The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-30

A BEAUTIFUL SPEECH The Natchetz Free Ira
der conta ms report of speech OF Col. Webb, tho
celebrated halt breed chief OF the Choctaws made
in reply 10 j. j. McRae, ESQ the agent for enroll.
ing and emigrating the Indians 10 the west of the
MISSISSIPPI, who had made speech 10 the Indiana
about one thousand in number, assembled al Ho
pdhka, nformlng them that their council fires
could more be kinded here !" tina, Their war
rors can have fed tor heir glory, and that their
spirits will decay within them;" and thai if they
Should take the hand of their great father. the Pre-
sident, which is offered to them 10 lead them to
their western homes, then will their hopes be high
er, their deslinies brighter"
The Natchez Courier appropriately says OF this
bit of eoquence that, for co mprehe nsveness and
breyly, tor beauty of dcton and force, Tor affecting
any production to exceed it. We publish it as
composition worthy to be preserved:-
SPEECH OF COL. WEBB,
Head bhngo Of he Ctoe'sUs East Of she MssissfpPs, iw
reply TO The Agent of the U. States.
BrotherWe have heard you talk from the lips Of
our father the great White Chrf Washington and my
people nave called upon me to speak to yon. Tho rod
his views like his fathers before him. speaks from his
| mouth. He afraid Of writing. When he speaks, he
ting the invention Of the pale faces il gives birth to
and TO ieuds. The Great Spirit talks hear him
the s the rssans %"Ss and the mighty
young wo were strong we fought by your
side but now broken. You have grown
is Weak You can scarcely hear me it is not the shout
of warrior but the wall of infant have lost it in
their graves and those aged pines you hear the ghosts
Of the departed Their ashes here and We have been
len to protect them Our warriors nearly all gone to
the far country west but here dead. Shall
too and give their bones to the wolves Brother two
sleeps have passed since heard you talk. We have
thought upon It. You ask to leave country, and
tell US is fathers wish. We would not desire to dis
please Father. We respect him. and you his child.
But the Choctaw always thinks. We want time to an
| swer. Brother hearts are full Twelve winters ago
our chiefs sold our country Every warrior that you see
here opposed the treaty the dead could have been
counted it could have been made but alas though
they stood around they could not be seen or heard
Their tears the rain drops, and their voices In
the wang winds but the pale faces knew not and our
land was taken away. Brother: We do not now COM
plain. The Choctaw suffers, but he never weeps You
have the strong and cannot resist But the pale
face worships the Great Spirit So does the red man..
The Great Spirit loves truth. When you took
try you promised land. There your promise in the
book Twelve times have the trees dropped sher leaves
and have received land Our houses have been
taken from The white mans plough turns up tho
bones fathers Wedare not kindle our fires; and
yet you said might remain, and you would give as
land Brother ID this trutn1 But We believe now our
Great Father knows condition; he will listen to US
We mourning orphans in our counry but our ia
Their ill by the hand. When he ufls his pro-
mise we will answer his talk. He means we'll We
| know it. But cannot think Gfei has made
children of When business ia settled we shall DO
men az ain, talk Great Father about vhat he
has proposed. Brother You stand in the of
great chie you speak the words OF mighty natien and
your talk long My people are small; their shadow
scarcely reaches to your knee; they scattered aud
gone; when shout hear voice in the depths Of the
therefore, few have nothing to say but to tell
what have said to the tall chief VI the pale faces, whose
| brother stands by your side.
william Tyler of Virginia. brother to the President
of the United States recently appointed one OF the Choo'
| taw Commissioners.