Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-05-26

A TOUCHING SPEEcH-The Natchez Free Ira
der contains report of speech of Col. Cobb, the
celebrated halfbred chief of the Chocaws, made in
reply to j. J. McRae, Esq the agent for enrolling
and emigrating the Indians to the west of the Mis-
sssippi, who had made speech to the Indians,
about one thousand in number, assembled at Ilo-
-pahka, informing them that "their council fires
could more be kinded here; - that "ther war
riors could have field for their glory, and that
their spirits will decay with them; and that if they
should stake the hand of their great father, the
President, which is now offered to them to lead
them to their western homes then will their hopes
be higher, their destinies brighter. FREE Press
SPEECH OF Col. Conn, Head Mingo of
the ChOcta,oS, east of the Mississippi, IN reply
to the Agent ofthe United States.
BRoTHER We have heard you talk as
from the lips Of our father, the great White
Chief at Washington, and my people have
called upon HE to speak to you The red
man has no books, and when he wishes to
make known his views, like his fathers be-
fore him, he speaks from his mouth. He is
afraid of acriting. When he speaks, he
knows what he says the Great Spirit hears
him. Writing is the invention of the pale
faces; gives birth to error and to feuds.-
The Great Spirit tdikS-we hear him in the
Ill tIlC IuSlliU9 WlluS, anu the
mighty waters-but he never writes.
Brother: when you were young we were
strong we fought by your side but our
arms are now broken. You have grown
large. My people have become small.
Brother my voice is weak you can
scarcely hear me; it is not the shout of a
warrior, but the wall of an infant | have
lost it in mourning over the misfortunes of
my people. These are their graves, and in
those aged pines you hear the ghosts Of the
departed. Their ashes are here, and we
have been left to protect them. Our war;
riors are nearly all gone to the far distant
west but here are our dead. Shall we go too
and give their bones to the wolves?
Brother: Two sleeps have passed since
we heard you talk. We have thought upon
it. You asked US to leave our country,
and tell us it is our Fathers wish We
would not desire to displease our Father
We respect him, and you his child. But
the Choctaw always thinks. We want time
to answer.
Brother Our hearts are full. Twelve
winters ago our chiefs sold our country
Every warrior that you see here was opposed
to the treaty. ii the dead could have been
counted, it could never have been made
but alas though they stood around, they
could not be seen or heard. Their tears
came in the rain drops, and their voices
in the wailing wind, but the pale faces knew
it not, and our land was taken away.
Brother: We do not now complain
The Choctaw suffers, but he never weeps.
You have the strong arm, and we cannot
resist. But the pale face worships the
Great Spirit So does the red man. The
Great Spirit loves truth. When you took
our country, you promised us land. There
is your promise in the books. Twelve times
have the trees dropped their leaves, and YET
we have received no land Our houses
have been taken from us. The white mans
plough turns up the bones Of our fathers
We dare not kndle our fires and yet you
said we might remain and you would give us
land.