New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-03-23
erand Council Of shs Greeks.
= TReuMsE II,s sPgEcH.

trfoin GIsiboflefr ife Hnd Times
Tecumseh led, the warriors followed, one In t1,.
footsteps Of the othet The Creeks, in dense
masses, stood on each side OF the path but Tie
ShaWnees noticed no bne they marched to the
pole in the center of th square and then turned to
the ieft AT each angle of the square Tecumseh
took from bis pouch some tobacco and sumacf,
and dropped on the ground his warriors per
formed the same ceremony. This they repeated
three times as they marched around the square.
Then they approached the flag pole in the center
crc!ed around it three lines, and facing the north
threw tobacco and sunach on small FIRE, burning,
as usual, near the bass of the pole. On this they
emptied their pouches. They then marched in the
same order to the council, or kings house, (as it
was termed IN ancsent times) and drew up before
it. The Big Warrior and leading men were sitting
there. The Shawnee chief sounded his war-whoop
"a most diabolical yeil-aEd each of his followers
responded Tecunlseh then presented to the Big
Warrior . wampum-b belt of five different colored
strands, which the Creek chief handed to his war
riors, and il passed down the line. The Shawnee's
pipe was then produced; it was large, long, and
profusely decorated with Shells beads and painted
eagle and porcupine quis. 1t was lighted from
the fire in the center, ind slowly passed from the
Big Warrior along the line.
All this time not word had been uttered every
thing was still as death; even the winds slept and
there was only the gentle falling leaves. AT length
Tecumseh spoke; at first slowly and in sonorous
tones, but soon he grew impassioned, and the
words fell in avalanthes from his lips his eyes
burned with supernatural luster, and his whole
frame trembled with emotion; his voice resounded
over the multitude-npw sinking in low and mu
sical whispers, now rising to its highest key hurl-
ing out his words like d succession Of thunderbolts
His countenance varied with his speech; its preya-
lent expression was sneer Of hatred and defiance;
sometimes murderous smile; for a brief interval
sentiment of profound sorrow pervaded it, and,
at the close, d look Of concentrated vengeance
such, suppose, as distinguishes the arch enemy OF
mankind.
! have heard many great orators, bnt never
saw one with the vocal powers Of Tecumseh, or
the same command pf the muscles Of his face.
Had ! been deaf, the play of his countenance
would have told mewhat he said. It's effect on
that wild, supersttidus, nntutored and warlike
assembage may be conceived; not a word was
said but stern warriors, the stoics Of the woods,n
shook with emotion, and thousand tomahawks
were brandished in THE air. Even the Big Warrior,
who had been true 70 the whites, and remained
faithful during the war, was, for the moment,
visbly affected, and more than once saw his huge
hand clutch, spasmodicaly, the handle of his knife
AS this was the effect Of his deiyery-for though
the mother of TecumSeh was Creek, and he was
familiar with the language, he spoke in the north
ern dialect, and it was afterwards interpreted by
an Indian linguist to tile assembly His speech has
been reported, but no one has done or can do it
Justice. think can repeat the substance of what
he said, and, indeed His very words.
TECUMEEH's SPEECH.
In defiance of the white warriors Of Ohio and
Kentucky, have Travelled through their settle
ments, once our fayorite hunting grounds. No
war-whoop was sounded, but there is blood on our
not whence it came.
Accused be the race that has seized on our
country and made women Of our warriors. Our
fathers, from their tpmbs, reproach US as slaves
and towards. ! hehr them now in the wailing
winds.
The Muscogee was once a mighty people. The
Georgians trembled at your war-whOop, and the
maidens of my tribe On the distant lakes sung the
prowess Of your warriors and sighed for their EN-
braces.
Now. your very blpod is white; your tonlahawks
have no edge; your bows and arrows were buried
with your fathers. Oh! Mnscogee brethren of my
mother brush from your eyelids the sleep of slave
ry; once more strike for vengeance-once more
for your country. The spirits of the mighty dead
complain. The tears drop from the weeping skies.
Let the white race perish.
They seize your land; they corrupt your women;
they trample on the ashes of your dead
Back, whence they came upon trail of blood,
they must be driven
Back! back, ay, into the great water whose
aecursed waves brought them to our shores.
Burn their dwellings,! Destroy their stock! Slay
their wives and children! The red man owns the
country, and the paleface must never enjoy 1t.
War now! War forever! War rupon the living!
War upon the dead Dig their very corpses from
the grave. Our country must give no rest to q
white mans bones.
my brother his familiar, the Prophet of the Lakes.
He sends me to you
All the tribes of the north are dancing the war;
dance. Two mighty warriors across the seas will
send us arms.
Tecumseh will soon return to his country My
prophets shall tarry with you. They will stand be-
tween you and the bullets of your enemies. When
the white man approaches you the yawning earth
shall swallow them up
Soon shall you zee my arm of fire stretched
athwart the sky. | will stamp my foot at Tippe-
canoe, and the very earth shall shake.