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A Chief of the Eel-river Tribe rose and said,
My Older Brother,
I return thanks to the United States for what you have done. The hearts of us Indians are all placed on the left side: Therefore I shake hands with the left hand. I shall speak with my mouth but I shall tell you the sentiments of my heart.-- My bed has been disturbed (alluding to Genl Wilkinsons Expedition.)-- here he delivered two strings of black wampum. And took up two of white saying, No 3
My Older Brother,
Now all darkness is removed. The sky is clear and I can speak with chearfulness. The reason why we spoke by our brother of the Kaskaskies is because he is wise, & acquainted with the United States. Sometimes the younger Brothers have more sense than the Older. We expect the great Chief General Washington will smoke out of the good pipe presented to you in behalf of our tribes. (pointing to the Pipe on the Table)-- And that he may see the smoak rise upwards out of it; an effect produced by the clearness of the sky.--
My Older Brother,
Fulfil what you have said on your part, & we will on ours. All our women and children will rejoice then. Perhaps the great Spirit is now looking down upon us. You told us he would be witness to every thing we did. Perhaps he is so now. We desire of you to make us known to General Washington and request of him to confirm all you have said. Continue as you have begun; Speak always the truth. Your Brothers will likewise do so. You have told us good things. You have desired us to bury the Tomhock. It is true we have made use of it, but it did not originate with us. It was sent to us by the nations who
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are now at war with you. We now bury it behind us in the Deep. The great Spirit
sees me do it.--
My Older Brother,
Our Father the French never craved our Lands. Why should any person do otherwise. Perhaps were any person to rob us of our Lands it would provoke the great Spirit. It was he that placed us upon them. We think it best for you to live Yonder, with your faces towards us, and we to live here with our faces towards you. When we want to go to see you we can go thither; & when you want to come & see us you can come hither.--
My Older Brother,
We are indeed glad you appointed this Council Fire for the place of our meeting. The road is now open for you & the nations of the Wabash to meet & see one another at this place. He shook hands & retired.--
A chief of the Weaughtenows rose and said.
My Older Brother, (leading up a Queen of his nation)
I am to speak for this Queen. If I should say any wrong, I beg to be forgiven. I promised to the Commandant of this place, that when my father the American would come, I should come to speak to him of peace. This woman, who is my sister wishes that this land may no more be stained with blood. She desires you to keep at a distance. He then presented for her four white strings. No 4
He next turned to the nations and desired them to take pity on their women and children. To respect peace, that they might live, as they formerly did; and he retired.--
Another Chief of the same nation rose and said.
My Older Brother,
I shall take hold of this great Chiefs hands with
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both mine, for I rejoice at what he has told us. Then taking hold of Genl
Putnams hands he went on.--
I believe sincerely what you have said. I am a great war Captain. I confirm the Speech which Ducoigne delivered for us at our request.
My Older Brother,
The great Spirit made you. Perhaps we are sprung from the Fish (shook hands saying)
I can say with truth I never struck the white People.--
My Older Brother,
This has always been a place where we have assembled to counsel, and it is to remain so. Our Ancestors have prepared this place for that purpose. Much business of importance has been transacted here.-- And now, perhaps, those who are dead & buried beneath where we are sitting look up to us.--
My Older Brother,
The great Spirit placed us upon this land. I hope therefore we will enjoy it in peace. Do not any more set fire to our Towns. The French never did so.--
My Older Brother,
You have rendered us all happy. We thank you for all the good words you have spoken to us. We expect you will render us still more so, before you leave us.-- I have no reason to fear I never hurt anybody.-- (shook hands & retired.)--
A Kekapoo Chief rose with a long Pipe adorned & lit, which he held to the General to smoke out of it, and then handed it round the council in ceremony.-- He then said,
My Older Brother,
I am young and cannot speak loud. I am of the same mind with my older Brothers who have spoken. It was they who put me in the right road.--
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My Older Brother,
Out of this Pipe of Peace many have smoked. Observe how the smoke rises up straight in the sky.-- It is a token that everything will be clear. I expect the great Chief General Washington will smoke out of it.-- Everything now has the appearance of peace. It is true there has been blood spilt on the Wabash. We hope it will never more be the case.--
My Older Brother
The sentiments of our tribe have been made known to you already by our Brother Ducoigne. I have only to add, that since on both sides there are foolish people, it is best for us to live at a distance.-- I wish you to remain on the other side of the Ohio; But yet we wish to have a trade with you.--
My Older Brother
Since we have met together for the purpose of speaking with one another; and of establishing a peace. We ought to speak our sentiments freely and do the business compleatly.--
(He then shook hands and retired)--
A Peorian Chief rose, shook hands & said.
