Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-09-15

gave them no trouble for two degrees of
mountain deiences lay between them. But
the proximity WAS too tempting; they must
Leeds commingle.
For few years preceding 1749, Pennsyi-
vania traders indomitable Scotch-lrish, fore
most in every bold notwithstanding out
y way Of the Juniata, Concmaugh and Ale
gheny. had driven a lucrative trade with the
Indians around the upper Ohie, extending
their operations from the mountains to the
Miami; but attempting no permanent settle
ment. Though among the rudest Of their
race, they were the pioneers of the civiiza-
tion and freedom we now boast This Indian
trade consisted in bringing out, in caravan
trains. pack horse loads of blankets, rum,
wampum. powder, red ochre and gewgaws,
and exchanging them with the Indians for
the fur skins and other peltry which this
country then so abundantly yielded. 1t was
for more than half century the great busi-
ness of the Middle Colonies. 1t founded fam
lilies and fortunes. 1t was almost the only
business that prospercd. The commerce of
the Colonies was but compulsory tribute to
the growing power of England-made SO by
the Navigation Acts Of Cromwell and Charles
II. Trade with any other nation, or in any
other ships than British, was strictly prohib-
tied and to make yard of cloth, or nail,
or pot. was almost treason. All that re-
mained was agriculture, and it langulshed.-
An Indian trader was public benefactor.-
The only two kinds of business in all the Col
onies which Wed with the Indian trade was
fighting the French and raising tobacco
New England monopolized the former, Vir-
ginia and Maryland the latter. But the Peace
of Air la ChapeNe had spoiled the one, and
bad tilage the other. Enterprise and cupid
ity must needs find new Investments. The
Yankees could resort to fishing but what
could our Southern neighbors do?
For while the Pennsylvanians enjoyed
the traffic with these Ohio Indians, unmoles-
ted. The traders licences bore the broad seal
of the Province of Penn. This gave them ia
vor. The goods of tho French were inferior,
and their supplies unsteady. In the mean
time. However, their stores increased and their
emissaries were busy in alisnating the affoc-
ti0ns of the Natives from their brothers"
the English, to their "iathcrs' ut Montreal
The Virgnians saw this thrift, but not the
troubles which threatened it. They rush in
to partake--but only of the latter.
Thesccond grand agency employed to bring
about the great contest OF races for dominion
over the OHIO Valley, was the offspring Of this
Virginia concupiscence. This was the old
"Ohio Company" Incorporated in 1749, by
order of the King and Council of Great Brit
ain. Its primary purpose was to head off, in
the Indian trade, both French and Pcnnsyl-
vanians; upon the assumption that both were
alike intruders upon His Majesty Dominion.
Subsidiary to this present purpose was the
acquisition of good lands. The King granted
to the Company 500, 900 acres of land, South
Of the Ohio, between the Monengahela and
kenhawa, but with privilege to take part of
their lands North Of the Ohio. OF course his
localiy was outside the grant; and yet upon
some preteXt, it was assumed tp be within it,.
They were to take up 200 900 of these lands
ut once, and hold them free of quit rents to
the King for ten years, upon condition that,
within seven years, the Company Should set
one hundred families, erect fort and MAIN
tain Garrison within the grant. Thomas
Lee, President of the Virginia Council, de-
sclibcs the Company (of which he was MEM
ber,) as gentlemen aud merchants of London,
and some of both sorts, inhabitants of this
colony" Its only known London member
was a Quaker merchant, Thomas Hanbury,
who was to send over the goods. Lawrence
and Augustine Washington, brothers Of
the grandfather of the late Charles Fenton
Mercer, of Virginia. The whole number was
fourteen. This was the first effort oi Virginia
to divert the trade Of the west into south
ern channel but like all its Successors it was
abortive.
We arc now at 1850. Up to this date no
strife with either France or Pennsylvania
seems to have been intended by the Company.
/, Al t,.( ~,
ada of a few Pennsylvania traders no overt
act Of hostility had yet been committed by
the French The dogs Of war were lcashed.
But treaties and evasions, ambition and ava
rice had now formed i knot which diploma
cy could lot unite. The sword only could
cut it.
Having erected a store house on the Poto-
mac, at Opposite toy the mouth OF Wills
Creek, now Cumberland, and furnished it
with Indian goods, the next care of the ''Ohio
Company" was to find pathway to the Ohio,
and select their lands and tie site of their
fort for as yet no one of is meubers, or a.
gents, had ever tasted of a western SPRING
The Indians also had to be propitiated.
At q treaty with the Six Nations, or Iro-
ouois, at Lancaster, Pa, in 1744, they had in
n drunken bebauch ignorantly granted to the
King all their lands that are, or shall be, by
his Majesty's appointment within the Colony
of Virginia" 1t was now claimed that this
most indeterminatc grant included the do
mains of ths Ohio Company: but the Indians
especially the occupants, said ne: we gave
YOU no lands west of the great nountains.-
France had in 1713, by the treaty Of Utrecht,
agreed with England, ''never to molest the
Five Nations, subject to the dominion OF Great
Britain" But the Five Nations (new Six)
declared they were not subjects--they were
sovereigns and that they would give their
Ohio lands to neither. Western aspects were
portentous. Thinking them but mist which
fair speeches and presents could dispersc, the
Company resolves to persevere.
TO explore the country, locate the fort, and
conciliate the Indians, required great energy
and skill. For these purposes they send away
down into North Carolina, on the Yadkin, for
a suitable agent. That agent was Christopher
Gst. lie was native of England; and there
is some evidence that he had been educated
for priests order. in the English Episcopal
Church. He was certainly a woodsman of
the highest order, hardy and fearless good
Judge of land, a good surveyor, and well
versed in Indian management and diplomacy.
On the last day of October, 1850, he set out
from the trading post of Col. Thomas Crcsap,
at Oldtown. on the Potomac, well accompa-
MED and with Virginia papers. He kept a
journal of his tour, parts of which have read.
lie crossed ovcr to the Juniata, and took the
Pennsylvania route. He swan the Alleghe
ny at Shannopin's (Indian) town, some three
or four miles above its junction with the Mo-
nongahela, and passed on without seeing it or
knowing of its existence. After hasty stop
at Legstown, on the Ohio, he followed the
great Indian trail, across Big Beaver to the
the Tuscarawas Branch Of the Muskingum,
where he met George Croghan treating with
the Indians on behalf of Pennsylvania, and
where he passed through some trying scenes.
Thence he bore west across White Woman's
River to the Sciots; thence to the Miami,
thence back to the mouth of the Scioto; thence