Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-02-14
Historical Sketches Of Ind
fana.-NO. =.
BY WARREN TAYLOR.

In my former communication the gen.
eral historical events of Indiana were
narrated from 1900 TO 1870 1t the latter
period the white population, within the
limits of our present State, was still almost
exclusively confined to the vicinity of the
Ohio, the Whitewater, and the lower
Wabash. Lawrenceburg, Madison, Jeffer-
sonville, and New Albany were then small
villages. In the valley of the Whitewater
the cabins of the pioneers could occasionly
be seen from its mouth, up to where
Richmond now stands. From the Ohio
and the lower Wabash the white settle
ment in some PAGES had extended for
a considerable distance into the interior.
But all of our State lying north of the
present National road was still in the
possession ofthc Indians, and the most of
that part which lies south of that line was
unsettled by the whites. indianapolis,
Lafayette, Logansport, and Fort WAYNE,
had not been thought of then, and were
not for years afterwards.
In a treaty made by Gov Harrison with
the Indians in 500 a considerable quantity
of land was purchased Of the latter BIZ the
United States. As the Shawnees were
not considered owning any part of the
coded territory, Tecumseh, their rcprcscn-
tative, was not invited To the treaty, and
the bargain was male without his con-
currence. At this lie took great offence
and Harrison hearing of his complaints
sent message 10 him, explaining the
circumstances and urging council with
those who felt themselves aggricvcd, for
the purpos, of amicably adjusting the.
matters in dispute.
Tecumseh agreed to this proposal, and
in August 1910, went 10 Vinccnncs. tic
Capital of the Territory, accompanied
by IA considerable body of warriors. In
speech made by him during the council
which followed. he vindicated his policy,
and eloquen;ly portrayed the grievances
which his countrymen Lad experienced
from the whites. The Land he said was
the property Of the red man. 1t was
jointly owned by all the tribes. The
Great Spirit lrad given it to them for a
home. They could sell il To the whites,
bat all of the tribes must concur to- make
the sale valid. The late sale was bad. Ii
was made by part only. Once the red
men owned the whole country. from the
eastern to the western ocean. The whites
were continually cncroaching upon their
domains. Ii this state of things continued
the Indiaus would soon be homeless. There
was but one way to stop the evil. The
Indians must unite and jointly adhere to
the policy, that no land shall be sold with
ont the consent of all the tribes.
Gov. Harrison replied: If The Great
Spirit had designed that all the tribes
should hold the land in common, he
would have given them all one language,
and not different tongue for each nation.
When the whites first came TO this country
they found the Miamics in possession Of all
the land on the Wabash. The Shawnecs
(Tecumsch's tribe) were then living in
Georgia. The United States had bought
the lands in question of the Miamies, the
original and proper owners. Tie latter
had willingly made the sale, and the
Shawnees had no right to come from
distant country, and interfere with The
Mamics in the disposal of their own
property.
The Gov having finished his speech
sat down, and the Interpreter proceeded
to repeat it in the Indian language. He
had nearly finished when Tccumseh sud
denly interrupted him cxclaiming in the
Shawnecs tongue, 1T is false his follow
ers at the same time spriaging TO their
feet and grasping their war clubs. 1t was
an exciting and apparently a pcrilous
moment. for the actions of Tccumsei and
his party strongly indicated hostile de
sign. \ guard of twelve men were immedi-
ately brought up. but the whites were still
so greatly ou.numbcred by the Savages
that in struggle. they would have con-
tended against fearful odds. IIarrison's
GOODNESS and resolution were conspicuous
in this trying emergency. Putting on "a
bold dcmeanor. lie denounced Tccumsch
for his conduct. told him that he was :.
bad man. that he would hold no farther
conference with him, and ordered him 10
leave the eroui.d.