Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24
The Red Mans Moving Argument.

Gen. Harrison had fears that Te-
cumseh, who was visiting the Indian
tribes along the valleys of the Wabash
and Illinois Rivers in 1910, was STIR
ring them up to war, and conceived
that Vincennes would be the first point
of attack. DESTROYS of averting any
such danger, Gen. Harrison sent a
messenger to Tecumseh at Prophet's
Town inviting him to council to be
held in Vincennes. Fearing treachery,
Gen. Harrison stationed armed men in
close proximity to the Harrison man.
sion, yet standing just north of the o.
& M. Railroad, near the bridge. Mr..
Bouchie relates this conversation as it
has been told in his family ever since.
Re says it is not exactly as the his
tories relate the circumstances, but he
says the histories are not exactly right.
Joseph Barron and Pierre La Plante,
Mr.. Bouchie went on to say, were the
interpreters. Tecumseh told Barron
to tell his Big Man to bring a bench,
that he wanted to talk sitting on 1t.
sWhat do you want that fOr?" Gen.
Harrison asked him through the inter
prefer, who understood the Shawnee
language quite well. ITO sit down by
him." answered Tecumseh.
There was no bench accessible save
the rude puncheon benches in the
Cathoiio church. One of these was
procured, and the men sat down on it.
Harrison and all present were not a
little curious to know what Tecumseh
would do in a treaty with the bench.
When they sat down together Tecum-
sch sat close to Harrison, even crowd
ing him. Harrison moved away a
little, but Tecumseh followed him up,
and still crowded him. Not a word
was said while this was going on. AT
last Harrison reached the end of the
seat, and then he said to the interpre-
ter: Tell him he is about to crowd
me off," This was Tecumseh's oppor-
tunity, and he Strengthened up in his
seat, saying to the interpreter: 'Eh!
ugh? ask the Big Man how he would
like for me to crowd him clear off.
Ask how he would like for me to crowd
him clear out of the country, as he is
crowding me and my people. Tell
him that we were once to the sea on
the East, but we have been crowded
back and off. Tell him that all the
earth-the hills the valleys. the forests
and the streams, and all the fullness
thereof were ours one time, but now
the pale face has crowded us back I'M
til only the space toward the setting
sun is ours"
The proud and bold warrior mad
made his point, and it was a forcible
argument, such as was felt by all pres
ent. 1t was an impeachment of the
methods used by the white people to
acquire their lands. Gen. Harrison re-
piled that they had dealt fairly and
honestly with them, always having re-
gard for justice and right. To this
Tecumseh said: ''Tell the Big Man he
is liar" Harrison said: eve bought
our lands from the chiefs that occupied
them" Tell him he is a liar" insist
ed Tecumseh; 81 am the chief. No
one has right to dispose of the
earth"
This heated controversy broke off
the treaty for two or three days. There
were some who wanted to kill Tecum-
sch and end the whole matter, but
Harrison threatened to bind the one in
chains who would dare do such a deed
of violence to his invited guest.
The treaty, however, was not ac-
complished at all, and Tecumseh
started South Vince'aneS (Il1d.) COM
9leycidL