Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-11
Washington News.


noticed yesterday, represented themselves as
members of the Pottawatomie Nation Of In |
dams, who during the month of may last. |
were induced. by David Hopkins, of Tenn, !
and A. c. Peckham, of ST. Louis, to leave their
country for the purpose of visiting the great
wigwam or Crystal Palace; that Peckham
was reputed as man Of wealth, and exhibited
letters as to his standing and character. The
rewards held out were dazzling to their eyes
Picotte who was then acting as clerk to the
American Fur Company by which he had
been employed for three years, was to receive
81 900 per annum, the others S25 per month.
They were taken first to Louisville, where
they were exhibited in their national costume.
and made to dance the various dances of their
tribe. Thence, they were taken to Cincinnati,
Columbus Cleveland, &c. and through most
of the New England States.
None, except Picottc. speak English They
left Immediately after the payment of their
annuities in the spring, leaving with their
wives all that was then paid them. Hopkins
and Peckham underworld to persuade them to
part even with their horses and other dOmes
| tic animals, for the support of their wives and
children, when they manifested fear as to
their experiencing want during their absence.
They candidly admit that they were warned
| against thus proceeding, by one of their old
and wise chiefs, whose advice they were
ashamed to remember, though they were here
now in accordance with his advice. He had
told them should they be turned adrift, with
out means and far from home, to 60 to their
! father in Washington, and he would send them
back. When in Boston, It being found, as
they supposed. that the profits were less than
anticipated, they were left destitute and
! in distress; during the whole time having re-
ceived but fifty dollars, with which, and the
proceeds of all their effects, they had been en-
ablea to reach here on Tuesday evening now
begging that their father, the Commissioner,
would advance, out of the next annuity that
| mi ght fall due. sum sufficient to take them
/ home That this was the first time they had
left it, and should be the last.
| When asked by the Commissioner if they
| could complain of the injustice of his treat
| ing as they must have done, of the disapproba-
| ton of such conduct by the Department, they
| sal ] that the late agent was aware Of their in
| tenton, and even sanctioned it; but they
| hoped he would consider how tempting the
| proposal was and how much their wives and
children would suffer during tho months it
! would take them to walk, should he withhold
his assistance in enabling them speedily to re-
/ turn.
| 1t is proper here to observe, that all efforts
are made by the Department to prevent the
Indian from leaving his home. and though the
! Commissioner may yield to case strongly
| appealing to sympathy, yet positive promise
has not been made. To keep them while in
suspense may prove salutary to the whole
! tribe.
! One of the employees OF Hopkins and Peck
ham, since ascertained, James w. McDon-
aid. their paster up of bills, &c, made appl-
cation to the Department, during the month
! of July, for permission to take them to Europe
for exhibition, which was Indignantly re
! buked
| Tue RrNQRED SECRET TREATY between
| Spain and Britain for the prospective abolish
ment Of slavery in Cuba, has. We think, been
subject Of inquiry and attention in Wash
ington for at least a month past; though it
strikes us that up to this moment the Govern
ment (here) have had nothing sufficiently def
mite authentic with reference to it. to justify
them in doing more in the premises than en-
! dGaVQring to obtain information which would
warrant action On our part We shall not be
surprised if within forty-eight hours tins d.
sired advices come to hand: when it will prob
! ably soon become manifest to the treating
governments that they may not with impunity
enter into arrangements affecting American
interests almost As much as those of the Cubans,
without saying as much as by your leave,
Srs," to the United States
Gov. VROOM is again here engaged with the
Secretary Of State in preparing to start on
his mission at Garln. There are many and
important questions mole ar issS IN Issue he
tween the United States and Prussia which
require careful study and full explanation.
which induces him Gov w. to spend much
of his time just now with Secretary Marcy.
THE VERY LAST WoNDER-The new phase.
which the New York Herald of yesterday tells
us, is, probably. to be given to the fisheries
question, by the assertion Of the claim of LGrd
Sterling to right to the fisheries superior to
those of both Governments and countries will.
we take it, hardly disturb the course of the cur
rent negotiating. That gentleman has been
some time in Washington upon this business,
and has formed a company to whom his rights
or claims have been, or ara to be, conveyed