The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-31

country; it is the best land now owned by our pale
faced brothers. Wepromised to give il, and We did
So The red man never speaks with torksd tongue;
he has but one word-when he promises to do a
thing, he will do it, We gave you our country,
and we did not complain; but when we think Of
our fathers, our great chiefs and braves lying
buried there, our hearts feel sad. My father, at
that treaty you said, My children, you shall have
rich and beautiful country on the east side Of the
Missouri river. Go there and build your wig
vans, and you shall have permanent home as
long as the sun shines and the water runs. There
your children will grow up in health and strength, like
the weeds of the prarie and all that was promised in
your treaties shall be given to you there This
is what our great father said about eleven winters
ago; but we have not got all that was promised us,
and that is the reason have come TO see you
selves. We cannot read or write; and when our
agent wrote he told by some Of your officers that
you wanted us to go south of the Missouri to new
country. My father, we like the country we at
present occupy, and we came to tell you Here
you see before you my chiefs and braves--some of
them the Oldest men in our nation. They recollect
what was told them at Chicago, and they are much
troubled. We have, for some time, seen dark
cloud hanging over our heads; and we have come to
you to clear il away My father, We know you
came here from the West; that you know the coun-
try occupied by your red children, and what their
wants and wishes are. We trust all to you. This
is all have to say"
During the whole of this talk, which was delivered
and interpreted in sentences the President kept his
standing position. The attitude and gestures Of
the orator were commanding and graceful in the ex-
IRENE; for they were naturai. His enunciation was
clear, distinct and fluent his voice powerful, and en-
tirely under his control. II is thought by some that
"EIalfDay," next to "Grzzly Bear " the great orator
ofthe Menomonc tribe, is the most eloquent speaker
they have heard among the tribes Of the Northwest
The Pottawatome language is soft and musical, al
though somewhat cumbersome, if we may apply
the term. 1t requires great many moro words
than our language to express the same meaning.
The room at this stsge Of the proceedings was
crowded with ladies and gentlemen, who had acci-
dentally heard Of what was going on. When his
last sentence interpreted, "Half Day" took the
usual round Of shaking hands, and resumed his seat
This being only intended visit Of form, the core
mony of smoking was dispensed with.
The President replied promptly, frankly, and en-
ergeically. If the few sentences he uttered could
reach every Indian hamlet within our broad domain,
and be interpreted in sincerity and good faith to the
poor inmates, Il would be the means, in time to
come, of saving thousands of lives and millions Of
treasure. The President at once hit the cause Of
all our Indian dificulties--the non-fulflment OF
treaty stipulations-the technical construction Of
compacts, written by ourselves, and signed by
those who are our acknowledged wards, ignorant Of
our laws as they are Of our language President
Polk said to the interpreter, who kept his dark eye
immovably fixed on his countcnance, ssTell the
chiefs and braves that am glad to see them, and
win listen to oil they have to say with the greatest
pleasure. am the friend Of the red man, and all
within our territory shall have full and entire Justice
done to them, so far as have the power to do SO.
Tell the Pottawatomie chiefs that they must Danish
all fears of being forced from the lands they now
occupy: these lands were made theirs by treaty,
and they shall be protected in their peaceable pos
session. Tell them, also, that every promise made
to them by any of my predecessors, shall be scrupu-
lousy carried into effect When the treaty Of Chi.
cago was concluded, ! was not here; but whatever
promise was then made to them by their great
father shall be, with good faith and great pleasure,
redeemed by me now. !. is my determination to
carry out, in letter and spirit every treaty spula-
ton made between our government and the Indians
within our borders. Justice shall be done to them and
trust to secure the confidence and affection Of all
our red brothers in such effectual manner as will
forever keep the tomahawk buried between them
and our people. Tell them again that we never had
any intention Of driving them from the lands they
now occupy. If they desire to exchange them for
other lands better adapted to their habits and wants,
we will crafty them, if we can agree upon the
terms. But they must be perfectly satisfed with
the change they shall never be forced to it,"
The President then pointed to the Secretary Of
War; and told the chiefs lha he was at the head Of
the Indian Department; that they should make
known all their complaints and their wishes to him,
and then they (the President and Secretary would
consult together, and whatever could be done should
be to make them happy and contented people.
He told the chiefs that they should have their
wishes communicated in writing to the Secretary Of
War; that, although they could not write, they had
friends with them that could. That their agent,
who WINS with them, knew all their business, and
he would aid them in making it known to the Sec
rotary ''The clouds hanging over their heads, Of
which you speak, shall be dispelled If in the power
of the Executive to dispense them; and hereafter
you shall have bright sky and clear sunshine"
We have not pretended to report the very words
Of the President, and may not have done justice to
the substance; but this we will repeat, il was a
stalk" that did honor to his head and heart and he
will proudly recognise its beneficial results before
the close of bis administration. He concluded his
remarks by telling the chiefs that when their bust
ness was closed to their satisfaction and they
ready to go home, he would be glad to again
take them by the hand, and have farewell talk
with them.
Col Elliott the agent, is citizen Of Pennsylvania,
appointed about three years ago. The chiefs APP
pear to have great confidence in him; and he has
COMMANDED them at their pressing solicitation