Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
THE INDIAN COUNCIL ON THE PLAINS.

l.
THE INDIAN COUNCIL ON THE PLAINS.
The Editor Of the ST. Louis Republican, who
was present, describes as follows the gathering oil
of the Indians of the Prairie at the late great Coun
Gil held near Fort Laramie:
TREATY GRoUND, HoRsE CREEK,
Neat Fort Laramie, (I. I.) September.
This morning the first Grand Council be held and il
may we'll be supposed that there an early stir and great
preparation. to which the Indians had been
looking with great interest From dawn until o'clock,
when the fred and the flag hoted signal
for the Council to assemble parties Of Indians coming
in from every direction. have taken pairs form esii-
Of the number present, ard by The number of lodges
estimating is with those familiar with the Indans
had assembled nine thousand. Allowing for SOL
des and bands without lodges believe the number might
be safely set down exceeding ten thousand
When the had given forth its thunder the whole
plains seemed to be covered with the moving of Chiefs
warriors, men, women, and children horseback,
foot The chiefs and braves who expected
councillor only the principal take tart in important
deliberations like this-generay foot then follow
ed the young men, mounted and foot then the squaws
and children. Until the signal given for the Council
assemble the had remained at distance from the
temporary abor prepared for the occasion But when tt
whole body commenced moving to the common centre,
sight presented Of most thrilling interest Each nation
approached with lis peculiar song demonstration and
such combination Of rude wild, and fantastic and
dresses Witnessed 1t not probable that OPP
poruny will again be presented Of seeing so many tribes
assembled together displaying all the pecuarites Of eatues
Dress equipments, and horses The Of painting
themselves and horses ard every thing else exhibiting their
wild notions Of elegance and propriety
They out this morning, not armed painted for
war, but decked out in all their best egala, pomp paint
and display for peace The chiefs and braves dressed
with punctous attention to imposing effect. The "bucks"
(youDg men) horse aoot in all the foppery
and display Of prairie dandes In their efforts to be eie
I~o
the prairie dandy after his manner, displays quite much
sense and bis city prototype, with this advantage
the Indian does conceal his features with superabuna
Of hair In their bearings and eoris pride
dress and linsel they on pal.
The squaws in all the richness and embellish-
ments Of their "toggery Their displays, according to
their stations and the wealth Of their husbands fathers
marked their ability to Dress and their dsngse in genteel
Indian socely The {" bellies" (hee Indian we'll
civilized bees in all they could raise of fnery and
costume, and the way they aunted, Uttered talked, and
made efforts to show off to the best advantage before the
bucks justly entitled them to the civilized appelaon have
given them. We concluded that coquey not Of foreign
origin Even than ordinary care had been bestowed
the dress Of the children They evidently their
best behavior With these little easy decide
upon the thrift the cleanliness and industry of the mothers
We have belief that child in its dress and behavior
fair index Of the culture, mnd and industry Of it's mother
Some decked out in all the variety Of fnery that skins
of wild animals beads porcupine quls and various coored
cloths could suggest Others in simple costume,
string of beads round the neck, and string round the
lons It is due the Indian to say that whilst the
male children, to advanced age, often permitted
to 60 Naked nearly so but female child
exposed.
When the crowd had assembled, il was announced that
only the principal head Of the nation expected
within the circle prepared for the council The oilers took
positions the pans generally in the Of the part
signed to their chiefs and braves The council ground
circle about third of it, facing the east, left open.
Around the remainder sheds had been erected with lodge
poles and lodge skins The tribes arranged around
/ he of he
ennes Assnabons, Shoshones, Ancaras, Gros Ventres
Mandans, Arapahoes. In the centre covered arbor
erected Here seated Col Mitchell and Major Fiizpa
trick, Commissioners; there also present COL Cooper,
Capt. Ketchum, Capt. Duncan Capt Rhett, Lieut.. last
ings and Lieut. Elliott of the United States Army the Rev.
Father De Smedt, Col R. Campbell, b. G. Brown, Major
Haldman Of the Utah Indian Agency, Mr. Rose, subsgen
and number OF gentlemen interpreters traders, and Others
There had been studied effort made produce effect in
the arrangement but when the council assembled
tany presented fine field for painter dagueeotypis,
could any where be found not Of any Thing
Of the kind before presented and deeply regretted that
among the many American artists there not
sie % % H R.s Do vet ~
cannot speak its accuracy.
Faeaching in the Of the Indian chiefs and braves
stood the attentive members of their respective tribes For
quenes decorum, and general good behavior such
sons the Indians might be made models for civilized
society Although they closely pressed together every
thing was as quiet as in church.
have alluded particularly the assemblage and ap-
paarance hiA morning. for the that the first and
best opportunity presented to all the Indians in body
In all its aspects to me, and thousand incidents,
which will not bear repetition, of deep interest is
an undoubted fact that the beang character manners
habits, and nearly all leading characteristics Of the In
dams Of the plains and mountains strongly with
that OF the more easery ndansssy from the Pawnees
our State ine The former proud manly and hghtoned
sons Of the wds the latter dirty, beggay and cowady
compared with the former The latter have had more do
with the whites have learnt many Of their vices and few
their virtues What contamination may do with the former
remains TO be seen. 0t
FUGITIvE SLAVE RKscUR CAsR.-Tbe trial of Robert
Norris for aiding and sbeing the rescue of the fugitive
slave Shadrach, commenced in the T. s. Circuit Court