Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-05-06
A SECOND POCAHONTAS.

was settled.'
A SECOND POCAHONTAs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, Feb %, ls43
Mr.. COOPER, from The Committee on Indian Af
fairs made the following REPORT:
The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was
submitted a communication from ihs Secretary
of War, recomme ndlng that pension be grant
ed TO Miliy, an lndian woman Of the Creek ma
ton, report:
Tina, il appears. from the cnmmunica ton Of
the Secretary of War, and the ACCOMPANY ing
statement Of Lieut.. Colonel Hitchcock, as ell
from the published and accredited history Of
the PERIOD that. IN 1918, during the Indian war
IN the South My, the proposed object Of tho
bounty Of the Government, saved the life of
American citizen, who had been taken prisoner
by several warriors of her tribe, and who was :
bout To be put death by tnem, when he
rescued by her energetic and humane interposi-
ton The act of this Indian girl revives the re-
collection Of event in our colonial annas--the
rescue Of Captain Smith by the daughter OF Pow
ha,an. the celebrated Pocahontas.
M,Ily is the daughter of the Prophet Francis.
a distinguished Creek chief, who acquired mel>
ancbaIy celebrity from his execution by order of
General JACKSON during the Indian war of 1917,
rs. At the time che performed the action which
is SO 5nno1lIng to her character, she was under
sixteen years Of age, her nation was at war with
the United States, and her father one Of the
most decided and interchangeable enemies Of the
white Observation-Disclosures all OF which go to
/ exh hit her conduct in q more excellent and aXal>
ted point of view AT the time the prisoner was
brought in by his capors, MIlly and an elder sis
ter were playing on the bank Of the Apalachco-
la river in the vicinity Of the Indian camp, when
! they were startled the midst of their sport 8,
by the peculiar war-cry which announced that a
wen, in the direction Of the cry and, on arriving
the place. found young white man stripped
bod tn n tree nd IN r. no
TO put him 10 death. On observing this, M,ly in
stan,ly went to her father, who, as before stated,
the Prophet Francis, and principal chief Of
the nation, and bcsought him to save the priso-
ner's life. This he declined, saying, at tho same
time, that he had no power 10 do SO. She then
turned to his cap,ors, and begged them to spare
the life o! the white man. but one of them " no
had lost two sisters in the war refused to listen
to her applications in behalf Of the prisoners de.
claring that his life should atone for the wrongs
which he had received at the hands Of the white
people. The active humanity of MIy would not
be discouraged. She reasoned and entreated, tel
ling the vndictive savage who was bent on the
destruction Of the prisoner that his death would
not restore bis sisters 10 life. After long time
spent in her generous effort, she succeeded in
cung the prisoner from the dreadful death to
which he had been doomed by his cruel cap,ors.
The condition which his life was finally spar
ed, was, that he would shave his head after the
Indian fashion, and adop, their dress and manner
Of living. To this he joyfuily assented.
Some time afterwards the white man sought
his benefactress in marriage, but she declined,
and subsequently, married one of her own people.
Her HUSBAND is now dead. Her father was put
to death in the war of 1917, and 1918, and her
mother and sister have since died. She is now
friendless and poor, residing amongst her people
in their country, near the mouth Of Verdi
girls river. She has ;hree children, q boy and
girls, all too young To provide for themselves,
and consequently dependent upon their mother
for support.
Under these circumstances, the Secretary OF
War recommends that pension Of eight dollars
per month be allowed her during the remainder
Of her life. The committee a strong argu.
ment IN FAVOR OF This dIspensatiun ut tho bou"'y
/ of the Government, not only IN the relief which
it will afford TO the immediate recipient, whose
conduct has well deserved II, but also in the eff
fec, which il is calculated to produce by teaching
the s,Ill uncivilized though gradually improving
people TO whom she belongs the virtue OF human
ity. This act OF the Gov erpmen,, furnishing at
once proof Of its gratitude and benevolence,
will show them the estimation 10 which deeds OF
mercy are held by it, veil as the rewards W hich
il besiows on those who perform them.
The power of the Government 10 confer such
bounties has been frequently exercised. 10 1924,
Congress passed an act granting TO Gen. Lafsy.
elite and his heirs two hundred thousand dollars
and township Of land. 10 1884. On act vas
passed granting TO two hundred and thirty -flv e
Polish exiles transported the United States by
order of the Emperor of Austria, thirty six sec
tons of land, within the limits of the State of
Illinois or the Territory Of Michigan. The act
by which pensions granted 10 the widows Of
officers and soldiers of the army Of the United
States, is an exercise Of The same power founded
on the same general principle. But il is enough
to say that the Government which does not pos
sess the power to pay its debts Of gratitude. and
TO perform acts Of bene6cence and charity. would
be unworthy of the respect and affections of lis
citizens.
Believing tina, the act Of this Indian woman
presents proper case for The exercise OF The graf