Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-08-13

was % left.
! have now explained the origin an,
object OF these treaties-to understan,
and construe them correctly requires q,
intimate knowledge Of the rise and pro
gress Of the transaction; and put my
knowledge Of the subject against that 0
Mr.. Spencer and his commissioner; ane
may we'll ask where they were, and wha
they knew Of the subject, at the time these
transactions took place? 1t may we'll be
doubted whether either Of them knew o
tho existence OF such indians; or if they
did, whether either Of them knew wha,
region OF country they inhabited. And
ejnding from the conclusions at which thew
have arrived, | should say they have
profited but little by experience ;that ..they
have learned nothing have forgot moth
ING"
Mr.. Spencer reproaches Gen. Dodge for
having applied to an "agent dismissed
from office for his opinion and feigns
sollcitude about the deienceless condi-
ton Of the people who were induced to
settle on the lands in question, of extreme
doubtful character. lshould regret TO do
him injustice; but if that part OF his let
ter be not written mainly Tor effect, and
his apparent anxiety be not feigned, it
displays a degree OF ignorance OF the re-
dueed numbers and present condition Of
the Sacs and Foxes, which does but little
credit to the head OF the War Department.
lie may, however, he ignorant, and yet
innocenttas others may have mlsled hun
but II know any thing about the people
OF Iowa, ! can venture to say, that the
tales of tsat Territory would deem it a
reproach and an insult to be told thu,
they could not lelend themse YES with
broom sticks against this s.warllke tribe''
In its present condition.
he part OF the letter to which | have
just alluded, was obviously written under
the influence OF extreme i'll humor, and |
think in bad taste withal. SO lar as it'll
applies to Gen. Dodge, | think other eau
ses OF excitement existed, which will be
made manifest hereafter. With regard
to the ungencrous and ilI-natured allusion
to my removal froh office, have merely
to say, that it is viewed as the offspring OF
a little mind and ito say nothing Of the
many as wholly unworthy Of the station
which he fills. The gentleman is welcome
to the indulgence Of feelings which could
prompt such an al!usion, however, as i,
IS very certain that the ''opinion'' will
lose none OF its weight in consequence of
my position; and that shall be able to
exercise certain influence in our Indian
relations when he and his commissioner
Will be recollec,ed only as officers Of the
department that cere-distinguishedo only
Tor the mischief they inflicted upon Iowa.
ny retarding its settlement in adhering
TO e the odious system commenced by
l'ell and Doty-a system pregnant with
nothing but mischief, folly, illcgality and
extravaganza; and calculated TO origin
ate and sustain innumerable and never
ending frauds. This infamous treaty has
become favorite measure wilhMr. Spen-
cer--he seems to have adopted it as his
own; and il mistake not, it will be the
prot upon which all transactions with the
Indians on your borders will be made to
turn so long as there is hope of its rati-
hcati n. have reason to believe, how
ever, II IS now in the agones Of death,
with all the PROPOSED MODIFlCA.
TONS; and when it shall have expired,
It is presumable that there will be a |
change Ct policy.
To conclude my notice Of peeyish
personality 50 little worthy Of q gentle
man, or the distinguished station he fills,
= will merely add that my worst wishes
for Mr.. Spencer are, that when he shall
be numbered among the dismissed, (and
from present indications that time is not
far distant,) he may leave as little evil
dence Of official delinquency and corrup-
ton as can be found gainst me, on the
records Of an office Of which he has entire
control.s
Tho repeated reference Of the Secreta-
~ TO the subject Of prescriptions, and his
manner Of introducing it, would justify
The conclusion that these we're the source
f all his troubles. He first mentions
he subject in manner that is not just |
led by the correspondence between Gen.
Dodge and myself; as the word does not
appear in It In single instance; while
in the second place, he volunteers an ad
.monition, which think somewhat gratu-
rs, and in which I must be excused for
in doubling his sincerity. In his sec
reference TO the subject he says:
s proper to add that even il the lndi-
.,le were extipguishcd, no pre-emp.
light can be acquired under existing
until the land may have been sur
by the Uni,ed States This pro
is q juSh precaution to afford equal
tages 10 all our citizens and to pre-
q few (sq,sntters he should have adj
|ss us believe that is the epithet appii-
" him on some occasionsro that class
i,izens.) from occupying the best loca
ms by hasty rush upon unsuryeyed
knds." No man eau be at loss to I'M
ssiand Mr., Spencer's policy, after read
{ the sentence just quoted. His appa-
& impartiaIlty, and disposition 10 af-
m equal chance TO 1:al our citizens
Z fleet the s;best locations when takent
inexion with the preceding part Of
entence is obviously intended to de-
very body from settling upon public
nntil the same have been regularly
Ia and brought into market, whore
I 1ands would be run up by compa-
spectators and individltl CAPT
10 enormous prices and men Of lin