The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-25
WITH THE INDIANS
THEIR DIPLOMACY

"NEGOTIATION WITH THE INDIANS
THEIR DIPLOMACY"
Under the above head, in letter from this city,
dated November H., lS45, published in the New
York Herald, that very useful invention called the
"seiEpp6ng machine" is exhibited for the admra-
ton Of the gazing mutitudes, with extraordinary eff
feet. never, in my life, saw so much skill dis
played in the management of this valuable machine,
as upon the occasion here alluded to. No one
could, for moment, suppose that the talented wri.
ter Of the Herald letter. az pu6r, and the young and
elegant "Pottawatomie Advocate az pufse, were
one and the same person. l cannot believe il pos
sble.
If the "Pottawotame Advocate" had used
his machine to puff up himself or his friends
without welding it to traduce others, should not
have word 10 say; for, really the ''pufing" part il
very amusing. Just look at il, Mr. Editor, your
self. The Herald letter commences thus; "There
have been rich scenes enacted here within the
last few days, which seem to have escaped the
Argas-eyes of your otherwise watchful correspond
ent ! allude to the council of the Pottawatomie
Indians with General Gibson and Major Andrews
commissioners appointed by the government to con-
fer with them"
This s puff No. 1, and intended to compliment
the Herald's correspondent account of his Argus
eyes, as an indncement 10 make him notice hereaf-
ter the "rich scenes" to be enacted by the great
"exnguishcr'' who holds the dcstinies of the Pot
tawatomes at the disposal of the "mischievous
twinkle Of his eye" The letter then proceeds to
expose, with terrible severity, the deceptons which
the writer alleges have been heretofore practised
upon the unsuspecing red-men by agents of the
United States sent to purchase their lands; and Ma
jor Andrews, Gone of the commissioners he says,
"has gone through his noviciate in affairs of this
kind and for thai reason he selected" Here is
handsome Jackhnidsd compliment to the President
of the United States, who selected General Gibson
and Major Andrews TO treat with the Pottawato-
mics. The President, according to this allegation,
made his selection of commissioners with the view
Of again overreaching the poor Potiawatomes! But
listen, and hear how wofully he has been mistaken.
The Indians were wide awake, and selected as their
advocate the gallant ex-agent whose ''mettle" had
been often tried on formidable occasions. The let
ter-writer explains this appointment, as follows:
with this view and feeling they could compete with
1.-THE Indans placed themselves under the conduct Of Major
Elliott and instructed him to advocate their claims with all
his ability This selection proved exnguisher the
established diplomacy in Indian matters and the commits
discovered that caolery not to be relied for
conclusion until after the experience Of three inter
views forced II upon them"
What, in the name Of common sense, were such
novices as Gen. GEORGE GIBsoN and Maj. It. p.
ANDREWS, of the United States army, to do under
such appalling circumstances II is true, that no
two officers stand higher with the community, in or
out of the army men Of chivaric courage, probi-
ty, and strict integrity but, them how could they
resist the hot shot poured in upon them from the
was out of the question; and they Immediately
dotted their plain citizen dress, and put on the uni
form of their profession, told by the next
sentence Of the letter, in the following pictorial Ian
guage: s
IA FIRST there was the usual aemp, to dazzle the Of
the savages' by than ordinary display Of gold lace
cooked hats and gaudy epauiets and calm observer
was moot point 70 determine which party madsthe most
ment the Indians in all their paint and feathers certainly
had the advantage the sR metal embroidery the mil
tar all
borne the palm 4 was however, fair composition in
e mas
unsettled question Upon the OF inteli
the nsn mysd as the In
while the commissioners literally construed the simplicity
Of Indian and the Exhibition Of rude
endeavored to bring down their phraseoogy in adap
ation to their ideas of the Indians want Of capacity
Was there ever anything SO sublime and beauti-
full the above sentencei And the attempt at fidce
TOO, is SO very amusing! do think il Will cause
people to laugh mmoderaely at the expense Of
somebody ! have attended some councils In the
course fmy life, held between United States COM
mssioners and Indian tribes; and whenever milf
tary officer member Of the board he appear
ed in full uniform. Gov. Dodge, who has not, to
be sure, as much experience in Indian diplomacy as
the Poita0aome Advocate, always wore his uniform,
cocked-hat, sword, and all, when he appeared in
council with the wild tribes Of the northwest;
and no officer of the government was more success
full in his negotiations, or better friend Of
more respected by, the Indians. Indeed, my little
knowledge and experience in these matters always
taught me to believe that the CREATES compliment,
that could be paid to Indians, was the wearing
of uniform, (the more splendid the better) by Off
GERS who held council with them. But the Pottawat-
omies may have too far advanced in civilization,
under the tuition of their able advocate to fancy
such displays, although their appearances would
| seem to denote the contrary The Underwriting
advocate himself, describes them Sin all their paint
,boro . MIN N aI tadv
the stiff metal embroidery of the military gentle
men," and then, too, the Indians clearly "saw
through the baubles of Office" and brilliant Latin
quotation is introduced to make the 'matfer ofbrans
between the parties disputed question.
But see with what admirable tact and overwhelm-
ing eloquenoe the paragraph, from which the above
quotation is made concludes and renders visible the
"mysti6caiion" of the commissioners:
'The manners appearance Of the Indians advocate
Major Elliott also served to increase their modification
is youthful and his subduei and quiet voice
pitched somewhat below the ordinary tone This led the
practised clients led by maiden advocate They little
knew that this apparent ncophyte had tried his mete upon
than they could boast Of TO those who knew Major FL
lott the mischievous twinkle of his betrayed that he
standing their upright collars and military brocade and
rather treat to how unconsciously they came to
the sacrifice"
As lady friend Of mine would say, Saint that
sweet - Yes dear lady, but there is also much to
terrify--a great deal Of thunder in it. Only think
of the "majors personal appearance'--the "appa-
rent neophyte," who chad tried his mehls" success
fully in ''iho contest of wits, upon adversares Of in
fnitely more weight" than the two commissioners!
Think, too, Of the "mischievous twinkle of his
eve when he eh that his vctims oiihn the reach
Of his lance !" Why, the motto given to Doctor
Franklin, by Thurlow, would scarcely reach his
deserts. He must excuse for quoting Latin after
his own fashion. "Erpuii Jnlmen CGio scepfrumque
i,ra,,nis ~ Now, if the ponderous lance of our
champion Of the ",winkling eye" lays low the Pres
ident of the United States, the Secretary of War,
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, and the Gene
raj and Major in their "full uniform" why the
snatching Of che hunderbolt from Jope and The sccp-
IRE from ipdnb," will be mere circumstance to his
| pro wess do not know what we can compare
him to, except to Morok, the tanner Of wild beasts,
in the Wandering Jew.
II would make this little notice, penned 10 feel
ing Of admiration for the extraordinary abilities ex-
HID L,, ,ho uorald rorreenondAot foo lonu IN