The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-10

profit by some of the most enlightened
todiesin Christendom. a9a .g. q ssas7
4 DItswas an alarming evidence of the
temper prevailing among them. and Of
the brooding storm that filled their
minds, that no propriety Of demeanor
marked the entrance of the sayages in.
to the council room. The usual form.
alitiss were forgotten, or purposeIy dis;
| psQasd with, an insulting levity substi.
lsQt6 in its place. The chiefs and
ihgaEls sialksds in with an appearance
VI fight fseard, and seated themselves
promiscuously on the N2or, ~ front Of
tho commissioners An air ~ lnsolence
marked all their movements, and 'Sau,s-T
ed an intention to dictate terms or to-
fix quarrel upon the Americans.
A dead silence rested over the group;
|it was the silence of dread, distrust and
wa,chfuness; not of respect. The eye
of the savage band goa.ed upon the
banquet Of blood tha: seemed already
spread out before them; the pi'lage Of
the front and the bleeding scaIps of the
Americans, were within their grasp;
while the gallan, l',tIe band saw the
portentous nature of the crisis, and
stood ready to sell their lives as dearly
as possible.
The commissioners, without noticing
the disorderly conduct Of the other
party or appearing to have discovered
their meditated treachery, opened the
council in due form. They lighted the
peace. pipe, and after giving it q few
whif1s,passed it to the chiefs, who receiv-
ed it. Col. Clark then rose to explain
the purpose for which the treaty was
ordered. With an unembarrassed air,
with the tone of one accustomed to
command, and the easy assurance of
perfect security and self-po session. he
stated that the commission had been
sent to offer peace TO the Shawnees;
and that the President had no wish to
continue the war; he had no resentment
to crafty; and that if The red men de-
sired peace, they could have it on lib
eral terms. "lf such be the will OF the
Shawnees," he concluded, "let some ol
the wise men speak" .s.........
! A chief arose, drew up his tall person
10 its (ull height, and assuming a haugh.
ty attitude, threw his eye contemptu.
ously over the commissioners and their
small retinue, us il 10 measure their in.
significance, in comparison with his nu.
merous train, and then stalking to the
table, threw upon it two belts of wan.
pun OF ditferen! colors--the war and
peace belt.
"We come here" he exclaimed, "to
offer you two pieces Of wampum, OF
different colors, YOU know what they
mean; you can take which you like. "
And turning upon his heel, he resumed
his seat. - ..r...
The chiefs drew themselves up in the
Consciousness Of having hurled defiance
in the teeth of the white men. They
had offered an insult to the renowned
leader of the Long Knives, to which
they knew it wond be hard for him to
submit, willie they did not suppose he
would dare.resent it. The council pipe
was laid aside. Those fierce wild men
gazed intentIy on Clark. The Ameri.
cans saw that the crisis had arrived
they could no longer doub, that the In
dians understood the advantage they
possessed, and meant to use j.; and a
common sense Of danger caused each
) one 10 turn on the leading commission
/, er. He sat undisturbed and apparentl!
; careless until the chief who had thrown
the belts upon table had taken his seat
, then with small cane which he hell
! in his hand, he reached, as ifplayfully
towards the war belt. entangling IN
end Of the stick in it--drew W, it toward
i him-and then with twi:h Of the can
i threw the belt in the midst OF the chief,
The effect was electrical. Every ma
in council, OF each party, sprang i
his feet the savages with a loud Q.
i clamatisn Of astonishment, "Hugh"-
\ the Americans 10 expectation Of a hops
j. less conflict against overwhelming nun
d bers. Every hand had grasped a WEI
s pom. ,.,.s,sm 5...,s.,..,.
q Clark alone was unawed, There
q preston Of his countenance change
j to q ferocious sternness,a and his eys
flashed, but otherwise he was unmoye.
! Aibittsr smile was slightly perceptibl
upon his compressed lips, as he gaze
4 upon that savage band. whose hnndre
+ eyes were bent fiercely upon him,
n They stood like a pack Of wolves at ba,
!, thirsting for blood, and ready to rus
III upon him whenever one ,bolder tha
i the rest should commence the sattacl
n IA, ,yas ,,no of ,thosa THRILLING monen