USA > Michigan > Gazetteer of the State of Michigan, in three parts with a succinct history of the State, from the earliest period to the present time with an appendix, containing the usual statistical tables, and a directory for emigrants, &c > Part 14
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* It is a subject of regret, that, in taking the general decennial enumer- ation of the people of the United States, more diversified and extended inquiries have not been instituted. By means of a judicious selection of interrogatories, very interesting information, respecting our population might be elicited, to increase the value of our national statistics. In 1830, several additional queries were propounded, but they were by ma- ny too few. If only the queries relating to the origin, place of nativity, and the time elapsed since his or her emigration, had been put to each adult, very useful developments would have been brought in aid to the. philosophy of our national character, interesting and curious to the pres- ent and to future generations.
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sition of the present population, and future prospects of society.
The immigrants are mostly either young or middle aged, many of them wealthy, or in independent circum- stances, who have sold their lands in the east and come hither to better their fortunes. Very few, who do not own, or possess the means of owning, a farm. They are gener- ally freeholders. Tenants are rarely to be found, and indi- gence and pauperism, comparatively, but little known.
We assume nearly two thirds of the population to be New Englanders or their descendants, and mostly of the latter. It has been estimated by competent judges, that about that proportion of the population of the State of New York is directly or remotely of New England descent. This fact will support the assumption. The majority of the population, then, is essentially homogeneous, and, for that very reason, more desirable to settle among, than that which is made up of such heterogeneous materials, as are frequent- ly met with in other Western States. It is needless to say, that that class of population is generally possessed of supe- rior intelligence and enterprize, when we see so much of the flower of those States in its composition. The great body of that class are what are there considered industrious, enter- prising, intelligent farmers, mechanics, and professional men.
From these facts, many important advantages are derived. Being essentially one, people, descended from the same common stock of pilgrim ancestors, imbued with like prin- ciples of thinking and action, the same religion, habits, manners, customs-in short, educated essentially alike- they will, undoubtedly, be noted for their public spirit, for their unity and concert in social life, and in the vigorous pros- ecution of public objects. Under the influence of this class, the balance of society must and will amalgamate. Social society, though at present unorganized, by the friendly tie that binds community together, as the result of long ac- quaintance, and the habitual exercise of the kinder feel- ings, will, however, soon establish itself on a basis, whose 'structure cannot fail to be of a high order. United enter- prize and public spirit have already displayed themselves to a degree unknown before to an infant State. Look at
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the magnitude of the public improvements projected and commenced; look at the system of public education, now going into operation : and then inquire for another State in the first year of her birth, that can boast its equal. Five years hence, when these systems shall be in successful oper- ation, what State, old or new, may not be challenged for comparison ? What State can now exhibit a superior plan of public education ? And, why is all this witnessed, in a new State too, if it is not attributable to the enterprise, gen- eral intelligence, sameness, and unity of population ?
The other North-Western States, although endowed with equally ample means for the support of education, are still, either without any regular systems of public instruc- tion, or, where they have been established, they were too defective to produce any adequate public benefits. Efforts, which have been made to supply these deficiencies, have mostly proved abortive. The renewed exertions which are now making by humane and public spirited individuals, though they may have the effect of partially enlightening public sentiment, it is to be feared, will terminate in like results. The latent cause of this lamentable state of things, is to be found in the discordant sentiments and conflicting elements of society, which it will require an age to amal- gamate. Its principles and origin are as ancient as the republic. It is to be traced to principles diametrically oppo- site, the offspring of germs, emanating from scions, the one planted at Jamestown, and the other upon the rock of Ply- mouth ; and while the branches of the former continue to predominate and flourish, supported by the tares of a for- eign immigrant population equally discordant ; no substan- tial system of education is likely to be established. But not so with Michigan. The spontaneous burst of a united and enlightened public sentiment, without distinction of party, in the incipient stages of her existence, prove the reverse. Her motto has been, onward, and she " suits the action to the word.",
These remarks are made, far from the invidious spirit of State rivalship; they will apply, with some variation, to several other States. But they are facts with which emi- grants are deeply concerned, and for that reason, they should be as distinctly stated.
