Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-31
Grand Indinn counciI.

Grand Indian Council.
The Fort Smith Herald ofthe esd ult..
has the following account of "a grand In
dian council:
l arrived at the grand council ground
on the 18th OF June. with u party of IA
Shawnees. We journeyed above the wa
tiers of Little River, and found the coun-
Gil shed near the bank of the north fork
of Canadian, in the middle of small
grove, where was a cold spring. The
Indians had their respective camps in
various directions around at distance
of three or four miles. The Camanches
encamped seven miles off. suSpeciiny an
attack from the Greeks-perhaps, fearing
more, that their slaves. of whom they
had many, would be stolen from them.
These slaves are mostly Spanish, but |
regret to say, some are Americans.
| stopped at the Cherokee camp, near
which the Shawnees encamped. and went
with them to the ground, some two miles.
IN the morning. leu or twelve tribes
were represented of these. by far the
greater portion were Camanches and
Greeks. about five hundred of each, only
small delegations of other tribes being
present. In fact, the matters to be ne
gotiated were principally between these
two tribes.
The Creeks made formidable show,
all their warriors were large, with fine
countenances and dignitied carriage
They are plainly dressed, and sit await
ing the arrival of the Camanches with
stoical patience. The Cherokee delega-
ton was tolerably large. pant of them
are half breeds, which lessened their in
terest to one seeking Indian curiosities.--
The Kee.chies are here, needy set
with wonder-strained eyes.
The Cumanches are coming in large
line over the prairie, marching in pomp
and savage pa9eantry-men. (they are
all warriors, women, children, mules and
dogs, waving plumes and flashing orna-
meuts.
The Camanches dismounted, and their
horses were Immediately taken in charge
by the boys, some not more than two or
three years old. only few richly dres-
sed in their way, some entirely naked, who
got on the horses and sat on them, or
rode them around until the return of the
party.
As soon as the Shawnees appeared
on the ground they recognized some hor-
ses taken from them year or two ago
by the Camanches, and Immediately took
possession of them. The Camanches
complained in council, and the Creeks
disapproved of this summary mode, to
which the Shawnees replied that they did
not care for the Creeks, Camanches or
anybody else. but were going to have their
horses.
These Indians employed several days
in making eternal peace, in shaking hands
and passing round the belts of wampum
beads and tobacco-the emblems of trea.
ty-and smoking the long, fat-stemmed
pipe of peace. The last day of the Coun-
Gil, presents were given by the Creeks to
the Camanches, which were delivered to
the chiefs for division.
As the grand council was breaking up
Seneca chief said
1--WE have made friends and brothers,
we have shaken hands the whole length
of the arm; we have spoken from the
heart, and we have thus spoken. ''Iet US
remain brothers forever" Yes" re-
piled the Camanche chief, ''if an7 of you
are travelling in our country, and his horse
gives out, he can walk home without be-
ing molested."