Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-02-08
From the Oquawka Spectator
GOVERNOR FORD's HISTORY.
An Error cf the Historian Corrected.

From the Oquawka Spectator
GOVERNOR FORD's HISTORY.
An Error Of the Historian Corrected.
In Governor Ford's History Of Illinois oc-
ours the following passage:
{ ssIt may DO well here to mention, that
some historians of the Black Hawk war have
taken much Of fine matter Of their histories
from life Of Black Hawk written at Rock
ISLAND in 1888 or 1884, purporting to have
been his own statement written down on the
spot. This work misled many. Black
Hawk knew but little, if anything about it.
In point Of fact it was got up from the s.ate
ments Of Mr.. Antoine lie Claire and Col.
Davenport, and was written by PRINTER,
and was never intended for anything but q
cATcn-PENNY PUBLICATION. Mr.. lie Claire
was half breed Indian interpreter, and Col.
Davenport an old Indian trader whose SYM
pathies were strongly enlisted in favor of
the Indians, and whose interest it was to re-
tain the Indians in the country for the pur-
pose of trade. Hence the gross perversion
of facts in that book, attributiug this war to
the border white people, when in point of
fact there border white people had bought
and paid for the land on which they lived,
from the government, which had title to it
by three different treaties. They were qu,-
city and peaceably living upon their lands
when the Indians, under Black Hawk, at
tempted to dispossess them.o
This extract, short as it is, contains the
| following ssgross rervers:on Of facts"
First.-Black Hawk knew all about tit
was at his own request that it was written.
and is literal translation of his own state
ments. He made it in his own jurisdiction
and IS such it was submitted to the pub
lie.
Second.-The position of Col. Davenport
was not such as the historian assigns him.
He was friend Of the keokuk Cor Peace)
Party, and opposed to Black Hawk.
Third. Although Black Hawk was griev-
ed at the course taken BY the whites who
settled upon what he deemed his land, he re-
peatedly advised non-resis,ance, end did not
attribute the war to the ssborder white peo-
ple,' but to far different causes-tr eachery
| on the part of members of his own tribe.
deceptive treaties and firm belief that
Government was tresspassing upon his
rights.
My personal knowledge of Black Hawk
war; nts me in asserting that he was, III
many respects, a noble man. man deeply
mhued with sense Of justice-gifted with
a fine irtellect-and jealous Of his reputation
1t was because he had been kindly treated
/ by the whites among whom he travelled sub
! sequent to his overthrow, that he desired 10
lay before them the mott es which actuated
him to rebellion aga inst the whites, in order
that they might know that he thought lie had
good reasons for his course. Although IS
editor of tho Galenian, during the Black
Hawk war, advocated the cause Of the
white settlers and maintained their rights;
when, afterwards, | became acquainted with
the vanqushed chiettan and became salts
/ fed Of the sincerity Of his motives, and his
desire to vindicate himself before those whom
he had been represented as having wroneed
Il willingly undertook the task Of editing
''his own story"
Several years ago, while at Springfield
at the time Gov. Ford was preparing matter
for his intended History Of lllino $, that gen.
tleman called upon me, and spent many hours
IN my company, collating facts relating to
the Black Hawk war, knowing, as he did,
that was resident of Galena at that time,
and cognizant of Many facts which he wish
ed to embody in his History. At that time,
he especially requested me to inform b m
where he could procure tie book in question,
having hear Of hut never SCENT. Inform
ed him that had but one copy, but that he
might procure one at Rock Island. Wheth-
er he ever did, do not know. But do not
believe he ever did; otherwise he could not
have misrepresepted it in so notorious II
manner as he has done in the extract above
quoted. To prove that he has done so, beg
the readers attention to the following facts:
On the very opening page of this book is
the following certificate, made by the U. s.
Interpreter, Antoine LIE Claire, with respect
to the publication! Mr.. LIE Claire is still
living near Davenport, Iowa, and any person
who is acquainted with his character will ex-
onerate him from charge of dishonesty, let
: it come from whatever source it may:
i sINDfAS AGENCY, }
i Rock ISLAND, Oct. l6, 1913.
i do hereby certify, that Ma ka-tai-me-
She kia-kiak, or Black Hawk, did call upon
me, on his return to his people in August
last, and express great desire to have a his
tory of his life written and published, in or
der, las he said) SHAT the people of the
United States, (among whom he had been
travelling, and BY whom he had been treated
with great respect, friendship and hospitali-
ty,) might know the CAUSES that had impelled
him to act as he had done, and the PRINCIPLES
by which he was governed" In accordance
with his request, acted as Interpreter; and
vas particularly cautious, to understand dis
tinctly the narrative of Black Hawk through
out--and have examined the work carefully,
since its completion and have no hesitation
] pronouncing it strictly correct, in all its
particulars.
Given under my hand, at tho Sac and Fox
/ Agency, the day and date above written
ANTOINE LIE CLAIRE,
/ U. s. Interpreter for the Sacs and Foxes"
Then follows an advertisement in which
made the following statements:
ssSeveral accounts of the late war having
] bean ruhlShcd In which be Think iustica l.