without mingling with its politics those passions which agitate the breasts of monarchs, and which produce the greater part of those wars which overwhelm their unhappy subjects with misery and ruin, have demanded redress but have demanded it in vain, still calculating, however, upon the existence of a better disposition on the part of the power which had injured us. That last resort, which is literally "a trial of who can do the other the most harm", was deprecated by the people as well as by the government and as long as there remained the most distant hope of an amicable adjustment argument and negotiation were thought preferable to war. This delusion has, however, passed away, and has given place to the opinion that moderation and forbearance have been mistaken for timidity and fear. Some nations, like some individuals will not profit by the lessons of experience. Great Britain might have remembered that the arms of America were not palsied by the previous use of remonstrance. blind fatality hurries her on to that destruction which America had no wish to accelerate; and an act of tyranny and injustice, surpassing anything that can be found even in the history of her depredations upon neutrals, has converted an useful friend to a foe, able to punish her for her multiplied agressions.3 The blood rises to my cheek when I reflect on the humiliating, the disgraceful scene, of the crew of an American ship of war mustered on its own deck by a British lieutenant for the purpose of selecting the innocent victims of their own tyranny! But an act of this kind was perhaps necessary to convince all our fellow-citizens that they had nothing to expect from British generosity or justice, when these were opposed by British interest. The unheard of outrage has made a deep impression upon the American mind; citizens of every political denomination are rallying round the standard of their country, and pledging their lives and fortunes in support of her rights. I should do injustice to the well-known patriotism of our territory to suppose that either yourselves or your constituents, gentlemen, felt less on this interesting occasion than the rest of your countrymen. We are, indeed, from our 3. This perhaps refers to the killing of John Pierce, helmsman of the sloop "Richard" off Sandy Hook light by a solid shot from the British warship "Leander" April 26, 1806. 4. The "Chesapeake" was boarded by the crew of the "Leopard" off Fortress Monroe, June 22, 1807, and some of the seamen impressed into the British Service. situation, peculiarly interested in the contest which is likely to ensue; for who does not know that the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savage are always employed as the instruments of British vengeance. At this moment, fellow citizens, as I sincerely believe, their agents are organizing a combination amongst the Indians within our limits, for the purposes of assassination and murder; and if these their worthy allies are not let loose to slaughter our women and children, it will not proceed from the humanity and mercy of a nation which boasts of her attainments in every art and science. At this important crisis but one sentiment should animate the breasts of every American. Disregarding every personal consideration, he should think only of the tie that binds him to his country; and confiding in the wisdom and firmness of his government, he should patiently wait the signal which calls him to the field. How deep the humiliation! How lasting the disgrace! How injurious to the cause of republicanism, should the blood of our murdered fellow citizens remain unsatisfied, or unrevenged! But it cannot be; Americans must prize too highly their dear-bought rights, tamely to surrender them to the proud nation from whom they were wrested. A beneficent and discriminating Providence will make us the objects of his peculiar care; another Washington will arise to lead our armies to victory and glory, and the tyrants of the world will be taught the useful lesson that a nation of Free men are not to be insulted with impunity. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON REPLY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO THE MESSAGE ST. VINCENT, August 19, 1807 Dawson, Harrison, 99 His Excellency, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Governor of the Indiana Territory: Accept, sir, the merited thanks of the house of representatives, for the speech which you delivered to the two branches of the legislature, on the 18th instant, in which we discover nothing more than those true and independent principles which compose the patriotic heart. The subjects which you have taken notice of in your speech, the injurious consequences resulting from them, and the im propriety of their continuance, are, we are assured from experience, far from being chimerical. We have seen, sir, and, with you, regret, the insufficiency of our militia system; and, by every constitutional exertion in our power, will endeavor to avert the great calamity of immediately falling a sure prey to any and every savage or dastardly foe; which would surely and inevitably be the case under our present military or defensive arrangements. The recent lawless and piratical conduct of some of the officers of the British navy, upon one of the United States' vessels, riding at anchor in the waters of peace, and near the shores of honest content, and she, too in an unprepared state of defence, harrows up our very souls, and fires our just