Journal of the Proceedings
Indian Treaty
Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809
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JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS. |
19 |
punish their enemies they had never asked the assistance of their red children
but have always advised them to remain at peace in their Cabbins & suffer
the white people to fight their own battles." The Governor explained to
them the nature of a Treaty "No other power but the United States had ever
Treated with them. Other Civilized Nations considered the lands of the Indians
as their own and appropriated them to their own use whenever they pleased. A
Treaty was considered by white people as a most solemn thing and those which
were made by the United States with the Indian Tribes were considered as
binding as those which were made with the most powerful Kings on the other side
of the Big Water. They were all concluded with the same forms and printed in
the same Book so that all the world might see them and brand with infamy the
party which violated them. The United States would always adhere to their
engagements. To do otherwise would be offensive to the great spirit and all the
world would look upon them as a faithless people. With respect to your selling
the land by the acre it is entirely out of the question. But if the United
States were to agree to it, you have no one that could survey it for you or who
could tell whether it was accurately done or not. If it was sold by the acre we
would only take what was good and leave the rest upon your hands. When it is
bought in the large quantity you are paid for good and bad together and you all
know that in every tract that is purchased that there is a great portion of bad
land not fit for our purpose. This idea must have been suggested to you by some
person who is as much your enemy as the enemy of the United States." The
Governor then told them that he was tired of waiting and that on the next day
he would submit to them the form of a Treaty which he wished them to signe and
if they would not agree to it he would extinguish the council fire.
Winemack a Putawatimie Chief then addressed the Governor as follows
Father
All the Putawatimies address you, listen to what they say, which come from them all. Father the Putawatimies are of the same opinion that they have ever been, that your proposition is right and just. We all know that our Father never deceived us. we therefore agree to his proposal. All the Chiefs & Warriors have heard you say that they may go and see their great Father the President and that he would tell them as you have done.
Journal of the Proceedings
Indian Treaty
Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809
20 |
JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS. |
You have now heard the sentiments of all the Putawatimies. Father after we
conclude the Treaty some of our young men would be glad to go and see their
Father. Father your Children have listened to you with attention all that you
have said is good, you have asked for land, we will give it to you. We have
heard you say that the piece of land at the Wea Towns which we had formerly
given, you were willing to restore this has made us happy we have always heard
from you and our Father Jefferson nothing but good. We wish to concur with all
the nations who are present. We your children consider the land as belonging to
us all not to one nation alone, we know that everything you have said to us is
true. You have also recommended to us to be moderate & friendly to each
other.
A Deliware Chief then arose and observed that the Deliwares had always kept fast hold of the chain of friendship which united them to the seventeen fires at the Treaty of Greenville. That they had always listened to the voice of their Father and were now willing to agree to his proposals.
As soon as the Putawatimie Chief began to speak all the Mississinway Miamies left the Council House.
30th. It was now the opinion of all the Gentlemen about the Fort that the Missisinway Miamies could never be brought to sign the Treaty and all the attempts which the Governor had made through the Interpreters and some confidential Chiefs to find out the real cause of their obstinacy had hitherto failed. He therefore determined to make them a visit to their camp in person for the purpose of ascertaining whether their opposition proceded from a fixed determination (as they had asserted) not to sell any more lands unless they could get two Dollars pr. Acre, or some other cause which he might be enabled to remove. He accordingly went to their camp about sun rise attended only by his Interpreter Mr. Barron in whose integrity he had the utmost confidence. He was received by all the Chiefs with the utmost complacency and having collected them all in the Tent of the principal he told them "that he had paid them that visit not as the Representative of the President but as an old friend with whom they had been many years acquainted and who always endeavored to promote their happiness by every means in his power. That he plainly saw that there was something in their hearts which was not consistent with the attachment which they ought to bear to their great Father and he was afraid that they
Journal of the Proceedings
Indian Treaty
Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809
|
JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS. |
21 |
had listened to bad birds. That he had come there for the purpose of hearing
every cause of complaint against the United States and he would not leave them
untill they laid open everything that oppressed their Hearts. He knew that they
could have no solid objection to the proposed Treaty for they were all men of
sense and reflection and well knew that they would be mush benefited by
it." The Governor requested that all the Chiefs present would speak in
their turn, and calling upon the principal Chief of the Eel River Tribe who was
an old friend of his that had served with him in General Waynes Army he
demanded what his objections were to the Treaty. He drew out the Treaty of
Grouseland. "Father- Here are you own words, in this paper you promised
that you would consider the Miamies as the owners of the land on the Wabash why
then are you about to purchase it from others? The Governor assured them that
it never was his intention to purchase the land from the other Tribes that he
had always said and was ready now to confess that the land belonged to the
Miamies and to no other Tribe that if the other Tribes had been invited to the
Treaty it was at their particular request (The Miamies). The Putawatimies had
indeed taken higher ground than either the Governor or the Miamies expected
they claimed an equal right to the lands in question with the Miamies, but what
of this their claiming it gave them no right and it was not the intention of
the Governor to put anything in the Treaty which would in the least alter their
claim to their lands on the Wabash as established by the Treaty of Grouseland
unless they chose to satisfy the Deliwares with respect to their claim to the
Country Watered by the White River. That even the whole compensation proposed
to be given for the lands would be give to the Miamies if they insisted upon it
but that they knew the offence which this would give to the other Tribes and
that it was always the Governor's intention so to draw up the Treaty that the
Putawatimies & Deliwares would be considered as participating in the advantages
of the Treaty as allies of the Miamies, not as having any right to the
land." Every countenance brightened at this declaration, the other Chiefs
spoke in their turn, each had some grievance to complain of. They had been told
that justice should be done to them in their disputes with the White People,
the principal War Chief complained that he had been cheated by a Mr. Audrain a
connection of Mr. Wells out of seventy Dollars that he had in vain
Journal of the Proceedings
Indian Treaty
Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809
22 |
JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS. |
applied to Wells for redress, the old story of the Spirits seized by Wells was
again brought forward and a very strong antipathy both to Wells and the Turtle
was manifested by all. The Governor had no alternative but to promise immediate
satisfaction for these claims and to assured them that he perfectly understood
and admitted that they (the Mississinway Chiefs) were the real Representatives
of the Miami Nation and that he should always consider them as such. Some
attempts were then made to induce the Governor to alter his determination with
respect to the quantom of compensation to be given for the land but finding
that the Governor was immovable as to this point they gave it up and after
dissultory conversation upon the Governor's demanding whether they were
entirely satisfied Pacan the principal Chief told the Governor he might go to
the Fort and they would shortly wait upon him with good news. The Treaty was
immediately prepared and in full council at which all the Warriors attended,
the Treaty was signed without a single objection excepting on the part of the
Turtle who objected to the article which gives the Mohecans the right to settle
on the White River. The Other Miami Chiefs however declared in favour of it and
the Turtle gave it up.
