New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-02

,r-e rr,,,v much all the agricultural products Of The
TLs Government annuity, the river ani the woo.ls,
ui,h .te merger agricultural products Of their haf
titled fields, cois'Ge e'e' 'n'ns 'ey u pehh "poh !"
uiain liir.
lnws for the express purpose of protecting sAe poor
Indian" N bis present c"ntracted home.
He carpoi alcuate HE land. He cannot make r
valid coI-ract with white lie cannot be sued
in civil Court 10 enforce the collection ol ordinary
debt he capnot vote In & word be j. sgtaaf by
statute and has scarcely any political status; nav,
more: hc il made alien upon his native soil. 1t
mny be lr1vely questioned whether these restrictive
statutes do Iut teLd to degenerate the red man
uheihcrhe offc c j. 20 keep them always creeping,
wher they should be- learning To walk; making them
dependent instead of iLdegel denl 10 short, making
them socially and politically, mere n0nenttss.
canrot in this communication discuss this ques-
tion, or present others equally iniercstng-tO wit,
their present form o government among themselves:
their habits amusements. festivals means oi nsruc
ton &c: but must pass io brief narration Of my
interview with the oldest Indian sachem now living
Governor BlGcksnakc. 1his famous old chief AMI
wurrir resides IN small frame house on the bGnk II
tie Alleeany, IN the town Of Cold Spring, wher. he
hes lived upward If sixty years. His extreme age
he's for several years past incapecitsted him from
taking any active part IN the government Of the na-
ioI He is at this time upward Of lie years OF age.
He SAYS he has IL Summers.
His oversight j. somewhat impaired, aud he nov
seldom ventures beyond the limits Of hi- paTticl
ar drt.an. Some u the early settlers in the vicinity
speak Of him az having been, lotty years ago the
finest hokiug uau in the tribe, tail and commanding,
being fn X feet in hight his ewes black and piercing
a. tie eaCe- and his bearing proud and nsjestc es
tie towering pines of his forest nome.
He is a nep phew Of the celebrated Cornplanter, who
for mauv yeus the head chief Of the SenecGs, and
died about twenty years ago, at the advanced age Of
100 years.
on the death Of COrnplanter. Blacksnake became
Tie head Sacem Of the tribe; and even now, though
L. IN nfa AZ
reliance upon lis opinions and advice. Red Jacket,
whose ..gaci'y end elOquence az forest Statesman
have be,pme historical was Blacksnakes nephew,
and tie three Sachems, COrnplaDter, Red Jacket and
Black snake have often, 10 days U yore, sat ia Council
together. Red jacket however, was never regarded
rs wa-ricr; his unbounded popularity with the tribe
was oyying 20 his wisdom aud eloeGence in Council,
and the zeal lie manifested in ylndicstng the rights Of
the rel man against tie rapGcity and eboroschinS h-
1uence oi the pale face
Blscksuake was not only fsInous in council but
keui-e ole Of the b-avest OF the brave on the war
path Hc has a silver medal. about tao inches Ia
diameter which he informed me presented 70 MIN
by Wuel gtuu in person, whUse memory he holds IN
great veHeratinn. The device judged, from an ~
peeton Of il, was intended TO repre- ent cVhzcd h.e
in the wigwsm lodge. On the right OF the held If
fireplace with q teaketle on crane, suspeneed Owe.
tie FIRE on the cft is cradle in which repo-es
chld asleep; in the foreground il woman spinning,
and in the background is wOmea seated at loem
weaving Tie letters L. s. A. sprear 10 the margin.
On the reyer-. ere the following words and letters
oocnpyinC three lines: "Second Presidency Of Geo
''WasLington, NDCCXCNl" which are surrounded
by border OF auIe and oak leaves. He inquired OF
me if Gen. Sco.; was still living gave him ar af-
irmaiive answer and the aged warriors eyes giis-
tened with delight. He wished 20 know where be re-
sided and when | informed him in the City ol New
York where likewise lived, he manifested deep in
terest O know all about him; how lar l lved from
him; whs re last raw him. whether be was wei, nc.
He said: "Tell Gen. Scott that Blacksnake is still liz
ing and weald like to see han once more; fought
~ .5,tIi aasip he qii.l i'm he "
just before taking leave p him asked II he had
any brothers living. He "a he had one brother llving
about five mile' below him. | inquired ls brothers
age He replied, " Not very old-only eighty yeurs' "
| Blacksnake buried gbou. five years ago, VINO
for some time prior his &, ah usually presided in
Com ell He was seventyeght years old when ne died
TIE death OF this at the time gave rise TO report
| that il was the Governor himself.
He has descendants living upon the Reservston to
The fifth geDeaton, and his memory embraces perOd
Of upwsrd of ninety yeora lie Is the last red man
known be hvirg who took part in the border wars
Of the Rev oution; and soon he, too, will go to the
pleasant hunting gounos, which the Great Spirit has
provided for the brave; fer the Governor has always
adhered to DE religion Of his fathers aud rays tue
Saviors mission was to the white man and net - the
red man.
Notwithstanding the pertinacity with which he has
always chung to the ancient religious rites end ceTe-
monies of the tribe, he his nlways been Tolerant 70
others and made any serious opposition to the
mis iuuary efforts that hs' from time to tne been
! put forth u teach them the way of lfe.'
/ cuiInst cDsc tnls iettcr WITHOUT peyl'g d
pass tribute TO the disnterested zeal Oi the
Sccciy a Friends at Philadelphia, who have been
| for many years. and stil are, the red mans
| best fricad. This Society still keeps up Mission
establishment among theln and ikesise employs an
agent whose duty il IL to that the Indiane not
overreeched ami imposed npon by the whites and to
supply them with everything necessary for their com-
| loii and health.
| in all important matters, the leading men of the
tribe COUNSEL and advise with their Quaker friends III
| whom they repose great confidence, for they have
| learned that the Quakers never deceive them.
1t il possible that portion OF the lndia~ &c uAy
may ultimately be reclaimed, and raised 20 pos''ion
Of cqrality with the Ansi--a1on race Dnt tis can
nlv he done when civilization effects entire change
in ib,r olaracter. fur different destiny awaits the
residue Their war shout is rapidly recediug teSeri
the setting sum- and il is heard but faio,y this
side Of tha Rocky Mountains. Soon their hunting
grounds will give way to the powshare school houses
and churches will upon the ruins OF the Council
house aud the pursu; Of busy and industrious pepu-
lation will 1itUse themselves this entire Rep ablc
from ocean to ocean.
"Nhothen will mourn for the rei mani
Who will marx the place Of h4s gravel J. Il ".