The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-10
NO. 484.
Gh Ssbish.

9i} For sale by Taylor Maury, Washington
To thousands of readers, this simple an
roancement is all that is required to induce
them to purchase this new volume, just now
presented to the public by its popular author.
We have FASTENED to read it. The Indian
story is founed on fact, and is as full of Ro-
nance and Nature as if it had been the crea-
ton of the genius of Grace Greenwood herself.
The story opens at Fort Stanwix, in the war
Of the Revolution, when besieged by British
and Hessian troops, aided by Indian mercena-
res. The fort was commanded by Colonel Gan
sevoort, and defended by a force of FIVE hum
drad men, who are reinforced by the arrival OF
small detachment under command OF Lieu
tenant de Vaudreuil, son of Count de Tau
dreu;l. who has come to this country with La
fayette.
Previously to his coming, there had been
treaty of alliance formed between the Oneida
Indians, under Sandawana, and Colonel Ganse-
WORT. This old sachem has two daughters, by
a French woman, who are the heroines OF the
tale. These are named Gahaneh and Onata.
The elder is all Indian in her nature, proud
and revengeful. 0nata is a beautiful creature,
who with dusky skin inherits the beauty and
naiure of her mother. This child of love and
beauty is affianced to Garanguli, modern
Belyidere, the chief of the braves under the con-
troll of Saudawana, and has been placed in the
fort. under the care of Colonel Gansevoort, as
a guarantee for the fidelity of his warriors.
There has been held by the women of the
Oneidas Woman's Rights Convention, as it
would be called in our days, in which they de-
cree the death of any of their number who
shall be seduced by the glitter and gifts of the
male faces. This decree is most zealously
adopted by Gahenah, whose proud heart scorns
their gifts and seductions. With threatenings
from her sister, and great reluctance on the
par, of her Indian lover, Onata is left in the
fort.
As a necessary consequence of cooping up
a Young Frenchman in fort with beautiful
balfbreed girl, he falls in love with her, and
aided by chaplain, captured in a sortie, he
uarries Onata. This is secret marriage,
known only to the priest, who, being liberated,
takes with him the knowledge of this union.
The devotion of de Vaudreuil and the love of
Onata, waken the jealousy of GaraDguli, and
the deep hatred of Gahaneh. A fight follows
between the husband and lover, in which Ga
ranguli is disabled. To him de Vaudreuil re-
yeals his union to 0nata, and his purpose to
take her with him as his wife to France. The
Indian lover gives him his confidence, and be-
comes reconciled to his fate, and rejoices in
the happiness Of Onata.
Gahaneh, believing her sister has brought
herself under the ban of the solemn League
and Covenant" discovering her retreat, with
the aid of others, abducts Onata, who is car
ried of, and is brought before the conclave of
women, by whom she is devoted to death. She
is rescued by de Vaudreuilaand Garanguli, who
with a band of followers has pursued them
into the depths Of the forest, where Onsta is
nov awaiting her death, refusing to confess
her marriage, because her husband had i'm
posed upon her secrecy. Gahaneh, seeing the
rescue, rushed upon her sister, and struck a
dagger, the gift of de Vaudreuil, into her sis
ter's bosom. And when Garanguli tells her
0nata is the wife of de Vaudreuil, unable to
live, she plunges the dagger, wet with her SIS
ter's blood, into her own bosom, and dies.
Thus ends the Forest Tragedy; and here
We think the story should have ended. 1t does
not; but goes on with the history of de Vau-
dreuil and Garanguli. The characters Of these
Indians, especially Gahaneh, are powerfully
pictured. The story is of necessity tragedy.
There is no power in fiction to make happy
marriage out of such ill-assorted unions. Cha
teaubraud, in his Atala, Miss Owenson, in
her Missionary, found it alike impossible. And
no one of the readers of this tale but will
deem Onata, dying, far happier so to have
ended her life, than, like Pocahontas, to have
been deserted by her husband in foreign
land
The next story is, {" The Minister'S Choice"
All admirably told tale. This is followed by St.
Pierre the Soldier, Alice's Trist, and the Child
Seer. OF these we need only say, they are
written with all the grace, beauty, and fervor,
which characterizes the writings of the au-
thor P.s
0s'LNi >fEEtHEs AND ADDRESSES BY Charles Sumner
Boston: Ticknor Il Fields.
This volume of Mr.. Summers speeches forms
once record of his Senatorial services to
a' native State and the country, and noble
tribute TO the liberal principles which have
commanded the devotion of his exalted powers
as an orator and q statesman. 1t is no dis
paragement to any one of his eminent associ-
Aes, to say that the speeches contained in this
and the preceding collection have done more
70 Alndle the feeling, which is now prevalent at
lie North, against the encroachments of the
NaVe Power than those of any other public
nan. The generous enthusiasm with which
LIS logic is set on FIRE has proved irresistibly
contagious with the young and impossible,
While the skill with which he has made the
Stores of his learning, and the authority of pre-
eeaents, subservient to the enforcement of his
views, gave him an audience with a class of
'nlhdS not usually accessible to the advocates
"l an unpopular cause.
Every one of the speeches, relating to the
slavery question, has g distinct and peculiar
CHARACTER, which separates it from the rest, SO
mat the subject is presented in variety OF
phases, all of them deserving careful consider.
4l'n' Every position is cautiously taken, and
wen taken, is so fortified as to challenge the
aspect both of those who agree and of those
'ao differ from it. Hence, the permanent valna
" 'Ais volume, as an armory of arguments, fol
'I'se who share in the opinions to which its
@''nor has done so much to give currency.
VI course, We need not speak of the merely
nerary characteristics of Mr.. Sumner speeches
,, -s lame as an orator is co-extensive with the