CHAPTER XIV.

Effect of the Article in the Review-The Lake Communication-General Cass' Literary Efforts-Treaty of Green Bay-His Labors-Historical Society of Detroit-His Address-Hamilton College-Oration before the Alumni-Degree of LL.D.

The article extracted from, in the preceding chapter, electrified the public mind. In addition to the many stubborn facts brought out, showing clearly and concisely what policy had been pursued and what measures imitated by the several christian nations, in their intercourse with the wild aborigines of America, General Cass, for the first writer, had had the manliness to speak plainly to Europe, and to proud England in particular. The effect was, that the latter nation became more chary of their baseless charges against the philanthropy of the United States, and began to look about and see how well they might get off from the inroads of benevolence, and best preserve the residue of their North American Indian possessions. Their traders saw that it would be a profitless task further to prosecute annoyance, and that the only alternative was now to be at peace with the American authorities. A new era in British diplomacy dates from this time. Directing their attention to the innumerable tribes of Indians scattered far and wide, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Nootka Sound, they withdrew their busy agents from lands farther south, and allowed the banner of "the brave and the free" to go on in the fulfillment of its high mission.

Nor was this all. The example set by General Cass encouraged other writers, and gave them confidence to speak out, and, on all proper occasions, defend the dignity and character of republicanism from the assaults of pampered royalty. It also restored confidence to the young farmers and mechanics of New England whose thoughts were upon lands to the westward, and hastened their vigorous footsteps. This elucidated argument familiarized their minds with the dreaded natives, neutralized fear, and reanimated them with high and exhilarating hope. More than

ever did the broad prairies and dense and lofty forests, stretching from the chain of inland seas that washed the northern frontier away to the majestic rivers that emptied the surplus waters of millions of acres into the southern ocean, seem to be the land of promise. And hitherward did they now begin to go. Not singly, and as exiles banished from their native land, but in caravans and of their own volition, there to take their parts in the unending drama of life. Noble resolution! And their steady efforts to subdue the wilderness, beyond the language of praise.

The Walk-in-the-water was too slow, and of insufficient capacity, to accommodate the travelers and their luggage over the rough waves of Erie, and enterprise built the Henry Clay and other steam vessels, to supply the wants of emigration. To meet the demand for land, increasing with every arrival of the boats in the Straits, other and larger tracts were surveyed and brought into market, and quickly taken up by the settlers. The capitalist, too, came, and made investments. Improvements, local and general, were made; the small settlements began to swell into villages; edifices, public and private, were projected and built; the echo of the woods was supplanted by the hum of commerce; rich fields of grain and other products of agriculture met the eye in every direction, and were shipped to the seaboard. To this complexion had Michigan come at last, under the judicious piloting of her faithful and far-seeing Chief Magistrate. Her people saw and appreciated it, and their confidence in his wisdom and action was greater than ever. Not vainglorious or overweening of his own efforts, he was deeply sensible of how much of their almost unprecedented prosperity was due to the favor of an all-wise and beneficent Providence; and to him, in meekness, did the Governor invite the people to set apart a day of public thanksgiving and praise.

The mines, both copper and lead, began to pour forth their wealth; and the excavators and smelters reported large quantities for market. In this season of prosperity, and the wheels of government, over which he presided, moving with harmony and regularity within their appointed orbits, General Cass found leisure to add to the literary wealth of our common country, and enrich its stores with his views on the important topics of the day. He wrote several essays and reviews for the magazines, exhibiting as well great research as beautiful thoughts, and clothed

in elegant and apt language. His contributions hold high rank in the world of letters, for their clearness, comprehensiveness, and felicity of expression.

He was again called upon, however, in the summer of 1828, to visit the Sacs and Foxes, Winnebagoes, Pottawatomies, Ottawas, and Chippewas, in grand council at Green Bay. He concluded a treaty with these tribes on the twenty-fifth of August, acquiring for the United States many millions of acres of land; and on the twentieth of September in the same year, he negotiated a treaty with the Pottawatomies at St. Joseph's, by which a large cession was procured for the State of Indiana. Regardless of personal comfort, he was always ready to execute the wishes of the government. The imminent perils which he often encountered, and his hair-breadth escapes from danger and death, would fill volumes to relate. Incident upon incident, in his travels upon the lakes and rivers, and through the solitary forests, it would afford pleasure to give, and instruction to hear. No man living has seen and experienced more of border life, with all its excitement and danger, than he. There is scarcely a river in all the country north-west of the Ohio, of any magnitude, that he has not seen; and he is familiar with all the bays, inlets, and promontories, that line the lake coast from Buffalo to the head waters of the Father of Rivers, away in the far-off, northern wilderness. And in all his multiplicity of business with the Indians, he has, in every instance, so acted as not to leave the slightest consciousness on his mind, that he has aggravated the lot of a single tribe, or in any other manner than to the promotion of their own good and happiness.

