The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-07-30
a THRILLING SCENE,

a THRILLING SCENE.
The subioned stirring sketch is from new
work by judge Hall, entitled "The Wilder
ucss and the War PATH" and is descriptive Of
the GOODNESS and presence Of mind of Colonel
George Roger Clark, at 4 council at North
Bend.
An Indian council is one of the most impo-
sing spectacles in savage life. 1t is one of
the few occasions in which the warrior exer-
ciscs his right of suffrage, his influence and
h 5 talents, in civil capacity, and the meet
ing is conducted with all the gravity and all
The cercmonious ostentation, with which it is
possible to invest it. The matter to be con-
sidercd as we'll as all the details, are we'll di-
gcsted beforehand, so that the utmost deco
rum must preva,a and the decision be unanim-
Gus. The chiefs and saGcs-thc leaders and
orators--occupy the most conspicuous seats;
behind them are arranged the younger braves,
mon and the youths, as spectators. All arc
equally attentive. A dead silence reigns
throughou the assemblage. The great pipe,
gaudily adorned with paint and feathers, is
lighted and passed from mouth to mouth,
commencing with the chief highest in rank,
and proceeding by regular graduation to the
inferior order Of braves. If two or three ma
tons be represented, the pipe is passed from
one party to the other, and salutations are
.courteously exchanged, before the business of
the council is opened by the respective speak
ers Whatever jealousy or party spirit may
exist in the tribe it is carefully excluded
from this dignified assemblagc, whose orderly
conduct, and close attention to the proper
subject before them, might be mitigated with
profit by some of the most enlightened bodies
in Chlistendom.
1t was an alarming evidence Of the temper
now prevailing among them, and ofthe brood
ing storm that filed their minds, that no pro-
pricty Of demeanor marked the entrance of
the savagcs into the council room. The usu-
al lormalities were forgotten or purposcly dis
pcnscd with, and an insulting lcvity substitu-
ted in its place. The chiefs and braves stalk
ed in with an appearance If slight regard, &
seated themselves promiscuously on the floor,
IN front Of tho commissioners. An air Of in
science marked all their movements, and
Ghowcd an intention to dictate terms or to fix
quarrel upon the americans.
A dead silence reigned over the group; it
was the silcncr of dread, distrust, and
watchtulness; not of respect. The eyes of
the savage band gloatcd upon the banquet of
blood that seemed already spread out before
them; the pilago Of the fort and the bleed
ing acap5 of the Americans were almost with
lii their grasp; while the gallant little band
saw the portCntou9 nature Of the crisis, and
stood ready TO sell their lives as dearly as pos
sible.
The commissioners, without noticing the
diSordery conduct Of the other party, or APP
pcaring to have discovered their premeditat-
educachGry, opened the council in due form.
FEI,,,. Erl+nI 4 al 4
ing few whiilS passed it to the chiefs, who
received it. COL Clark then rose to explain
the purpose for which the treaty/was order
cd. With an mcmbarrassed air-with the
tone Of one accustomed to command, and the
easy assurance Of perfect security, and self
possession, he stated that the commissioners
had been sent to offer peace to the Shawn
noes, and that the President had no wish to
continue the war; he had no resentment to
crafty and that ifthe red men desired peace,
they could have it on liberal terms. If such
be the will Of the Shawanoes he continued, let
some of the wise men speak.
A chief arose, drew up his tall person to
its full height, and assuming a naughty atti-
tude, threw his eye contemptuouSly over the
commissioners and their small rctinue as tito
measure their insgnihcancc iii comparison
with his own numerous train, and then stalk
ing to the table, threw upon it two belts of
wampum, Of different colors-the war and the
peace belt
ave came" he exclaimed, "to offer you
two pieces of wampum; they are Of different
colors you know what they mean; you can
take which you like" And turning upon
his heel, resumed his seat.
The chiefs drew themselves up in the con-
seriousness Of having hurled defiance in the
teeth of the white men. They had offered
IN insult to the renowned 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 TO resent it. The council
pipe was laid aside. Those fierce wild men
gazed intently at Clark. The American saw
that the crisis had arrived they could no lon
ger doubt that the Indians understood the adj
vantage they possessed, and were disposed to
use it; and common sense of danger caused
each eye to turn on the leading commission
or. lie sat undisulbed, and apparently
careless, until the chief, who had thrown the
belts upon the table, had taken his seat then.
with small cane which he held in his hand,
he reached, as if playfillly toward the war
belt cntangling the end Of the stick in it,
drew it towards him, and then with witch
of the cane, threw the belt in the midst Of
the chiefs. The effect was electric, Every
man in council, Of each party, sprang to their