Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-06-01

OF Michigan, Al that tine une Of the most import
AMI civ, offices within the rift of The Executive.
lie was lht civil Hs we'll us uIinr! Governor OF
q large Territory, having many hundred miles OF
exposed frontier. filed and almost surrounded with
numerous tribes of hostile Indians, in the pay Of
the Brillsh Government, and constantly excited
TO acts Of hostility by british agents
As prOuf Of the d ,iencrlrsS slate OF The coun-
try. ii may he mentioned that lncuslonS were
made hy The indlans, aud same persons made plls.
onels and others killed within sigh or the Town Of
Detroit and three expeditions OF mounted militia
hastily collected, were led by Governor Cass III
pursuit OF tho Indians and some oil them were
killed within haarng of the town.
A single incident will show the mature OF these
excursions in the forests in pursuit Of The Indians
General Cnss's servant, who rode immediately IN
hia rear, had personal renconlre with an INDIAN
who started from behind tree, and having dis
charged his rife, attacked him with the but end,
and was killed after short conflict
Bu peace canie 10 put an end To this state OF
things The executive power of the Territory was
almost unlimited, aud the cgiSlulycpuwer was IN
the hands Of the Governor and judges until 1919.
That Governor Cuss performed WILL his highly
important aud delicate duties, the pdOie body OF the
people of Michigan will bear us witness; and the
fact Of his having been seven times nominated by
four successive Presidents, and seven tunes con-
irmcd BY the Senate, without single vote against
him in that body, or single representation against
him from the people over whom hC presided
state Of things uneXampled in the history Of our
Territorial Governmenls-is n suiiic enI proof OF
the wisdom Of his administration
In the discharge Of his duties as Superintendent
Of Indian affairs, Governor Cass was called upon
to enter ,nlJ many negotiations with the lhtmn
NJ, pI,. ,trp pI nprI
and responsibility. lie formed twenty one treaties
with lhrm, and eAlingushcd their tile TO nearly
one bundled millions Of acres Of land; a vast do.
main acquired for the U. States but upon terms ~
Just aud satisfactory 10 The Indians, that no com.
plant was e>el made by them upon the uhjeCtS
There are two incidents connected with The for
nation OF these treaties, which strongly ilIusratr
Governor Cass S Judgment aud decision Of charac
ter. In the expedition Of 1920, it became his dun
to inform the Indians at SAUL de 81. Marie, d
the lnerlon of our Government TO establish ,
military post there and to fix upon site Cor TIN
same The chief Of the tribe was openly op
posed TO the United States, and in the pay Of lie
British Government. In consequence Of This, the
heard the intention of Governor Cass, with appt
rent i'll will, and broke up the councils, with liz
most hostile feeling On returning 10 their ell
campmcnt, they removed their women and chIdrca
into Canada; aud having prepared themselves iG
battle raised the British flag las token of detanc.
Governor Cass had but II small detachment o. So
ders with him, while the Indians numbered elgh
hundred warriors. UnaCcompanied eXcep, by hs
Interpreter, he advanced directly INFO their midst
and, with his own hands, pulled down the Aia
tramped ii under his feel, and afterwards burned
1t, ordering the Interpreter to inform the indians
that "lhey wee within the jurisdiction of the l.
uuI tluI M nihnr nr iIu,n tItuir r,,nII La,