Black
Hawk and his son—the Prophet and his son, and the other Indian
hostages surrendered under the late treaty, waited on the President
yesterday, to receive his
orders. The President met them kindly. He directed the articles of dress
provided for them to be exhibited to them, and told the principal chief
that the whole would be delivered to him to be distributed with a view
to their common comfort---that they must repair immediately to Fort
Monroe,
and remain there contented, until he gave them permission to return to
their homes--that the term of their detention depended upon the conduct
of their respective tribes--and that they would not be restored to
their
families until it was ascertained that the stipulations of the treaty
had been complied with by their people, and all the bad feeling which
had led to the bloody scenes on the frontiers banished.
The Prophet replied to the President, and said, that they expected to
be permitted to return immediately to their people; that the war in
which
they had been involved, grew out of their attempt to gain provisions,
where they supposed they had a right to do so; that they had lost many
of their people, as well as the whites; that their tribes and families
were now exposed to the attacks of their enemies, the Sioux and meominees,
and that they hoped to be permitted to take care of them.
Black Hawk added to the remarks of the Prophet, that they considered,
that, like Keokuck, they had come to visit the President, and, like him,
would be permitted to return to their homes. He entered into some brief
explanation of the cause of the aggressions on the frontier.
The President told them in conclusion that he was well apprized of the
circumstances which led to the disasters alluded to---that it was unnecessary
to look back to them---that it was unnecessary to look back to them---it
was his purpose now to secure the observance of peace---to prevent the
frontiers from being again stained with the blood of its inhabitants,
the peaceful and helpless:---That they need feel no uneasiness about their
own women and children---they should not suffer from their enemies, the
Sioux and Menominees. He meant to compel the red men to be at peace with
each other, as well as with their white neighbors.---That he had taken
measures with this view, and when it was ascertained that they were effectual---when
the tribes had learned that the power they attempted to contend with,
was equally able and disposed to protect the peaceful, and to punish the
violence of aggressors---when his information assured him that their people
in particular, were convinced of this, and were disposed quietly and in
good faith to observe the terms of peace granted to them, then they would
be restored to their families.---He, then, gave his hand to the Chiefs
and dismissed them.
Black Hawk is not an ill-looking man. His countenance is intelligent and
not savage. The Prophet, we think, has more the look of the mischief-maker,
and, indeed, he assumed to be the principal in the interview with the
President. He was, we suppose, the instigator of the massacres perpetuated
on the frontier. His utterance and manner, as well as his countenance,
indicated a dark and ferocious character.
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