The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-12

enous fruits its proximity to Lake /
Erie and its temperate climate had
captivated his judgment. The pro-
fusion of it, nati. products the
cheapness of western lands, auO their
exemption from taxation; and the op-
portunity it presented for successful
enterprise, had infamed his imagina-
ton. These and kindred subjects Of
reflection unquestioEabiy constituted
the 6reside theme Of his conversations
daily intensified and embellished by
reiteration. This knowledge was
not second. hand or speculative, but
positive and reliable. His long ex-
posure in the camp in this very will
derness, snd his personal observa-
ton and experience prseluded the
possibility Of deception. Consequent
IL the desire 10 possess 4 country OF
such wondrcus promise could only be
satisfied bT the acquisition Of the
object Of his affection But the ter
ritory was forbidden ground belonging
to and occupied By several tribes of
Indians. This interposed barrier to
its Immediate settlement After the
war. manyof these Indians. still infu>
eneed by British emissaries, con
tinued unfriendly towards the United
States which made it indispensable
to the enduring welfare of both, ard
especially to the peace and safety OF
the contiguous border pioneers, that
the rights and possessions of the In
dians should be extinguished and
these lands opened to emigration and
Improvement. The constant demands
upon them for additional grants of
land and the eeaseless encrOachments
on them by ruthless spectators had
soured their better nature, provoked
their distrust and intensified their
jealousy and hate. The disastrous
results Of the war Of 1872, had re-
admonishcd them of the futility Of
resistance. They painted, like Gagged
lions, for liberty to roam without re-
straiut aud unmolested er their
native wilds. They were subjugated,
Inundated, broken hearted Their
game was disappearing, they knew
not why nor wherefore. They saw
without CLEAN of hopeful rcdcmp-
ton, the feeble tenure by which they
held the homes aud country made by
Z the Great Spirit, as they alleged, for
them aud their children forever.
Begirt by civilization and its artistic
manhood aud superiority, they could
do 20 otherwise than suocumb to the
inexorable demands ofimperious ue'
eesSity-a necessity, however, which
painfully fOreshadowed their gradual
extinction. The finger of destiny
pointed them to the setting sun.
This destiny was appreciated by none
more wildly than by themselves
Bat incapable of patient reflection
they had perceived no way to insure
self-preservation except by the power
of physical resistance. They had
tried, in vain, this expedient, in the
war of 1s12-infuenced By their an.
imal instincts and a gross sensuality
only without the benefits of improve
ment or capacity for improvement in
moral or intellectual progress. En-
dowed with these mental defects, they
could not remain pacific, nor the bor-
der pioneers secure from their steallhy
depredations. Under these eircum-
stances on the 29th day of September
1877, treaty was concluded at the
foot Of the rapids of the Maumee
river between commissioners of the
United States on the one part, and
the chiefs Of the Wyandot, Seneca
Delaware, Shawnee, PottaWatamie, OF
iowa and Chippewa tribes Of indians
on the other part, whereby all Their
remaining lands within the limits OF
Ohio, we're ceded to the United States
These lands were theneeforth, by
common consent, designated and
known by the name of the "NeW
Purchase, and included the present
county Of Seneca.