The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-12


TIL: JEFFERSON.
Deesn,5er 80, 1907.
DErRoIr, November, 1907.
In consequence of your letter Of the 9th Sept
last, cor = ng the Instructions of the President
to be con, aunicated to the Indians, have called
together number of the Chiefs of different ma
tons, and delivered to them the following speech:
My CHILDREN,
have received a speech from your Great
Father, OF the seventeen fires, with directions to
communicate 10 you. do it with pleasure, be-
cause the advice IN ii is further evidence Of his
pItcrnl care. 1t is designed for Your own good
and the good of your women and cliildren-listen
10 it with attention, and seriously consider its con-
tents SOS
Your Father, the President of the United States,
desires TO recall to your minds the paterna policy
pursued towards you by the United States and
stu meant to be pursued tina, the United States
never wished to do YOU an injury; but ON The
contrary To give you al the assistance in their
power towards improving, your condition and en-
aiding ycu to support yourselves and your E.Ini-
les. he observes that misunderstanding l,;,v-
! ias arisen between the United States and the En-
I.5A, may possibly ensuc tliat in this war il
Is ms wish tie Indians should be quiet spectators;
NOT wasGng their blood in quarrtls which do not
cosiccTn item that are strong enough to
fsht o,r Own battles, and therefore ask no hello
and IT the EnSsl should ask theirs it should con
vince shein t,.t it proceeds from Il sense OF their
own weakness which would not au,rtIr success in
tue END That At the same time we have learnt
that some tribes are already expressing intentions
hostile 10 the United States we think il propcr
to apfrisc them of the ground on which they now.
stand, and that OH which they will stand for.
which purpose make to them this solemn de.
elaraQon OF our unalterab!e determination (; that
= we wishthem 20 i've IN peace with sll-nations as
well Us wan US and We have no intention ever to
sulkc them or 10 30 them an injury of any sort
unless !Ast attacked or threatened but that learn
ing mat some OF them mediate war on us we
too are preparing for war against those and thoss
only VINO sli.ti seek II And that if ever we are
Constrained to lift the Ratchet against any tribe
we viii neverlay it down till that tribe is exter
minated, or driven beyond the Mississippi He
aijures them Therefore, if they wish to remain on
the land which covers the bones of their fathers;
10 keep the peace with people who ask their
lriehdship without needing II, who wish to avoid
VAL wltiot fearing 1t; in war they will kill some
OF us; we shall destroy I'll of them Let them
then contnpe quiet ut home take care of their
women and children, and remove from among
them tie agents OF amy natcn persuatling them
to war, and let them declare to us explicitly and
catcgoricdly that they will 10 this in which case
they viii have nothing TO fear from the prcDarati.
ons 'N',:-1e 80" unwiilingiy making to secure our
own safety.
NY Cn1LDREv,
Thus you see the interest your Great Father
takes in your welfare no " xious he is To pro
mote your happiness; how DESTROYS he is to pre-
vert you from taking any measures which will in
volvG you in ruin how generous in advising Won
II remain qut spectators OF any differences that
may take place between the white ieople how
candid IN warning you of the fate OF any tribe who
shall nave the hardihood to raise the hatchet y
l;uiist us
MY CHtLpuax,
II you are faithful to yourselves, if YOU de-
sire to promote your own happiness and that of
your women and children If you expect 4 conti-
nuance of protection, and hose friendly offices
which you are constantly receiving if indeed as
your Great Father expresses it, YOU expect to
continue i'll the land which covers The bones of
your fathers, YOU will listen to his pateIna council
and call the Creat Spirit to witness your solemn
deterInin4 ton.to follow his advice
M CHILDREN,
le>Pcct from you plain, decided answer,
which shall Immediately transmit TO the Great
Council Fire of the nation
To which Nanuanue, a chief of the Pottawatanie
nation made the following reply
FATHER,
eve have listened TO what you said to us
"syesterday We have had cou.cil.by ourselves,
90 and now speak the opinion OF all my brethren
present ard believe express the wishes of |
Z" the whole Pottawatanis nation
&C F:.ther--Wc thank the great Spirit that our |
isllSr Oh VIC SCFchCSu lIGS COeS not WISH to |
"involve in the qGalrcls OF the white people |
We hope they viii have none. If they have |
any, thcy had better settle them by the mselyes
90 Falher-Wc wish the British would give us |
- the SANE advice as receive from orr great
Is flther'the President Of tie U. S. We believe |
90 he is strong because he does not want auy aid
f" from We believe the British lrc weak be- |
" cause they war!t us to assist them. =.
50 FatheT--We remember former times, how !
Z" they deceived us. When we pass the banks Of
F." the Miami, we the ruins Of the old British
effort. Ii rcminds~s of our fathers WHO fell on
those fatal plains. ItTerninds US how they were |
" driven 10 combat against the Americans and |
+" the fatal consequences Which followed. lire
"ininds OF the ingratitude Of the British how
they shut the gates against US when we were |
"-fiying TO them for protection
Sc Fathtr--We never viii again pl.re any de- !
5eTttlarGce- on them. They have deceived ls |
once Gd wGwifl'not confidc. in Them gain:
90 Fathcr7-Why should we iigh, their battles
" If they shonll be successful We shall gain no.
thing by the contest, # tlley should be unfoltu-
" nate il viii end in our destruction
Father-tYc live in your country We arc !
" under your protection. You feed us when We
arc hunFfy, YOU clothc us when we are naked,
a" we receive every year money and valuable goods
" iron, our great Father tie President Although
" we have not the advantages Of learning as YOU
" white people have, we have too much under
standing toiorftt all these advantages We
tnlj much iusfire and orratit,J. ;r;,,,o