Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-06-15

state of things unexampled in The his
tory Of our territorial governments--is
Insufficient proof oflhe wisdom of his
administration.
!, 1n the discharge of his duties as
Superintendent of Indian affairs, Gov
ernor Cass was called upon to enter
into many negotiations with the Indian
tribes, and often under circumstance $
of great peril and responsibility. He
formed twenty-one treaties with them
and extinguished their title to nearly
one hundred millions of acres Of land
"a vast domain acquired tor the Uni
ted States, but upon terms so Just and
satisfactory to the Indians, that no
complaints was ever made by them up
on the subject. l..
There are two incidents connected
with the formation of these treaties,
which strongly illustrate Gov. Cass'S
Judgment and decision of character. =
In the expedition Of 1920, 1t became
his duty to inform the Indians a, SAUL
De Ste. Marie of the Intention Of our
government to establish military post
there, and to SIX upon TIE site for the
same. The chief Of the tribe was
openly opposed to the United States,
and in the pay Of the British govern
men:. In consequence of this, they
heard the intention Of Governor Cass
with apparent ill-wil, and broke up
The councils, with the most hostile
feeling. On returning to their en-
campment, they removed their women
and children into Canada; and having
prepared themselves for battle,
raised the British flag, as a token
of defence. Governor Cass had but a
small detachment of soldiers with him,
while the Indians numbered eight hun
dred warriors. Unacconpanied, ex-
cept BY his interpreter, he advanced
directly into their midst, and with his
own hands pulled down the flag, tram
| pied it under his feet, and afterwards
burned it, ordering the interpreter to
inform the Indians that "they were
within the Jurisdiction of the United
States, and that no other flag than
theirs could be permitted to wave over
it," The moral influence of this bold
act had the desired effect: the Indians
returned the next day to the council,
and tie treaty was concluded, without
any further threats or insults. On ar
irving at Green bay, in 1927. for the
purpose OF forming treaty, Governor
Cass found that the Winnebago In
dams had not yet come IN; and as the
object Of the treaty was to settle diff
culties among some of the tribes, the
non-appeararce Of the Winne5agoes
was an evidence oftheir desire for war
rather than peace. He Immediately
re-embarked on board his birch canoe,
fortheir camping ground, to prevent
any hostilities, and to bring them to
the treaty ground. He rapidly pur-
sued his voyage up the Fox river,
across the portage, and down the Wis
consin, to the place of encampment.-
Taking with him only bis Interpreter,
he went up to the encampment, where
he found them in warlike mood, and
determined not to treat. Threats and
entreaties were alike unavailing to this
exasperated tribe. He left them and
returned TO his canoe. As he turned
to 60 to the river, young warrior
raised his gun, and taking deliber-
ate aim at him, pulled the trigger; but,
provident:ally, the gun missed fire.
This is the only instance of violence
ever offered to him during The long pc
Rod of his Intercourse with the Indians.
He proceeded Immediately to Prairi du
Chen, where he organized the inhabi-
tants, and placed them in a condition
of defence, and returned 10 the treaty
ground. By his prompt and energet-
ie movements he prevented extensive
hostilities, the end of which no man
could know.
In 1871, Gen. Cass was called BY
Gen. Jackson to take charge of the
War Department, and his removal from.
Michigan was marked by a. universal
feeling Of regret. His colleagues in
the cabinet were Mr.. Livingston, Mr..
McLane, Mr.. Woodbury., and Mr.. Ia
ney--men who possessed the conf.
dence Of the President, and soon ac-
CURED that Of the country. The char
acteristic traits of Gen. Jackson's adj
ministration have now passed into his
tory. 1t was bold, prompt, honest and
national. 1t sought no dangerous CON
structive powers, and it endeayored
carefully to exercise those of which it.
was trustee, for the American confed-
Grafton. The great questions of the
removal Of the deposites, Of nulli6ca-
ton, of the French indemnify, and Of