Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-03
THE ROUNDS At AZTALAN.
from Madison Journal November 26th

from Madison Journal, November 26th
The following interesting letter, written
by the late Edward Everett, to Honorable
n. f. Hyer, of Jefferson, we believe
never before published, has been placed
in our hands to be by us deposited
among the archives of the State Histori-
cal Society. 1t will possess peculiar in
terest to archaeologists and all who have
studied the mound formation found in so
many localities in our State and particu-
Larry at Atzalan, to which the letter prin-
| cipally relates. 1t will be seen that Mr..
| Everett had made the subject of the
| Mound Builders study, but we have to
! reflect that the subject is as problematical
now as it was more than forty years ago
when this letter was written. Hon. NJ.
Hyer, to whom the letter was addressed
and who had interested himself in the
curious remains to which the letter re-
lates, is probably well known to many of
our readers. He is one of the pioneers
OF Wisconsin, and was a Dane county
member Of the first Constitutional Con-
vention which met in this CITY, then vii
lage, on the 9Th of October, 1916:
Boston, 18th May, 1888.
DEAR SIR:-I received, few days
since, your interesting letter of the 30th
April, containing an account of "the
ruins of the ancient city of Aztalan.
The subject of these ruins had already at
tracted my notice, as [ had seen them de
scribed in the papers of your territory;
and feel particularly obliged to Mr..
Parks for proposing to you to write to me.
and not less so to yourself for kindly TAX
ing that trouble.
The problem relative to the construc-
ton of the class of works, of which those
in question are most important speci-
men, has thus far resisted solution. If
the truth is ever to be reached, it must
be by means of patient and diligent
collection of the facts and an examina-
ton and delineation of all the remains of
this kind. The public are under great
obligations to you, for the pains you have
| taken to extend a knowledge of these
very curious mounds and structures.
That North America was once inhabit-
ed by a people far more civilized than the
tribes found here by our forefathers, seems
beyond doubt. Whether this race was
that ofwhich faint memorials are preserv-
ed in the Mexican hieroglypical manu-
scripts Gas seems to have been assumed
in giving the name of AztalaD to the
ruins in question:; whether it was some
other people to whom d. tradition has
persisted, but of which these mysterious
erectlons remain as monuments; or
whether finally the tribes found in North
America by the first European settlers
are degenerate and broken down remains
of more improved ancient races which
preceded them Can opinion which has
found advocates, are questions, think,
which we want the materials as yet to
discuss satisfactorily. We must content
ourselves, at present, with collecting and
recording facts.
| trust by all means these highly inn
pOrtant remains will be preserved. If
they are situated on unsold puplic land,
it is greatly to be desired that the tracts
on which they lie should be reserved
from sale. | am persuaded the Presi
dent of the United States, on proper re-
presentation, would so order If they
are already private property, the intelli-
gence and liberality of their proprietors
must interpose to protect from the pillow
the last remains Of a powerful race.
am convinced the owners OF the soil
would find their account in so doing, for
these ruins will prove great attraction
to travellers.
| have for some time intended, when |
shall be freer from public engagements,
to make another visit to the West and
particularly to Wisconsin Territory A
desire to see these and other similar re-
mains Is one of my motives. A very
lively impression of the splendid destin-
les which await the West in another still
stronger | have been led by this feeling
to acquire small stake in its prosperity.
In making small investment, of proper
ty i'll your territory, have not been ac-
tuated by view to speculation and large
pecuniary profit. / shall be perfectly
content it it is unattended with loss. But
| | have been DESTROYS myself and my
children to posses few acres in this
mighty field of plenty and promise; and [
take pleaure in the consciousness that [
already feel, as the owner of portion of
the soil, personal interest in the welfare
and advancement of its inhabitants /
am too old, myself, to come among them,
and am besides bound by very strong ties
to my home but | should be well pleased
to have one of my children. find a
home near the Four Lakes, and become
identified with the welfare of your youth
full but rapidly growing republic.
But | have passed, by perhaps too alb
rupt transition, from the ruins of the
past, to the prospects of the future ]
e shall at all times be most happy to hear
from you on the subject of your late let
ter, or any other. If can forward you
any publication throwing light on these
inquiries, | shall take pleasure in doing
SO.
| am, dear sir, very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
EDWARD EVERETT.
n. F. HYER, Esq.
?. 81 am DESTROYS of obtaining the
best map of Wisconsin. l have that OF
Messrs. Morrison, Dwille & Hathaway,
| nlIhliShad in 1897 h,1t +bo civil d;x,;cionc