Before closing this article, we advert to the plan of form-
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ing special colonies for immigration. The project is so feasible, and at the same time, so highly advantageous, that it is surprising it is not more frequently resorted to. In several of the Western States, we find communities planted on the colonial plan, and they have uniformly succeeded to admiration. Marietta, Worthington, and Granville, in Ohio, might be cited as instances.
One of the greatest obstacles to emigration, even where the advantages of it are well ascertained, is, the effort it costs in making the attempt. . There is a tender melan- choly in the thought of quitting the scenes, and pleasing associations of our youthful days. We have a dear affec- tion for our own native land. At the thought of parting with it forever, it is then the inanimate objects of nature have a charm, an endearing beauty we never before discov- ered. The sequestered walk, the meandering brook, the murmuring rill, the grove, the rock, the dale-all rise in lovely images, and forbid us depart. But when we think of severing the social relations, of tearing aside the cords which bind us to an endeared, perhaps refined society of kindred and friends, and bidding each a final adieu, to seek precarious fortunes in a distant land of unfeeling strangers ; the heart revolts at its own imaginings, it falters in the accomplishment of its own enterprises.
As a means of obviating this difficulty, at least in a great measure, resort should be had to the formation of colonies for immigration. Ten, thirty, or fifty families of a neigh- borhood, might agree upon the project, appoint a compe- tent and trusty agent to select and locate a body of lands, suitable and sufficient for the company. The choice of each might then be determined by lot.
A farm of 80 acres of government land costs $100- 160 acres, or a quarter section, $200-320 acres, or a half section, $400-640 acres, or a section, $800-a township of land, or 23,040 acres, $28,800. Each individual may estimate the amount of land he wants, its cost, and the expense of emigrating. A father may sell his small farm in the East for a sum that will purchase a dozen large ones in the West, of the best quality of land. He may thus better his own condition, and settle a handsome property upon each of his family, who, in a few years, may become wealthy and independent, without the least difficulty. By
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uniting in this scheme, his friends, neighbors, and kindred, they might all remove and locate at the same time, and take their portions in severalty. In the clearing and im- proving their lands, they might render each other mutual assistance. Such a community would have all possible advantages for making the best order of social society, and being united, might monopolize all its benefits. By proper vigilance, the vulgar and immoral could be easily excluded. Children might be educated in a moral atmosphere, un- tainted by the intercourse of the vicious. In short, such a colony, with the loss only of native associations, would possess all the advantages of society they before enjoyed, together with the means of raising it to the highest state of perfection.
ANTIQUITIES.
Evidences of the existence of a race or races of men, anterior to what are termed the aborigines of America, are numerous in the valley of the Mississippi; and from the progressive discoveries which have been and are still mak- ing in the West, are becoming of increasing interest to the antiquarian and the philosopher.
Some, devoid of any taste for the subject, finding it easier to reject than to defend, to doubt than to investigate, affect to treat all speculations upon the subject as the ro- mantic dreams of the visionary. Yet there is another class, who view the antiquities of the West with intense interest, and look forward to future developments, to solve the mysteries that shade the antique remains already disco- vered. Among the latter are found men whose learning and individual eminence and researches in Archeology and the sciences with which it has connection, have rendered their opinions, on either side of the Atlantic, of high regard.
Reasoning a posteriori, some have supposed from the various relics of this continent, that America was not only known, but received colonial accessions from the nations, or rather tribes, inhabiting the north of Europe and Asia,
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both before the subversion of the Roman empire, and, per- haps, during the dark ages ; nay, that the Romans them- selves, the Carthagenians, or the Phonecians, the Grecians, and probably the Egyptians,* had a knowledge of it, and that some or all of them had a share in peopling some por- tion of this vast continent.
