The Whig creed. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1845-1846, 1846-01-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN SIMON SUGGS.



SIMON sPECULATES.
THERE are few of the old settlers of the
Greek territory in Alabama, who do not
recollect the greet Indian council held at
Dudley's store. IN Talapoosa county, in
September OF the year 1885 In those DAYS,
an occasion of the sort drew together white
man and Indian from all quarters of the
"nation"-the one to cheat, the other to be
cheated. The agent appointed BY the gov
eminent to 'certify" the sales of Indian
lands, was always in attendance; so that
the scene was generally one ofactive traffic.
AS matter of course our friend and hero
the Captain, was at the council. He was
never known TO absent himself from any
congregation. II out of funds, he went to
'Tecruit;' il he had ''stake," he attended
at the "Tiger''-wiicF then was peripa-
tetc and almost omnipresent, because at
that time our supreme court Judges had not
muzzled him-might have an opportunity
of devouring it. On the present occasion he
really had business; for he had brought
with him TO be ''certifed''-that is, TO sub.
nit for the approval of the government
agent, contract for sale of her land-an
lndiau woman, whose preserve" was an ex.
cellent one.-Simon had contracted to paw
her two hundred dollars and three blankets
for it; and as she happened to take liking
to him, she perferred that he should have it
at the price, to selling to others who were
offering her thousand. In this, the "Big
Widow bat Illustrated a waywardness a.
mounting to absolute stupidity, which was
common among the Greeks. 1t was in vain
that she was assaled on all hands, and per-
suaded TO accept q larger price. "The
Mad Bird"--so was tie Captain called bv
the Indians-she would observe, "would
give her three blankets and two hundred
dollars, and she would give him her land
The Mad Bird was good friend, and had
a sweet tongue; and If she gave her land
TO any body else, he would have the big
mad" and then he wouldn't give her to-
hacco and Saceet udteT any more.
There was but one obstacle in the way
of the Captains making very handsome
speculation: but that was avery serious one
under present circumstances; he didn't hap
pen to have the money. True, we have
said in another chapter that the Captain
disdained to embark in speculations requi-
ring the investment of cash capital; but the
reader must do us the justice to recollect,
that "there is no rule without an exception.
In a general ac0g, we know we have asser-
ted, and we here re-assert that Simon Suggs
could, by the force his own genius, specu-
late. without funds; bot we would like to
know how a reasonable man could expect
Captain Suggs or any ono else. to pur-
chase an Indians land without money, when
by an act of Congress it was requisite that
the appraised price should be paid in the
presence of the agent Could the Captain
have had the use, for only ten minutes, OF
two hundred dollars, he could easily have
ownedthe big widows low grounds,and paid
the money back, too, bad he chosen SO TO
do. Unfortunately, however, such loan
was not to be obtained, and his efforts to
"make the raise" caused it 10 be known
that he had no means of paying the Wild
-ow for her land at that time. This TACT
for it was so regarded, very correctly
gave each of half-doZen others specu-
lators on the ground, encouragement to
hope that he might be the lucky purchaser.
They then beset the old woman, one after
another, so that she had scarcely time to
cook the sophy for her children, or drink a
spoonful herself, still the resolutely adhered
to her promise to the Mad Bird, and would
not sell to any other. At length the Cap
tain hit upon an expedient, and calling to-
gether his rivals at the widows camp, he
2. harangued them.
"Gentlemen," said he, "you all know this
here old wilder lnjun is under promise to
me, to sell me her land! Now | takes it to
be id ongentlemany, gentlemen, that you
all, bein' in the same line of business with
myself. shoold endeavour to take advantage
ola feller's bein' lectle low down, and
steal his honest contract. But, hows'ever;
gentlemen, that's not the pint of my dis
course, which are shortly this; eff any of yot
gentlemen, will shell out the necessary
trimmins, SOS that the old lady here car
pass muster before the agent, I'll LET hin
have an even intrust with me in the land
Which of you'll do it, gentlemenG-don't al
speak out at once"
Colonel Bryan whispered to Genera
Lawson, and Major Taylor whispered te
Mr.. Goodwin; and then they all whispered