indignation. We are assured that nothing but unpunished example dared them to the commission of a deed so unwarrantable, base, and truly despicable; highly honorary and imitative of the nation and government under which they serve. Suffer us, sir, to assure you, that but one sentiment animates the representatives of the sons of Indiana, who esteem themselves heirs to freedom; and until the last drop of blood shall be drained from our hearts, we will defend ourselves, our rising posterity, and the freedom of America. With equal pleasure with yourself, we view our progressive population, which is, as it were the key stone of that desirable arch, (we mean a free and independent state,) in the completion of which alone, we will ever be useful or ornamental to our general government. And we most ardently pray that our superstructure may have the three necessary and inestimable qualities of beauty, strength, and wisdom, which will secure us our true standing amongst the states of the Union. It is with heartfelt pleasure and real satisfaction, that we unanimously acknowledge, sir, our firm belief that we shall receive your co-operation in any measures that may be deemed for the general good. JESSE B. THOMAS Speaker of the House of Representatives HARRISON TO HARGROVE VINCENNES, INDIANA TERRITORY, August 20, 1807 CAPTAIN WILLIAM HARGROVE, COMMANDING SCOUTS AND RANGERS: Your report by the Crea Indian. He was detailed here to carry you this letter of instruction. The four young men1 you sent with him have enlisted and look like good material to make soldiers. The Governor is well pleased with your success in having the four families located in your district. The young men you sent were interrogated separately. They all agree in their statements that there are several other bands scattered over the territory some distance north of the Ohio river from ten to fifteen miles east of the yellow bank trace to something like the same distance west of the same trace.. They claim that there is one band of these refugees west of the Yellow Bank trace about ten miles. They were camped near a large creek. It is thought best for you to send FuQuay with two other men to find these people and have them locate in a place that they can be given protection and that they can aid in giving protection to others. Young Bailey, one of the men you sent in some time ago has orders to report to you to go with FuQuay. He is acquainted with the people and has been at their camp. He says that there are six men, three women and five children in the band. Instruct Fuquay to inform the refugees that they must move near some of the settled sections and build a block house for their protection and there will be no question asked. That as soon as the dangerous season for Indian raids has passed, they can go to work preparing homes. If you can enlist the men without families, do so. If you don't need them send them to this Post. If these people should refuse to settle as has been suggested, after you have plainly informed them it must be done, then you send such a number of men as will be required to arrest and bring them and their belongings to this Post. The wounded old soldier and his family you can put in charge of one of your stockade camps. The man to look well for Indians that may be prowling around, the woman to oversee the culinary affairs of the camp. 1. These were Burr refugees, one being William Bailey. For Bailey's remarkable story see Cockrum, Pioneer History, 477 1 1 1 1 John Severns was here today and had an interview with the Governor about opening a trace from the one that runs south from your neighborhood to the Red Banks, to commence fifteen miles north of the Ohio river on that trace, running thence east parallel with the river from forty to fifty miles. If it should become necessary to reinforce the Rangers on either of the traces running to the south or the main one running to the east, it would be almost impossible to do it as the country between the traces is one vast unbroken wilderness. Severns says that many large creeks will have to be crossed that empty their waters into the Ohio. The trace just south of the Patoka river opened some time ago, will be extended from the Yellow Banks trace, thirty or forty miles east. You had better have the same men go over this route as soon as Severns is through with the new survey farther south. Mr. Severns says that in going near the Patoka river many abrupt banks and deep gorges are met with. Inform him that it is not necessary to make a straight line but to so blaze and mark it that it can be easily traced. It is not intended for wheeled vehicles or sleds to pass over but for foot soldiers mostly. The logs need not be moved but the brush had better be cut seven or eight feet wide. By order of the Governor JOHN GIBSON, Sec'y. of Indiana Territory WELLS TO HARRISON DEAR SIR: FORT WAYNE, the 20th August 1807 Since I wrote you on the 14 instant the Indians have continued to flock to Greenville which increases the fears of our frontiers. These Indians are from the Lakes near Mackinac they appear to be deff to everything I say to them tho I can see nothing among them that carrys the appearance of Danger. Two confidential Indians that I sent to that quarter have returned today and say that all the Indians in that quarter believe in what the Prophet tells them which is that the great spirit will in a few years distroy every white man in america that every Indian has made himself a war club that the militia |