How far any of these, and various other similar theories, are correct, it is not the purpose of this article to inquire. Suffice it to say, there appears to be strong presumptive evi- dence adduced to their support.
Ancient relics exist, to a greater or less extent, in every part of North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the great lakes. These are various, distinct in kind, and indicate different degrees of civilization. They are most numerous South of the great lakes, West of the Alleganies, and East of the Rocky Mountains, extending south-westerly, through the Missis- sippi valley and Texas, to Mexico. The more notorious are found chiefly in the form of mounds and forts. The more interesting are found upon the Ohio, Illinois, upon the Mississippi and several of its other branches. They increase in size and number as you proceed south-westerly from the 40th degree of latitude to Mexico; but north of this line they are diminutive and rude, excepting those south- west of Lake Michigan and in the northern part of Indiana. The forts are found of different figures, circular, rectangular, and irregular, inclosing from two to 130 acres. They have often, ramparts and ditches, the former of which approach the height of 12, and the latter a width of 20
* The reason we are not in possession of this ancient geographical knowledge, isobvious. We might point to the pillage of Rome and the indiscriminate destruction of the Roman libraries. The unparalleled bigotry of Islamism might be instanced in the destruction of the most valuable repository of learning the world ever saw. The Calif Omar, in answer to Amri, the Saracen general, who had solicited his orders as to the disposition of the Alexandrian library, replied : " That if the books contained the same doctrine with the Koran, they could be of no use; because the Koran was sufficient of itself, and contained all neces- sary truths: but if they contained any particulars contrary to that book, they ought to be destroyed." The force of this bigoted logic, left no alternative to the Mussulman chief, and the library was accordingly burned. Thus, with the mighty store of ancient learning, was extin- guished the light of ancient discoveries.
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feet .* The mounds are in height from six to ninety feet, and their bases measure from three and a half to fifty rods in diameter. In shape, they are conical and semi- truncated cones, or else, ellipsoidal or truncated ellipsoids.
* Mr. Peck, author of the Gazetteer of Illinois, seems inclined to reject any opinion formed upon the supposition of a race existing prior to the Indians, whom he supposes to be the builders of these monuments of an- tiquity ; and he discards the notion of any military works existing. In the narrow limits of this work, we shall make no attempt to refute seve- ral untenable positions put forth in that work, and we notice but one. In speaking of the fortifications found in various parts of the West, he exclaims with great emphasis : "But what people, savage, barbarous, civilized, or enlightened, ever constructed a fortification around five or six hundred acres, with a ditch in the inside ! Or what military people made twenty or thirty such forts within two or three miles !"
With a candor, which the author indulges the hope to believe may be extended to any inadvertent error in this work, he was inclined to attri- bute the last sentence to a mere slip of the quill, that went to press with- out correction, until the same, without alteration, was repeated in the sec- ond edition of that work. We barely allude to the absurdity of finding 20 or 30 forts of 600 acres each (amounting to 12 or 18,000 acres, ) within three miles square, (5,760 acres.) We notice this only for its immediate connection with the previous sentence, which is expressed with an em- phasis and surprise evidently intended to characterize an absurdity.
That fortifications containing 5 or 600 acres, or those of smaller dimen- sions, are common with a ditch, on the inside too, we have yet to learn, although some of large dimensions are found on Paint Creek in Ohio, in Arkansas, and several places in the West. But suppose the position granted, and what then ? The two first principles of fortification, wheth- er anterior or subsequent to the science of gunnery, are ; first, that every point of a permanent work, should be defensive, or opposing strong re- sistance to an enemy ; second, that every part be so constructed as not only to defend, but to be defended by another part. Now, if these works possess these two qualities, suitably to the times in which they were made, they may reasonably be supposed to be fortresses, though rude ones, of a military people. At least, they should be proved to have been used for some other purpose, before this position can be relinquished. We maintain, then, that they are fortresses, and cannot reasonably be attributed to any other use than military defence. Had bastions been added, the matter would have been beyond controversy.
