BLACK HAWK.
THE
GREAT INDIAN CHIEF
OF
THE WEST:
OR,
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
BLACK HAWK.
CINCINNATI:
APPLEGATE & COMPANY
43 MAIN STREET.
1854.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843,
BY GEORGE CONCLIN,
In the Clerk's Office of the District of Ohio.
PREFACE
In presenting to the public the life and adventures of Black Hawk, someaccount of the Sac and Fox Indians—of Keokuk, their distinguishedchief—and of the causes which led to the late contest between thesetribes and the United States, was necessarily involved. The introductionof these collateral subjects, may possibly impart additional interest tothis volume.
In speaking of the policy of the government towards the fragment of Sacsand Foxes, with whom Black Hawk was associated, it has been necessary tocensure some of its acts, and to comment with freedom upon the officialconduct of a few public officers.
The Indians are frequently denounced as faithless, ferocious anduntameable. Without going into the inquiry, how far this charge isfounded in truth, the question may be asked, has not the policy of ourgovernment contributed, essentially, to impart to them that character?Have we not more frequently met them in bad faith, than in a Christianspirit? and sustained our relations with them, more by the power of thesword than the law of kindness? In the inscrutable ways of Providence,the Indians are walking in ignorance and moral darkness. It is thesolemn duty, and should be the highest glory of this nation, to bringthem out of that condition, and elevate them in the scale of social andintellectual being. But, how is this duty performed? We gravelyrecognize them as an independent people, and treat them as vassals: Wemake solemn compacts with them, which we interpret as our interestdictates, but punish them if they follow the example: We admit theirtitle to the land which they occupy, and at the same time literallycompel them to sell it to us upon our own terms: We send agents andmissionaries to reclaim them from the error of their ways—to bring themfrom the hunter to the pastoral life; and yet permit our citizens todebase them by spirituous liquors, and cheat them out of their property:We make war upon them without any adequate cause—pursue them withoutmercy—and put them to death, without regard to age, sex or condition:And, then deliberately proclaim to the world, that they aresavages—cruel and untameable—degraded and faithless.
If the present volume shall, in any degree, contribute to awaken thepublic mind to a sense of the wrongs inflicted upon the Indians, and toarouse the Christian statesmen of this land, to the adoption of a moreliberal, upright and benevolent course of policy towards them,something will have been gained to the cause of humanity and of nationalhonor.
The author takes this opportunity of acknowledging his obligations toJames Hall, Esq., for the valuable assistance received from him, in thepreparation of this volume. In collecting the materials for thatmagnificent work, on which he is now engaged, "The History of theIndians of North America," this gentleman has become possessed of muchinteresting matter, in regard to the Sacs and Foxes, and especially thechief Keokuk; to all of which he has kindly permitted the author to haveaccess.<