Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
An Old Story of the Border,

We find in our book of border history the
story OF General George Rogers Clark's treaty
with the indians ut the mouth Of the Great
Miami, in 1885, Attended by very small
rctinuc, General Clark reached the place OF
mcatiug and found large body of Indians
awaiting the council. They entered the room
OF meeting III very abrupt and scorniul man
ner but ..thc commissioners, without noticing
the disordcry conduct Of the other party, or
appearing to have discovered their mcdlIatcd
trcachery, opened the council in due iOrm.-
1hcy lighted the peace pipe, and after drawing
u few whi1s, passed it to the chiefs, who re-
coivcd it, Col. Clark then rose to explain the
purpose Tor which the treaty was ordered
With an uncmbarrassed air, with the tone OF
Que accustomed to command, and an easy as
surancc Of perfect security aud sell possession,
he stated that tho commissioners had been sent
to offer peace 10 the Shawnccs; that the Pres
ident had no wish TO continue the war; he
had no resentment to crafty; and, II the red
men desire peace, they could have 1t on rea-
sonabc terms. If such be the will of the
Shawuces," he concluded, 'let some OF their
wise men speak"
"a chief arose, drew up his tall person to
its full height, and assuming a naughty atti>
tudc, threw his eye contcmptuOuSly over the
coulmissiocrs and their small rctiuuc, as if TO
measure their insiguiiicnncc in comparison
with his own humorous train, and then stalk
Ing to the table, threw upon it two hclts OF
wampum, OF uiilcrcut c0iOrS-thc war anu TIC
peace belt.
I've come here he exclaimed, 'to offer
you two pieces OF wampum; they arc Of diff
fcrrnt cUlors you know what they mean; you
can take which you like and turning upon
his heel, hc resumed his seat.
"rhc chiefs drew themselves up, in con-
sciousncss Of having hurled defiance in the
teeth of the white men. They had offered
an insult to the renowned lcairc OF the Long
Knives, to which they knew it would be hard
for him to submit, while they didHnOt suppose.
he dared resent it. The council-pp was
laid aside. Those fierce, wild men guIcd in~
tcntlv at Clark The Americans saw that the
crisis had arrived they could no longer doubt
that. the Indians understood the advantage
they possessed, and were disposed TO use it :;
and IL common sense OF danger caused each
eve to be turned on the leading commissioner.
lie sat undisturbcd and apparently careless
until tho chief who had thrown the belts upon
the table had taken his seat then, with
small cane which he held III his hand, ho
reached, as if playfu!ly, toward the war bclt
cntangIcd the end of the stick in it, drew it
toward him, and then, with a switch OF the
cane threw the belt into the midst of the
chiefs The cfToct was electric. Every man
in the council Of each party sprang to his feet,
the savage, with IL loud exclamation OF aston
ishment, Hugh " the Americans in expecta-
tion of hopeless conflict against overwhcl-
ming numbers. Every hand graspcd wea-
pOn.
CLARK alone was unawcd. The expression
of his countcnancc changed to a tcrociOus
stcarnness, and his eye flashed, but otherwise
he was unmovcd. y bitter smile was per-
ccptiblc upon his compressed lips as he gaZed
upon that savage band, whose hundred eyes
were bent iiercely, and i'll horrid cxultation
upon him as thcy Stood like pack of wolves
at bay, thirstiug for blood, and ready to rush
upon him whenever one boldcr than the rest
should commence the attack. 1t was one Of
those moments of indccision, whcE the slight
est weight thrown into either scale will make
it prcpondcratc; moment in which 4 bold
man, convcrsant with secret springs of human
action, may siczc upon the minds Of all around
him and sway them at his will.
Such man was the intrepid VirSinian.
He spoke, aud, there was no man bold enough
to gainsay him none that could return the
| fierce glance of his eye. Raising his arm and
waving his hand toward the door, he exclaimed,
Dogs Bcgonc" The Indians hcsitatcd for a
moment, and then rushed tumultuously out of
the counciI-room' The Indians were heard
all that night, debating in the bushes near
tie fort part of them for war and part Of
them for peace. The latter prevailed, and
the next morning they came back and sued
I for peace"
! THE DEVILS Enthusiastically COM