Those found with an embankment from eight to twelve feet high, and, of a proportionate thickness, are sufficiently strong to come within the first maxim, and those whose embankment is only three or four feet high, may have wasted away, by the hand of time, to their present condi- tion. That they possess the second principle to as great perfection as was anciently practised in the East, is not easily disproved. The science of gunnery added to the use of the bastion, is the great distinguishing feature that has carried the second principle to perfection in modern prac- tice. Anciently, this principle was carried out by other means, as by towers, from which to discharge missiles, to every part of the work ; or else, by some similar temporary construction. In these works, it is nei-
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They bear a striking resemblance to ancient tumuli found in Mexico, Siberia, Tartary, and several European coun- tries, to which different names are applied.
In Mexico, they are called Tepec, and in Turkey, Tepe ; in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, cairn ; barrows, in Eng- land, and logri in Russia and Siberia .* In the contents of the mounds of the western States, and the logri of Russia, there seems to be little or no diversity. In both are found human bones, arrows, medals, vessels of fantastic construc- tion, trinkets and ornaments of sometimes copper, but rare- ly of silver or gold.
There is an inscrutable mystery that shades the antiqui- ties of this country. Every mound is an enigma which per- petually presents itself to the mind for solution. The rest- less inquirer propounds to himself the question, who erect- ed these tumuli, and for what purpose ? What was the ori- gin and the history of their founders? Of what variety of
ther impossible, nor improbable, that temporary constructions of this kind, perhaps of wood, were stationed on the whole line of battlement, from which the work might be defended. And, who knows that the ditch, which so rarely, if ever, occurs " in the inside," was not made and intended, by some ingenious contrivanee, to entrap the besiegers, should they succeed in scaling the rampart ? We would inquire, is it necessary to constitute an ancient fortress, that its construction be agreeably to the principles of gunnery and modern military seienee ? Or, can we con- sistently deelare, because a work, constructed without regular bastions, rampart, and parapet proportionate, ditch on the outside, glaeis, and other necessary appendages according to its location, as horn-works, erown-works, &e. &c. agreeably to the principles of a Vauban or a Coe- horn, that it was not anciently constructed and used for military defence ?
Thus we perceive, that without regarding the developments of science, and the progress of the human mind in minute but important principles, we may attribute false estimates and conclusions-soapparently trifling indeed that after their discovery we are wondering that they were not found out before. Hence, the human mind is slow to believe the former benighted state of human knowledge .. Who, but for history, would be willing to credit the fact, that the Egyptians, the wisest, most learned, and power- ful people of the ancient world, could have been ignorant of the impor- tant principles of the arch, in their application to architecture ? or that the Romans, exeelling in science, arts, and inventions, should have passed by, undiscovered, one of the first and most important laws of hydro- statics ?
* That very learned and eminent divine, Dr. Adam Clarke, whose. travels in Russia afforded the most ample range to his astute mind, seems to be of the opinion, that those tumuli had their origin in the first ages, after the dispersion of mankind, after the building of Babel ..
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the human race ? What were their laws, their manners, customs, religion-their knowledge of arts and sciences ?-- in short, their civilization and final destiny? From the dearth of traditional and historical knowledge on the sub- ject, the imagination has been introduced by some in build- ing fanciful theories to account for their origin.
