened
IS they are in impressvcncss by the mel
ncholy accompaniment of approaching
determination, will be enduring at the
,wan-like music of Attic and Roman elo-
lucnce which was the funeral song Of the
itrrailrn { { those rennhlcs