Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-02-16
REMARKS OF GEN. w. R. SMITH.


BEFORE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
If any observation were wanting to impress
strongly upon the minds OF the gentlemen here
sembed the propriety and importance OF establish
ing an historical society for the State of Wscon-
sin, perhaps it mig ht be found among those con-
siderations which have influence on my own
mind on this subject We have abundant mate
rial already furnished to US by the enterprising
explorers of the north west, to lay the foundation
OF our contemplated abors in historical research.
The gentleman from Iowa Mr. Crawford,) has
alluded to the enterprise of Marquette, and add,
that from the time that Marquette. Joutel, and
Hennepen descended the Wisconsin the Illinois and
the Mississippi, our history easily be traced
and faithfully written. But who shall look into
the remote history of the ancient Inhabitants OF
tais region with the full expectation of having his
labors crowned with success? Among the
rious tribes now inhabiting our own Wisconsin
not even tradition remains of the mighty
who, beyond question once populated our whole
region. We ask IN vain from the present of
Indians, for tradtionary information of their
predecessors in the occupancy of this once great
populated country But within the sound of our
own voices mighty monuments of the existence of
a once powerful race still remain; but they
! perhaps only the sepultures of the dead. OF the
numerous animal shaped mounds parallel lines OF
mounds which appear like Notifications and con
| zeal mounds, have no doubt that there are few
which have not been burial places. Many years
near this place, trust with sacreligious handy
and found skeleton-I then desisted but Others
no doubt. were to be found there. Amongst all
the archaeological researches to which atten-
ton could properly be drawn, there is none which
deserves more investigation than the history of the
mounds. By whom they We're constructed and
for what purpose For the perpetuation of the
history OF events for the and protection of the
living or for the final resting place of the wise in
council, the brave IN battle, it may be- in some
| instances, the earn OF the infamous. NV own O.
plmon is: that The greater part of them are burial
places, and their exploration may throw addition
| al light on the account which Pere Lafitan gives
OF the customs of the Irquos nation once in a
gwen period OF years, TO gather the Wondering
bones OF their dead, and at great feast to depos-
II them III one common sepulture But we may
well regret that the Indian of this day has no ira
dluon OF the ancient inhabitants of our extensive
region. Tradition In time, has become in great
part what we now call ancient history and in
ceed much OF the modern. When historians re-
late what they and knew, they are believed
1t is with no pendantic view that allude to Xon-
ophon VINO IN his anabass tells us what he saw
and knew; but his cyropedia is rather an histori-
cal novel. OF Thucydides who wrote much of
HIS own periOd-of Livy who wrote of little OF
what he knew, but, whose lost books we depIore
and prize what remalns-of Sallust who is the
mere historian ola brief period-and SO also of the
more modern Latin writers. Yet in looking back to
I1erodotus the father OF history,we find mass OF
tradition OF fable, of absurdites believed in his own
time and now viewed IN their proper light & indeed
all his history is only considered at the present
day as true, far it bear the test of mod
ern investigation. But as Americans present
an anomaly IN the history of nat ors We have
lived 10 write our history Since the
discovery of our own hemisphere - from the
first settlement of the European on our continent
in every colonial government rising subsequent
lly into States-throughout all changes in the
forms OF colonial or state government the history
the history and events of each have been IA thfulv
recorded and are now known to the world We
are daily writing our own history, and faithfully
recording II, to the admiration and wonder of the
old world. And shall Wisconsin be behind her
sisters IN such glorious work as that of writing
her own history?
Your meeting this evening for the purpose of
forming Historical Society for the State of Wis
consln at once gives the negative answer. Let us
then with one united will proceed in our good work
thus begun and let each of US here present endeav-
or to prove ourselves worthy of the praise of de-
voting time, industry labor research and whatever
talents we may possess, to The objects of our con-
templated society, and we will doubtless obtain
| the appreciation of our fellow citizens