Were we to attempt a suggestion of their authors, we should adopt what appears to be the best established theory on the subject, and one which has the strongest support from the learned. We should point to the researches of Baron Humbolt, and the traditionary history of the ancient Azteka or Mexican nations, who inhabited the vale of Mex- ico .* According to the manuscripts of the Aztekas, they, as a nation, lived far to the north, in the country of Aztelan, which, Humbolt is of the opinion, from what is related of their journeyings, must have been as far north, at least, as the forty second degree of north latitude. In these symbol- ical manuscripts are found the history of their migration from Aztelan to Mexico, with an account of each separate journey, (there were fifteen journeys in all,) the length of time they halted and were building towers, tumuli, &c. He is of opinion that the whole time employed in this mi- gration was " four hundred and sixteen years." This opin- ion is strengthened by the fact that they were themselves usurpers in Mexico, as is affirmed in Spanish history. The traditions of the Wyandott Indians declare the authors of the western tumuli to have been expelled from this coun- try, and driven to the south, by savage invaders from the north-east. This they affirm happened many hundred years ago.+
In the Azteka language, A T L, signifies water, and the derivative Aztelan, signifies the country of water or of lakes, (" lake country,") and Aztekas, the " people of the lake country," or " people of the lakes."
As stated before, the opinion of Humbolt was, that this country lay as far north as the forty second degree of lati- tude, which would place it above the southern boundary of Michigan, making it embrace, not only a greater or less
* Humbolt's Researches in South America, Vol. ii. p. 67.
t See Am. Antiquities-a work, by the way, if obnoxious to the im- putation of originating some wild and contradictory theories, contains, notwithstanding, a fund of interesting information on this subject.
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extent in the Peninsula, but perhaps a considerable portion of the present Territory of Wisconsin.
The appellation of " lake country" would be peculiarly appropriate to the Peninsula, and the name of lake people applicable to those inhabiting it. For it is believed that there is no section of country that can compare with the southern half of the Peninsula, in the number of its lakes. The southern portion of this State, and the northern part of Indiana, and a considerable section of Wisconsin Territo- ry, might receive this appellation with the greatest proprie- ty, as the country is literally spotted with small lakes of from one half to three and four miles in circumference, and above all, surrounded by several of the largest lakes in the world. The very origin of the word "Michigan," goes to support the position, for it is not improbable, that the present race of Indians succeeded the Aztekas, and adopted, in their own language, an appellation correspond- ing, by great similarity in signification, to the name Azte- lan .* Hence, the probability that this was the iden- tical region inhabited by these people in the primeval ages of their existence in America. And if inducements were wanting to attract a people, no section of country, for agri- cultural pursuits and scenic beauties, could exceed that bordering the small crystal lakes in Michigan, which are coveted by the emigrant even at this day. To suppose that the Peninsula was the central seat of their power, would be suggesting an improbability, as the comparative slight- ness of the works remaining indicate. Perhaps that seat of power was farther west, as traces of some of the most stu- pendous works of western antiquity have been recently discovered in that quarter.t
The information respecting the antiquities of this State, is too general and unsatisfactory, and although diligent in- quiries have been prosecuted, the minds of emigrants have been directed more to the pursuits of business than the gratification of curiosity.
The antiquities of Michigan consist of mounds or tumuli, forts, and what are commonly called gardens. The former are of frequent occurrence in different parts of the State,
* See the etymology of " Michigan," in the succeeding article, enti- tled History.
t See American Antiquities, passim.
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but mostly upon, or near the banks of the larger rivers- as the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, the Grand, &c., though they are found in other places. The fortifications are few in number, and of small dimensions. The mounds are gene- rally diminutive, varying in height from 6 to 12 feet, and rarely exceeding the latter height, yet some are said to be 20 feet high. Some of the most remarkable that have been noticed, are in Gerard township, Branch county, and in Raisin township, in the county of Lenawee. One of the latter was opened, which contained many human bones. Branch is said to contain numerous mounds of much inter- est. There are several mounds at an Indian village of about forty families, on the north side of Grand river, 10 miles from its mouth. One of these is elevated some 8 or 10 feet, and has a large pine tree growing on its apex, three feet in diameter, and 80 or 90 feet high. One of these was excavated to its base, and nothing discovered ; but in penetrating three feet below the natural level of the land around it, decayed human bones and pieces of iron, three or four inches long, and arrow heads, were found, to- gether with some pieces of brass, and the remnant of a brazen vessel which was much mutilated .*
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