My Older Brother,
I come in to speak the last, and may be compared with a Stearsman. I shall therefore act as such and keep the Perogue straight.
My Older Brother,
I am glad the sky is clear. While you spoke my heart was glad. I am now truley rejoiced. I take fast hold of the United States. as I do of your two hands.--shook hands with fervour.--
My Older Brother,
I hope the land will be as clear as the sky: and the fires in every Vilage will burn bright.--
He presented three short white strings No 5
350 |
My Older Brother,
Continue as you have begun. Wipe of fall the stains. Make our women & children happy. Whatever you do this with will please them, and they and our children will gather it up.-- Consider our poverty.-- And send us something for our women and children every spring.-- He retired.
A Peankeshaw Chief rose and jocosely said,
The great Chief, who has spoken to us wants peace and I want a wife. If he will give me a wife I will give him peace. Then
He shook hands heartily and went on.
My Older Brother,
I am of the same way of thinking with my brothers here who have spoken already.-- Our Ancestors were buried here and this is the proper place for us to speak in.--
My Older Brother,
You have called us from a-far; And since we came you have rejoiced our hearts. We hope you will consider the want of our women and children before you leave us; for we are all very poor.
My Older Brother,
I agree with those who spoke before me, that the Whites should remain on the other side of the Ohio.
He delivered two white strings, and retired.-- No 6
General Putnam then rose and said,
Brothers,
I have listened to all you have said. I have treasured it up in my heart.-- To-morrow I shall give you an answer.--
Brothers, We shall now drink a glass and retire till to-morrow.
Adjourned at 3 OClock afternoon.--
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In Council 10 OClock forenoon 26th Septr
A Chief of the Powtowattemows rose and said,
I desire my Father the American and all my [1]Brothers to pay attention to what I am going to say.
When I received the message that a great Chief would arrive here from the United States; And that he wished to speak to us, I expected the business would be of another nature, not that I find it to be. I did not expect that we would spend our time in speaking of Land, as I find the case to be-- I have often been asked by the British to sell them Land, but Merchandize never tempted me-- I never yet have hearkened to those who came to speak of buying Lands-- I foresaw, that if I parted with my land, I should reduce the Women and Children to weeping-- If your Land was dear to You, why did You give it away-- Were my Father to meet me on my ground, I would give him a better treatment-- Then turning to General Putnam, he said: My Father
I never took the Tomhock of the British all last War-- The French and Spaniards desired me never to take it against the United-States, but to live in Peace with them-- It is my Intention-- You see the Sky is clear;-- And since we all wish that every one were happy, and every stain wiped off the ground; and the Blood washed away; let us join together and bury the Tomhock forever-- Let all past mischief be forgotten.
(He shook hands and turning to the Tribes said) You know I have no complaints to make to the United-States for lost Women and Children as you have-- Whenever I went to War, it was again against my own colour-- Alter Your Conduct-- Let the Tomhock remain forever buried-- Have pity
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on Your Women and Children-- Chiefs, encourage Your Young Men to Peace!-- Young
Men listen to Your Chiefs!-- Hearken to each other, and assist one another in
that which is good.
He next took up two white Strings, and said he was to speak the sentiments of the Musquetons Tribe, whose Chiefs, (tho' present) were bashful; requesting of the General not to be offended if they said anything that might be disagreeable.-- He took one of these Chiefs forward, and shaking hands began.
I shall always do as my own Father has done, who lived in Peace with the White People-- I think as all good Men ought to do-- I live on my own River quietly by Hunting; and my Women are employed in raising Corn-- The French who always pass through my Country, shew Charity to the Women and Children-- I wish it may always remain so-- My Heart is pleased at what you have said-- It is placed where Decoign's is-- I shall do as he does.
