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In: Native America·Biographies·History - American
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #18290.
The work is a nineteenth‑century historical narrative that sets out to chronicle the Sauk and Fox peoples, their origins, treaties, and the turbulent career of their chief Black Hawk. It opens with a forceful essay on the moral contradictions of U.S. Indian policy, accusing the government of treating the tribes as “vassals” while simultaneously condemning them as “savages.” From that polemic the author launches a detailed table of contents, then proceeds to trace the migration of the Sac and Fox from the St. Lawrence to the Great Lakes, their wars with neighboring nations, and the series of treaties that culminated in the Black Hawk War of 1832. The text promises a comprehensive account, from early tribal customs and legends to battlefield reports and post‑war diplomatic visits, all anchored in the author’s research and the assistance of contemporary scholar James Hall.
Written in a formal, didactic style typical of early American historiography, the book blends moral commentary with exhaustive documentary detail. Its language reflects the period’s rhetorical conventions, long sentences, frequent references to “the good spirit,” and a clear intent to persuade readers toward a more humane policy. Scholars of early U.S. frontier history, students of Native American studies, and readers who appreciate dense primary‑source compilations will find it rewarding, while those seeking a brisk narrative may prefer more concise biographies.
The opening · free to read
The Indians are frequently denounced as faithless, ferocious and untameable. Without going into the inquiry, how far this charge is founded in truth, the question may be asked, has not the policy of our government contributed, essentially, to impart to them that character? Have we not more frequently met them in bad faith, than in a Christian spirit? and sustained our relations with them, more by the power of the sword than the law of kindness? In the inscrutable ways of Providence, the Indians are walking in ignorance and moral darkness. It is the solemn duty, and should be the highest glory of this nation, to bring them out of that condition, and elevate them in the scale of social and intellectual being. But, how is this duty performed? We gravely recognize them as an independent people, and treat them as vassals: We make solemn compacts with them, which we interpret as our interest dictates, but punish them if they follow the example: We admit their title to the land which they occupy, and at the same time literally compel them to sell it to us upon our own terms: We send agents and missionaries to reclaim them from the error of their ways--to bring them from the hunter to the pastoral life; and yet permit our citizens to debase them by spirituous liquors, and cheat them out of their property: We make war upon them without any adequate cause--pursue them without mercy--and put them to death, without regard to age, sex or condition: And, then deliberately proclaim to the world, that they are savages--cruel and untameable--degraded and faithless.
If the present volume shall, in any degree, contribute to awaken the public mind to a sense of the wrongs inflicted upon the Indians, and to arouse the Christian statesmen of this land, to the adoption of a more liberal, upright and benevolent course of policy towards them, something will have been gained to the cause of humanity and of national honor.
The author takes this opportunity of acknowledging his obligations to James Hall, Esq., for the valuable assistance received from him, in the preparation of this volume. In collecting the materials for that magnificent work, on which he is now engaged, "The History of the Indians of North America," this gentleman has become possessed of much interesting matter, in regard to the Sacs and Foxes, and especially the chief Keokuk; to all of which he has kindly permitted the author to have access.
Cincinnati, May, 1838.
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