Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-12-31

ah@ majestic man. whose complexion
eyes and hair, all, indicated a sangune
and mevcorial temperament. The brow
was high and capacions. the features were
prominent md manly, and the expression
which was kesn reAer.ve, and ordinarily
cheerful and Agreeable, was now grave
| almost to sternness.
The Indians. being a military people.
have deep respect for martial virtue. -.
70 other es,imable or Shining qualities
they turn careless eye, or pay at best
bnt passing tribute. while they bow in
profhnd venera,ion before Successful
warrior. The name Of Clarke was 1amil
lar TO ,hem; several brilliant expeditions
into their country had spread the terror o1
his arms throughout. their villages and had
carried The fame Of his exploits TO every
council-6re in The West. Their high ap.
probation Of his character was exempl
fed in a striking as well as amusing man
ner, on another OCCASION. when a council
was held ilh several tribes. The cele-
bra,ed Delaware chief. RuckingheIas, on
entering The councilroom. without no,ic-
ing any other person. walked up to Clarke
aud as he shook hands cordially with
him. exclaimed. 1T is a happy day when
two such men as Colonel Clarke and
Buckingheas meet together!
Such was the remarkable man who
now presided a, the counc,l-tabie. On
his RICH, hand "a, Colonel Richard Butler.
brave officer Of the Revolution. who
soon after fell, with the rank of Brigader
General in the disastrous campaign Of
Saint Clair. On the other side was Sam
uel II. Parsons, a lawyer from New
England. who afterwards became Judge
in the northwestern territory. At the
same table sa. the secretaries, while the
interpreters. several officers. and few
soldiers. STOOD around.
An Indian council is one of the mos,
imposing spectacles in savage life. |. is
one Of the few occasions in which the
warrior exercises his RICH. of suffrage, his
influence and his talents. in civil capaci-
ty, and the meeting is conducted with all
the gravity, and all the ceremonous os-
,ents,ion. with which j, is possible to in
vest il. The matter to be considered, as
well as all details are well digessed before
hand, so that The utmost decorum shall
prevail. and The decision be unanimous.
The chiefs and sages the leaders and
ora,ors--ocenpy the most conspicuous
seats; behind them are arranged the
Younger braves. and still further in the
rear appear the women and youth as
spectators. All are equally attentive. A
dead silence reigns throughout the assem-,
bIage. The great pipe. gaudly adorned
with pain, and feathers. is lighted, and
passed from mouth to mouth, commenc-
ing with The chief hghes, in rank. pro-
ceeding by regular gradalion TO the infe-
rior braves. If two or three nations be
represented The pipe is passed from one
party to the other, and sautatons are
cour.eously exchanged. before the bust
ness Of the council is opened by the res
pec.iye speakers. Whatever jealousy or
party spirit may exist in the tribe. is care
fully excluded from This dignfed assem-
blage. whose orderly conduct and close
attention to the proper subject before
them. nigh, be initiated with profit by
some of the mos, Enlightened bodies in
Christendom.
II was an alarming evidence Of The tenn
per now prevailing among them. and OF
the brooding storm tina, filed their minds.
,hs, no prnprlely Of demeanor marked the
entrance Of the savages into the council
room. The usual form ilitles were for
gotten. or purposely dispensed with. and
an insulting levity substituted in their
,~io ,cf- l-oI
with an appearance Of Iigh, regard. and
seated themselves promiscuously on the
floor, in front Of the commissioners. An
air of insoence marked all their move
ments, and showed an intention to dictate
terms. or to fix a quarrel upon The Ameri-
cans.
A dead silence rested over the group.
i, was the silence of dread, dissrnst, ami
wa,chfulness. not Of respect. The eyes
Of the savage band gloa.ed upon the ban
quet Of The blood that seemed already
spread ont before them; the plllage Of The
forl-and the bleeding scalps of the Amer
leans, who were almost within ,hei.
grasp; while tina, galan, Iiule band saw
The porten,ous nature of the crisis, and
stood ready to sell their lives as dearly as
possible.
The commissioners without noticing
the dsorderiy conduct of the other party,
or appearing to have discovered their
in due form. They lighted the peace
pipe, and after drawing few whiiis.
PASSED i, to the chiefs, who received il. -
Col. Clarke then rose to explain the Pnr.
pnse for which the treaty was orterec.-
With an unembarrassed air. with the tone
Of one accustomed to command, and the
easy assurance Of perfect self possession
he stated the commissioners had beer
sent to offer peace 10 The Shawanoes; thai
The President had no wish to continue
the war; he had no resentment to crafty
and that il The red men desired peace
,hev could have it on liberal terms. II
! such be the will Of the Shawanoes,' hi
concluded, lie, some Of their wise mer
: speak,
A chief arose. drew up his tall person
to it's full height. and assuming haugh
" attitude. threw his eye contemporary
over the commissioners and their small
, | a,;n,o &c if In measure The insiupifi