Page 310 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

306 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.
that if they had been permitted to go ihrough a course of class-
ical studies, but few white young men could have excelled
them.
The lot of JOHN W. QUINNEY having fallen among an inter-
esting people, the old and constant friends of the United
States, the Stockbridge Nation, who were just emerging from a
state sf barbarism into civilization, he was employed by them
lo impart that instruction he had received to their youth. By
a constant and unwearied attention in this business, he gained
the confidence and good will of all, so that arriving to years of
maturity he was immediately transferred to attend to the affairs
of the Nation.
W.
A mere outline of the character of JOHN QUINNEY would
fail to do justice to the renowned ohief of at least n, portion of
the Stockbridge Nation. His whole life has been a scene of
constant activity and unwearied industry in Indian diplomacy.
Since he has been engaged publicly during the last thirty years
on affairs arising between the Stockbridges and the United
States, and the State of New York, with distinction, it would
require a large volume to recount the varied incidents and
events connectcd with his romantic history. I-Ie has visited
the seat of General Government on business eleven times; and
during a large portion of the period occupied by these missions,
he has met with repeated difficulties and obstacles from various
sources, which failing to frustrate his undaunted spirit, served
only to increase the confident reliance of those by whom he
was employed, to bring to a successful issue, their favorite
schemes of policy. Unlike SYSIPIIUS, though decreed to a life
of constant toil and labor, without a prospect of case and
freedom, he seemed to be employed, in ease and freedom,
against the trials andimpediments by which he was surrounded.
THE TWELFTH, he laughed at the thought of
And like CHARLES
avoiding danger; delighting, amid the whizzing storms of life,
to encounter his numerous foes.