Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-19

ing efforts, for years, to subdue Black Hawks
band. Their conli, ,ts we're greatly harrassing to
the chief and his small company continually
becoming smaller) of adherents, fleeing, and some
times following. A very disproportionate force
vas brought against them and yet in more than
one engagement, they were the victors and the
pursuers.
Keokuk, probably, more foreseeing, at least
more fortunate took sides with the United States.
The overpowering numbers. and better furnishings
of their enemy and the hopelessness of final sue
cess caused the number of Black Hawks adherents
to diminish daily almost This must have increas-
ed the chagrn of the chetan doubly, for the loss,
to him, of one brave, the gain of one to his
rival for, Of course, they went to Keokuk. AT
length the vetran warrior himself despaired, and
would have yielded all else if they would spare him
bis village home where lay the bones of his faith
ers, and the fathers Of his followers When this
was peremptorly refused, be twice showed the
white flag, which both times was shot into shreds
and women and childre with it,
Though it may seem to be out Of place here, |
cannot feel that l am done with Black Hawk until
mention is made of his indignant feelings on be-
ing put in irons and sent to Jefferson barracks
lie felt that he was degraded and was from that
time silent and moody. 1t became labitual mel
ancholy from which nothing aroused him except
when he spoke Of Keokuk to whose claims he
could never accede declaring that he knew of
nothing in which that chief exceled him except
in drinking whiskey.
That the aborigines were addicted to war, their
terrible conflicts among themselves before the
l.; .;.aa Al. n
In this respect the facts in their history are
strkngy similar to what we find on record of all
uudeveloped uncultvated people. The Hebrew
annihiaton of the Midiantes surpasses anything
Of modern times. That they were ignorant of the
true relation Of man to man, and that they were
ferocious is unquesioned but that they were un-
truthful, theivish and drunken, is sanderous infer
ence. These they learned from their more accom-
plished neighbors. 1t was however no forced in
ference TINT if they murdsrous, they we're all
else that was bad,
Those who lived neghbors and in daily inter
course and dealings with the Sauks and Foxes, in
this locality, represent the matter quite differently
They speak of them truthful, honest and peaceful
The testimony of most of the traders is the same
Neither their persons nor property in jeOp
ardy, they did not lock their houses stores, by
kind of familiarity the indians went freely through
their premises. This the character of the people,
and the true state cf things. prior to the ntroduc-
tion Of Intoxicating drink. With the habits Of in
temperance they fell into ali the vices Of their civ
,lized neighbors. When a trader brought the first
barrel Of whisEey to Rock Island, Black Hawk
demonstrated against it, predicting the mischief
that would result. The trader did not heed his
admonition, and Black Hawk visited him second
time. earnestly entreating bin to selling at
the same time assuring him he bad wish TO i'm
pair the value of his property, for that he might
find market with white men. He was firm in
his determnaii m to prevent the sale of it there.
lie pointed out the consequences, My people are
weak, they will get drunk, and in that situation
you will take advantage Of them. When they
become sober they will see they have been cheated
and they will seek revenge to redress their wrongs.
you will complain to the agent, and the blame will
fall upon us. l wish you to remove the offensive
article it you do not, we will take the business
into our own hands" The third time he brought
some men with him ; they took out the barrel be-
fore the owners eyes knocked in the head, and
poured the liquor on the ground. AS Black
were committing depredations property 1t
was believed of course for, in all other cases,
there was neither evidence, nor explana-
tons that is the testimony Of the natives was not
heard.
Previous to the cessiou of their lands Sank
had killed white man and was committed to pris-
on at ST. Louis. Having no other means of re.
deeming their brother. who they thoughtand prob
ably knew, was not deserving of death by their
mode of computation, they nppoinsedas delegates,
the five named in the Harrison 'streaty. to buy him
off. The details of this negotiation are not known,
but it is is believed that intoxicating beverage was
freely dispensed and with the expectation that
their embassy was, or would be successful, they
oeded in the of the tribes, all the lands from
the mouth of the Illinois to Ouiskonsion. This
was trancendng the powers delegated to them
1t life, not lands, they sent to negotiate
about They shot the prisoner after all.
The tribes were dissatisfied, but only minority
had the frmness to refuse submission. Black
Hawk was at the head of these, but Keokuk from
inducements which can only be conjectured, did
not protest, and the majority acqiuessed with him.
Of course Keokuk and hs party were considered
friendly to theUnitedStat government whileBack
Hawk and his little band, were inimical. There
were two causes for having the two parties. Ke-
okuk's added to the power of the government; but
better than this. the majority of the nation headed
by the greatest man in it, caused the negotiation
have the appearance of fairness, and gave pausi
bility to the assumption that only small minority
ignorant and reckless made up the little company
of malcontents. 1t aided Keokuk in the elevation to
which he aspired. 1t operated in two ways in his
favor, for while it raised him, it lowered his com
pettor in power, land consequently in estima-
ton. ..
In an interview with DR.. Barrows, learn that
the dishonorable methods of procuring relin-
qushment of right to lands was reverted to in the
case of the Seminoles. Barrows was surgeon in