Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-06-07

cangor of firearms, and slvage yells of the enemy.
Then was green youthof seventeen, and vol
unteer from Kentucky." ~
General Harrison, in his report of the
battle of the Thames dated October 9,
1918, says:
ss1 have already stated, that General Cass and
Commodore Perry assisted in forming the troops
for the action. The former is an officer of the
highest promise, and the appearance Of the brave
Commodore cheered and animated every breast"
The battle of the Thames terminated
the Northwestern campaign, and put an
end to the war in thai quarter, but not to
the difficulties or Importance of the COM
Imand. The United States being once
more in the possession of the Territory Of
Michigan, aid Of the Province of Upper
Canada, General Cass was assigned, tenn
porarily, the command of the district, and
General Harrison withdrew the army
On the 9th of October, 1913, he was APP
pointed by President Madison Governor
of Michigan, a, that time one of the most
important civil offices within the gift of
the Executive. He was the civil as well
as military Governor Of large Territory,
having many hundred miles of exposed
frontier, filled and almost surrounded with
numerous tribes of hostile Indians, in the
pay of the British Government, constant
ly excited to acts Of hostility by British
agents. I...#
AS proof of the defenceless state of
the country, it may he mentioned, that in
cursions were made by the Indians, and
some persons made prisoners and others
killed within sight of the town of Detroit,
and three expeditions of mounted militia
hastily collected, were led by Governor
Cass in pursuit Of the Indians, and some
of them were killed within hearing of the
town.
A single incident will show the nature
of these excursions in the forests in pur-
suit of the Indians. General Cass's SER
want, who rode Immediately in his rear,
had personal recontre with an Indian
who started from behind tree, and hav-
ing discharged his rifle, attacked him with
the butt end, and was killed after short
conflict
But peace came to put an end to this
state of things. The executive power of
the Territory was almost unlimited, and
the legislative power was in the hands of
the Governor and judges until 1919. That
Governor Cass performed we'll his highly
importan. and delicate duties the ,chole body
of the people Of Michigan will bear us
witness; and the fact of his having been
seven times nominated by four Presidents,
and seven times confirmed by the Senate,
without a single vote against him in that
body, or single representation against
him from the people over whom he presi-
ded-a state Of things unexampled in the
history of our Territorial Governments
is sufficient proof Of the wisdom Of his
administration.
In the discharge of his duties as Super
intendent of Indian Affairs, Governor
Cass was called upon to enter into many
negotiations with the Indian tribes, and
often under circumstances 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; vast domain acquired
for the United States, but upon terms so
just and satisfactory tothe Indians, that no
complaint was ever made by them upon
the subject.
There are two incidents connected with
the formation of these treaties, which
strongly illustrate Governor Cass's judg-
ment and decision of character. In the
expedition of 1920, it became his duty to
inform the Indians at Sault de St. Marie,
of the intention of our Government to es-
tablsh military post there. and to fix up
on the site for the same The chief was
openly opposed to the United States, and
in the pay of the British Government. In
consequence of this, they heard the inten-
ton of Governor Cass, with apparent ILL
will, and broke up the councils, with the
most hostile feeling. On returning to their
encampment, they removed their women
and children into Canada and having pre-
pared themselves for battle, raised the
British flag, as token of defiance. Go
vernon Cass had but small detachment
of soldiers with him, while the Indians
numbered eight hundred warriors. I'm
accompanied, except by his interpreter he
advanced directly into their midst, and,
with his own hands, pulled down the flag,
trampled it under his feet, and afterwards
burned it, ordering the Interpreter to in
form the Indians that "they were within
the jurisdiction of the United States, and
that no other flag than theirs could be per-
mitted to wave over it." The moral in
fuence of this bold act had the desired
effect: the Indians returned the next day
to the council, and the treaty was conclu-
ded, without any further threats or insults.
On arriving at Green Bay, in 1927, for
the purpose of forming a treaty, Governor
Cass found that the Winnebago Indians
had not vet come in; and as the object of
the treaty was to settle difficulties among
some of the tribes, the non-appearance OF
the Winnebagoes was an evidence Of their
desire for war rather than peace. He i'm
mediateIy re-embarked on board his birch
canoe, for their camping ground, to pre-
vent any hostilities, and to bring them to
the treaty ground. He rapidly pursued
his voyage up the Fox river, across the
portage, and down the Wisconsin, to the
place of encampment. Taking with hin
only his interpreter, he went up to the en-.
campment, where he found them in war.
l;Lo nood ,,d do+orm;nod not IN freat