Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-28
NJ 7 S o u u u A SI & o
FROM THE "wILDERNEss AND WAR PATH"
GOODNESS OF COL. GEORGE ROGER CLARKE,
AT NORTH BEND.
BY JAMES HALL.

An Indian Council is one of the most imposing
spectacies in savage life. 1t is one of the few oc
caslons III which the warrior exercises his right of
suffrage, his influence and his talents in civil ca
paclty; and the meeting is conducted with all the
gravity, and all the ceremonious ostentation with
which 1t is possible to invest it. The matter to be
considered, as well all the details, are well de
signed before hand, so that the utmost decorum
must prevail and the decision be unanimous. The
chiefs and savages-the leaders and orators-occu-
Ply the most conspicuous seats behind them are ar
ranged the younger braves, and still farther on in
the rear appear the women and youth, as specta-
tors. All equally attentive. A dead silence
teigns throughout the assemblage. The great pipe,
gaudiy adorned with paint and feathers, is lighted
and passed from mouth TO mouth, commencing with
the chief highest IN rank, and proceeding by reoii-
lar gradaiOn to the inferior order of braves. If
two or three nations be represented, the pipe is
passed from one party to the other, and salutaons
are courteously exchanged before the business of
the council is opened by the regular speakers
Whatever jealousy or party spirit may exist in the
tribe, 1t is carefully excluded from this dignifed
assemblage, whose orderly conduct and proper at
tentiOn to the subject before them might be initiated
with profit by sone of the most enlightened bodies
in Chrstendom.
1t was an alarming evidence of the temper now
prevailing among them, of the brooding storm that
now filled their minds, that no pfopriety OF de-
marked the entrance of the savages into the
coincil room. The usual formalities were forgot
ten, or purposely dispensed with, and an insulting
levity substituted in their place. The chiefs and
braves stalked in, with appearance of little re
gard, and seated themselves promscuousIy on the
iioor in front of the commissioners. An air of in
science marked all their movements and showed
an intention 10 dictate terms, or to fix quarrel up
on the Americans
A dead silence rested over the group; it was the
silence Of dread distrust and watchfuness, not OF
respect, The eyes of the savage band tloated up
on the banquet of blood that seemed already spread
out before them; the pillage of the fort and the
bleeding scalps of the Americans were almost
within their grasp; while that gallant little band
saw the portentots nature OF the crisis, and stood
ready to sell their lives as dearly as possible.
The commissioners, without noticing the disor
derby conduct Of the other party, or appearing to
have discovered their meditated tfcactery, opened
the council in due form. They lighted the peace
pipe, and after drawing a few whiffs, passed it to
the Chiefs, who received it. Col. Clarke then rose
to explain the purpose for which the treaty was or
dered With an unembarrassed air, with the tone
OF one accustomed to command, and easy assu-
rance OF perfect security and self possession, he
stated that the commissioners had been sent to offer
peace TO the Shawanees that the President had no
wish to continue the war; he had no resentment to
crafty; and if the red men desired peace they
could have it on reasonable terms. eff such be the
VIII Oh Ine cnaWaneeS, he concluded, let some
Of theif wise men speak"
A chief arose, drew up his tall person TO its full
height, and assuming naughty attitude, threw his
eye contemptuousy over the commissioners and
their small retinue, as if 10 measure their insignii
canoe in comparison with his own numerous trdin
and then stalking TO the table, threw upon it two
beltsof wampim of different colors-the war and the
peace belt
we come here" he exclaimed. ''to offer you
TWO pieces of wampum they are Of different CO
lots; you know what they mean you can take
which You like!'-and turning upon his heel, he
resumed his scat.
The chiefs drew themselves up, in the conscious
ness OF having hurled defiance in the teeth of the
white men. They had offered an insult to the re-
rowned leader Of the Long Knives, to which they
knew it would be hard for him to submit, while
they did not suppose he would dare resent it. The
cottucil pipe was laid aside. Those fierce wild men
gazed intently at Clarke. The Americans saw that
the crisis had arrived; they could ITO longer dotibt
that the Indians understood the Advantage they
possessed, and were disposed 10 use it and COM
mon sense of danger caused each eye TO be turned
on 'he leading commissioner. He sat undisturbed
auo apparently careless until the chief who had
thrown the belts Upon the table lad taken his seat
tneh WIN a small cane which he held in his hand
nc reached p5yPuly towards tbc war beit cptau