( : Presented two white strings and shook hands : ) No 7
He then brought forward the other Chief and said.
My Father
Altho I never went to War on You, yet because You sent for me, I came-- I will hearken and pay evry attention to all You have said, and what You may say to me; and carry Your Words to my Vilage.-- Shook hands & presented 2 strings. No 8
A Young Chief of the Potawattemows rising, said:
My Older Brother!
I agree to all that has been said by Ducoigne-- I have heard Your Sentiments and my Heart is glad-- I will report them in my Village-- I now salute
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You, and form an acquaintance with You-- (presented 2 White Strings) No
9
The Tribes having now said all they had to say at the opening of this days Council; and all being seated: General Putnam rose, and made the following Speech.
Brothers of the Eel-River &c as before
After You had lit the Pipe of Peace Yesterday, you told me that the Sky was very clear-- That we now would Smoke together, and should observe that the Smoke would ascend straight upwards-- You then gave me the Pipes, and desired me to present them to our great Chief General Washington, that he might also smoke out of them.
Brothers,
You next told me: that You had desired Your Younger brother to speak the sentiments of all the Nations present-- You said that altho' he was Young, he was capable of speaking best-- I listened to him attentively; and shall report all he has said to me; and deliver the Belt you gave me, to the great Chief General Washington at the same time when I shall present the Pipes to him
Brothers
When we first met together the sky was indeed very clear as You had observed to me-- but in the course of our Councill, I discovered a Cloud had arisen in some obscure part of the Sky, which prevented my understanding what You meant by part of what You had said to me.
Brothers
Let us understand one another right-- You told me it was best for the White People to remain in their Country, and You in Yours-- You said: as the Whites were a powerful People, they ought to live at
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a distance from You-- You said, that the Americans had best remain on the other
side of the Ohio.
Brothers,
Speak plain that I may understand You, and there be no mistake made-- Do you mean that we shall get up from this place and other Settlements on the Missisippi, and go over the Ohio? Do you mean that this Garrison which is built for the Protection of the Settlement and Trade, shall be evacuated?
Brothers
I have often heard that You had permitted Your Father the French to sit down on the Wabash River a great many Years ago, and had given him Lands to raise Corn on, and a range for his Cattle-- I have since heard: that when Your Fathers Family had encreased, and you saw them so much crowded: that You then extended their limits, so that they might have land enough to raise Corn, and Range enough for their Cattle-- I also heard that the case was nearly the same with the other Settlements on the Missisippi.
Brothers
Let me inform You, that the United-States are bound to protect all its subjects-- And since their Alliance with France, are become as one People. They live not only here in this place together; but are so throughout the United-States.
Brothers.
The United-States do not want to take away Your lands-- When You become their true Friends, they will become Your Protectors-- They will protect You in your lands, and in your Hunting-- They will never taken any of Your lands away from You, against your consent. But if at any time You should wish to sell any of them, they will buy them of You honestly.
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Brothers
When the White People give away a thing, they never ask for it back again-- And what they have once sold, they never any more look upon it as theirs
Brothers
I now desire You to inform me, how far your lands extend up and down the Ohio. I wish also to know how much land You have given to the French at this place. I wish to know the grants and Sales you have made to the Settlements on the Missisippi.
Brothers.
You have wise men among You-- These will consult one another on these weighty matters, and give me a plain Answer. (Strings of white Wampum)
The above being Interpreted by the Interpreters of the respective tribes, General Putnam requested of all those [who] felt themselves interested to return a direct answer to which they agreed.--
Adjourned at 2 OClock.
In Council Afternoon--
Ducoigne rose with two strings of white Wampum, shook hands and addressed himself to the Tribes: saying,
Brothers,
This is not a new thing for us to meet to counsil together. It has been the custom of our Ancestors always.
Then turning to General Putnam, shook hands and said.--
My Older Brother,
Be assured all the Chiefs here present rejoice at what you have said.-- All the Chiefs have put into my mouth the Answer I am to give you. It is not our intention that any persons settled on this side the
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