In July of this year, a Historical Society was organized at Detroit, under the advice of General Cass, for the purpose of collecting and preserving such materials, both traditionary and authentic, as might enable its members to trace the history of that portion of the United States, and mark the changes it had undergone. By judicious exertions, they hoped to rescue from oblivion many important documents; to disclose many facts and transactions, either wholly unknown or imperfectly remembered; and elucidate what was confused and contradictory in the earlier annals of those regions. The field of labor was sufficiently interesting and extensive for all their industry and zeal. Experience has shown that, however ardently individuals may devote their energies

to such pursuits, little, after all, is accomplished by solitary efforts; whilst unity of action, a generous spirit of emulation, the co-operation of the community, and a central point of union, where plans may be proposed and adopted, opinions discussed, and collections and recollections embodied and preserved, are secured by these institutions. The history of Michigan commences with 1701, when, in June of that year, Mons. De la Motte Cadillac, with one hundred men and a Jesuit, left Montreal, carrying with them everything necessary for the commencement and support of an establishment, and ascending the St. Lawrence and Lakes Ontario and Erie, reached the City of the Straits in the following month of July. It is not invidious to say, that no place in the United States presents such a series of events, interesting in themselves, and permanently affecting, as they occurred, its progress and prosperity. Five times has its flag changed between that day and this; three different sovereignties have claimed its allegiance, France, England and the United States; and, since it has been held by the latter, its government has been thrice transferred; twice has Detroit been besieged by the Indians, once captured in war, and once burned to the ground. Still, there was nowhere to be found a connected account of the progress of the people occasional notices were interspersed through the French historians, and detailed descriptions given of the more important. events; but the whole subject was involved in much obscurity, and the statistical facts had altogether been neglected. There were no comparative estimates of plantation and production— none of those severe investigations into the character and condition of the country which render modern history so valuable and satisfactory.

It was under such circumstances, and impelled by such motives, that a movement was now made by Henry R. Schoolcraft, who had traveled much in the western country, and was highly gifted with observation and reflection, and others, to institute a society, which, in its efficient and harmonious action, would remedy the remissness of the past, gratify the present, and benefit the future.

The celebration of the first anniversary was deferred until the session of the legislative council; when, on the eighteenth of September, 1829, at the council chamber, in Detroit, General Cass, by invitation, delivered an appropriate, interesting, and instructive discourse. It embodied the early history of Michigan,

bringing it down to a period when the United States came into possession. It was published by the society, and excited a spirit of research and inquiry, producing the most beneficial results.

"There are no proud recollections associated with the early history of this region of forests, and lakes, and prairies. No monuments have survived the lapse of ages, to attest, at once, the existence of heroic achievements, and a nation's gratitude. No names of renown have come down to us, rescued from oblivion by their virtues or their vices. No place is found, in all our borders, where the traveler can meditate upon the instability of human power, amid the evidence of its existence and decay; nor where the memory of brilliant exploits can be recalled among the scenes of their occurrence. Our country is yet fresh and green. Centuries must roll on before our arches are broken, our columns dilapidated, our monuments destroyed; before the hand of time shall have impressed upon our high deeds and high places that sanctity which enables the inhabitants of the eternal city, even in this day of Roman degeneracy, to look back with pride to the deeds and days of the republic. Our only monuments are the primitive people around us. Broken and fallen as they are, they yet survive in ruins, connecting the present with the past, and exciting emotions like those which are felt in the contemplation of other testimonials of human instability. The early European adventurers found these regions in the possession of numerous tribes of savages, divided into separate communities, and speaking various languages, but having a general resemblance in their physical relations, their manners and customs, their religion, government, and institutions. Much labor and research have been devoted to an inquiry into their origin and migrations. Many idle notions have prevailed respecting these topics, unworthy now of serious examination, except as they furnish evidence of the waywardness of the human intellect. That they are branches of the great Tartar stock, is generally believed at the present day. Many points of resemblance, both physical and moral, leave little doubt upon the subject. But why, or when, or where the separation occurred, or by what route, or in what manner they were conducted from the plains of Asia to those of America, it were vain to inquire, and impossible to tell.

"Cartier was the pioneer, but Champlain was the founder of the French power on this continent. For twenty years succeeding the