The separate article with the Miamies had been agreed on before upon their consenting to the Article in the original Treaty which embraces the Kickapoos.
October the first, second and third The Governor was employed in delivering the annuities for the present year. The Goods promised by the late Treaty and arranging the claims of certain Citizens against the Indians & those of the Indians against the Citizens for Horses stolen and other depredations all which were amicably adjusted. When the Goods for the Putawatimies were laid out Viz: fifteen hundred Dollars from the public store & five hundred Dollars of their annuity which had been sent to Fort Wayne seeing that their pile was so much less than the Miamies they refused to take them alledging that their numbers were greater than all the other Tribes present put together & that they had less goods than any. As soon as the Governor was informed of this he assembled all the Chiefs & Warriors in the Council House and explained to them the reason of their having but five hundred Dollars of their present years annuity part having been sent to Detroit & a part to Chicago After some consultation they agreed to take the Goods but as the Gov-
Journal of the Proceedings
Indian Treaty
Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809
|
JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS. |
23 |
ernor discovered that they were not satisfied he agreed to advance them five
hundred Dollars in anticipation of their next years annuity.
4th. We set out on our return to Vincennes through the Indian Country on the morning of the 5th passed the Camp of Pacan the principal Miami Chief & found one of his men mortally wounded in a drunken frolick the preceding night. The Chiefs informed the Governor that they had not discovered the murderer. The Governor recommended to them by all means to punish him when discovered if it should appear to have proceeded from previous malice, but if it should appear to be altogether accident to let him know it and he would assist to make up the matter with the friends of the deceased.
Passing through the Indian Villages at the Forks of the Wabash we arrived at Mississinway on the 6th where we were hospitably received by Richardville the Grand Sachem of the Miamies who expressed his entire satisfaction at the conclusion of the Treaty. At the Eel River Village on the Rabiere we met with some of the Wea Tribe whom the Governor sent to collect the Wea Chiefs & conduct them to Vincennes at which place we arrived on the 12th October.
The whole number of Indians present the day the Treaty was signed was thirteen hundred and ninety.
On the fifteenth of October Lapoussier the principal Chief of the Weas arrived with fifteen of his Tribe The little Eyes & some others on the 18th, Shawnee and others on the 19th & the Negro legs on the 22d. In all on that day there were sixty-one.
On the 24th. The Governor assembled in the evening at his own house all the Indians and informed them "that he wished to see them to discover whether they were in a situation to understand the important business which He had to lay before them. He had shut up the liquor casks, but he was sory to see that some bad white men had disregarded his Proclamation & secretly furnished them with the means of intoxication. He was glad however to find that they were then all sober & he hoped that they would not drink any more until the business on which he assembled them was finished. On the morrow he would explain to them the proceedings of the Council at Fort Wayne."
October 25th. The Wea Chiefs being all assembled the Governor produced the Treaty lately made at Fort Wayne and explained it to them. He then represented to them "the advantages they
Journal of the Proceedings
Indian Treaty
Fort Wayne, September 30th, 1809
24 |
JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS. |
would derive from removeing from the neighborhood of Vincennes and settling
higher up the Country with their older brothers the Miamies and the great
assistance that they would derive from the proposed addition to their annuity
& the Goods which they were to receive in hand and which would be to the
same amount as the larger Tribes received in consequence of the inconvenience
they would suffer by removing from their present habitations.
October 26th. The Chiefs of the Weas all assembled & after some explanations with respect to the Treaty & a most urgent appeal from the Negro legs to the Governor's feelings on the subject of the injury done to the Indians by the sale of Whisky by the White people for which they receive in payment Articles indispencible to the subsistance of the former & those which would cover their nakedness. The Treaty was chearfully signed by every Chief & head Warrior present.
October 27th. The Goods were delivered and on the 29th the Chiefs again met the Governor & expressed their satisfaction at what had been done & most earnestly entreated "that some means might be fallen on to put a stop to the sale of Ardent Spirits to the Indians- Which prevented the Anuity granted them by the United States from affording them that benefit which their father wished & caused the young men to be so disobedient to their Chiefs that it is impossible to restrain them."
The above is a true statement of the proceedings at the Treaties concluded with the several Indian Tribes at Fort Wayne on the 30th September last and with the Weas at Vincennes on the 26th Ultimo.
|
PETER JONES, Secretary to
Governor |
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