The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-04

lows ana bushes al the edgej tha NhHe W thdt st-
uation on being discovered by our soldiers, they
were beat down into the water by their guns, while
their husbands and brothers from the opposite bank
saw their bodies floating down the stream, which
was dyed with their blood
Without meaning any offence, must be permit
ted to say that the language and manner Of the
speaker, when he began the services OF the day, I'M
pressed my mind with the belief that he belonged to
the fanatic class Of our preachers. do not know
anything of his past history; but have no doubt il
will show that my opinien Is true. am not viii
ling that such, or any other kind of men, shall assal
the character of rulers, the spirit of our lnsttu-
TONS and the fair fame of our brave soldiers, in this,
the capital of the nation, in the presence of citizens
and strangers without reply, unless he shall adhere
strictly to the truth think that those parts of his
discourse to which ! allude, were eminenuy desti-
tute OF that most important quality
pass over, for the present, the extreme impro-
preiy of his using the pulpit, from whence should
now no other streams than those OF the Gospel-and
the Sabbath day, which should be devoted TO re-
gious worshp-for the agitation Of topics more fit
for epress, the halls OF legislation, the political
arena. The Integencer, always recognised the
organ of foreign Nations would doubtless be willing
TO consider the Indians AS such, and publish any
structures upon our government, no matter how
abusive which the reverend assaant might choose
to prepare. Let him, then, use that ready organ, aud
launch his arrow against the United States and pro-
claim our infamy nation and our cruelty as
men towards the mild, humane tnelIendng red men
Of the forest. We viii meet him there and discuss
all the topics which he may choose to agitate; and
we doubt not that will be victory more decisive
against him. than was the battle Of the "Bad Axe"
achieved by the gallant Atkinson over the ruthless
murderer of the West, the savage Black Hawk
: My only object now, is 10 deny, most empha-
cally, the truth of his charges against our govern
men for It's unjust policy towards the Indian tribes,
and against the brave volunteers and regulars of
nd fhair oc he
Indian women and children Of Black Hawks band
who fell into their hands.
The whole history OF our policy and measures
towards the Indian tribes of this country, exhibits
spirit Of justice and humanity on the part of the
strong towards the weak deserving Of all praise.
do not hesitate to throw down the gauntlet against
all assailants on that point. Our government has
set an example to the world, worthy Of all imitation.
Every effort has been made to civize, to evangeze,
and to preserve them. They have been supplied
with every kind ofinstruction for their spiritual and
temporal interests. We have endeavored to make
them friends by kindness, and to prevent hostl-
tiles among themselves. Millions of dollars have
been expended in the purchase of food, clothing,
agricultural tools, medicines, arms, and ammuni-
ton. Ardent spirits have been strictly prohibited
under heavy penalties, and every kind Of intrusion
on the part of white has been strictly forbid
den. They have been urged by faithful agents and
missionaries TO throw aside their wandering habits,
and adopt those habits of labor and industry, with
out which men cannot enjoy the blessings Of Prov
idence.
What if bad men are to be found among us,
who cross the frontiers against law, and, in defiance
of the government, commit aggressons against the
Indians is our government responsible for thsl
Do not bad Indians do the same towards us' If
either party, by its conduct, sanctions such agrees
sions, then 1t is justly chargeable But until then
until it shall wink at violations of law, and refuse to
punish offenders even when lawfully convicted, it
is not guilty of those acts.
We have never violated treaty with the Indians!
They have often done it towards us. They have
often been guilty of bad fath--have often violated
the laws of peace and war--have broken out sud-
denly from state of profound peace into the COM
mission of bloody massacres-have burned our
houses and murdered our defenceess men, women,
and children.
Whenever they have been willing to bury the
tomahawk, they have been taken by the hand, and
received again as friends Even the violators of
treaties, and murderers by wholesale of defence
less frontier inhabitants, have been received with
exuberant kindness by our city populations through
out the Union, and Toasted and escorted from
city to city, if in triumph; and they who deserv-
ed the cord and the gibbet for thousand crimes
against humanity and law, have been forgiven, sup
ported and allowed to die in peace, SO far we
concerned.
And yet, in the face of these facts, reverend
assailant from the pulpit, on the Sabbath day, makes
SUCH CHdISeS uSdUst our governments, true,
should make US by-word among the nations.
Had we treated the Indians England has treat
ed the tribes of Hindosan, and iR even treating
them, how different would have been their fate! In
stead of the aourishng communities now beyond
the Mississippi, which promise to achieve, long,
complete recovery from savagelsm-there would
have been but the subdued and perishing wrecks of
wild and savage hordes We need only have in
dulged their long cherished propensity for war
among themselves, and we should soon have been
relieved from them. They would have been their
own mutual exterminaIors.
But such has not been our policy. Public opin-
ion, christian feeling, common humanity, all forbade
it, The innumerabe massacres, murders and tor
lures inflicted by them, have not abated our kind
feelings towards them. And such, | have no doubt
will continue to be the course of this nation towards
them.
But cannot stop without saying something in
defence of our soldiers, who so bravely fought and
triumphed over the bloody savages Of Wisconsin
General Atkinsons official report states that about
one hundred and fifty warriors were killed in the
closing battle, many of them when in the water
crossing to the western side; and that thirty-nine
Uomen and children made prisoners in the bat
tie. The reverend gentleman said that he had his
information from one who was in the battle / also
have heard gentlemen who were in that battle, speak
Of it's incdents-and they were men on whose state
ments reliance can be placed. One Of them was
the present governor of Wisconsin, the well-known
and distinguished General Dodge, who commanded
battalion Of volunteers in that ba,tle and another
was gentleman who belonged to his medical staff
but who, that accession, used the rifle and toma-
hawk instead of the scalpel. They stated that all
the women and children who could be found and in
duced to come in, were taken prisoners, and sup
piled with food and every necessary II may have
happened there, as it did in one Of General Jack
sons battles at the South, that some of the women
may have been mingled among the combatants
as to have been undesignedly slain; but venture TO
assert, that if any killed, it by accident;
and that all received quarter who were found and
would accept it.
Yours, INDICATOR.
MICHIGAN.