Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-08-19
From the Territorial (Iowa) Transcript.
THE LATE INDIAN COUNCIL.

As is already known TO manv Of our readers, tho
late attempt 10 form Treaty w,ih the Winnebago
Indians failed. This result excites little attention
1t is a small matter whether the Neutral Ground is
purchased by the United States now, or two or
three years hence. A decree, stronger than Of any
earthly power, seems 10 have gone out against the
American Indians They are a doomed race
They disappear with almost the regularity Of dark
nsss hofnro fha light OF tho They come il,
contact with civilized man, and ithen the story o
tribe is the story of all preceding ones. They
adopt the vices Of the white man, but learn none
of his virtues-they become the slaves OF appetite,
and the earthly reward Of continued violation OF
physical law is theirs also. That penalty is
death. IN a few years powerful tribe Of thou
sands can only muster their hundreds: the proud,
vigorous, athletic warrior has become a debased, ir
resolute vagabond; and, 10 protract tho existence
| of even = remnant, il becomes an act Of mercy 10
remove them beyond the reach Of indulgence
Urged by some old chief, whose stronger mind may
have half withstood the temptation that has swept
away the young and the old like the leaves Of au-
tumn, they sell their hunting grounds, and retire,
Z" melancholy train," and make last vain At
tempt to flee from the curse that broods over them
like the cloud Of destruction. They again partial
ly separate themselves from the white man, by re-
moving some hundred miles into the interior. But
though rigid laws may foi a while keep back tho
human vultures from the carcase, and the Indian
be compelled TO refrain from intoxication, few
short years convinces them OF their insecurity
They are still pursued. The wave of civilization
aud terror, moves on with steady pate; in little
time it is upon them; again they are EMBODIED in
the snares Of vice, and Fortunate they are II even
remnant is left for another remove. Such is their
history and such il must be.
The complaint is fashionable, that great injus-
ice has been done the Indian tribes Of this cOun-
try That Injustice has been done them, we have
no disposition TO deny. But this charge, il gener-
ally applied to the transactions Of the Government
with them-or with regard TO the efforts Of enlght-
ened philanthropy Df both Government and indi-
viduais, is not true. The Government, in all its
purchases of their lands, pays moro therefor than
the same is worth TO the Indians. And Oh what
people, Of the Same number has there been sKpon-
ded SO much real public and private philanthropy!
The Government establishes schools among them,
guards them by the enactment Of sumptuary laws,
and enforces those laws even by the sword. 1t ia
vors the abors of the missionary OF the cross, and
he subsisis with them in poverty, and by patient
teachings wears out his life in attempts 10 do them
good-a self-saerifice, for which he looks to nnoth-
or world for his reward-but all has avaied little
TO stop the course OF general decay. They disap-
pear, leaving behind them this great lesson, inn
printed in letters Of blood, that individual or
people that cannot control his or their vicious APP
petites is doomed TO disappear from the face Of the
earth W ith short delay.
Not many years iince and tho Winnebago tribe
Of Indians were said to number about eight thou
sand souls. At tho time of the payment of tho
last annuity, we believe they amounted TO twenty
six hundred Perhaps thore is no tribe more de-
graded in their habits, that bid airer for spec
dy decentralization. There has been little de-
crease Of numbers the past year; but their appe-
ttes for strong drink, we told, suffers little or
no restraint, and that they never 90 besoited
as at present.