Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-29
THE POTTAWATOMIEs.

! Il is known that this tribe Of Indians pos
sess large and valuable tract Of land east Of
the Missouri, and within what will probably
constitute the boundaries Of the State Of Iowa.
A delegation Of the tribe are now on visit 70
their "Greas Father" at Washington, and we,
last week, copied an article from the Gazette
stating that the object Of the visit Is to dispose
Of the lands now held BY these Indians. From
the following account Of the interview between
the President and the delegation we are inclin.
cd to think such Is not the fact, much az we
should like to see the Indian title exsinguish-
ed upon Just and honorable terms. When We
reflect that the Pottawatomies have been par
ties to noess than thir'y-eight treaties with the
United States, we can hardly wonder at their
visions Of ga dark cloud"
The following is the final speech Of Halt
Day, the orator Of The tribe, 10 his Great
Father -
"My great father, l have told you that we
have come long journey to see you. Our
present home, you know, is far beyond the
great river that rises at the head of the big
lake. We have left there our old men and
women, and our little children. who are wait.
inQ our return. Father, our hearts are glad
now that you have taken us BY the hand. Our
people have signed great many treaties with
you, and you have at last got all our lands on
this side Of the Mississippi. About eleven
years ago we gave you large country-all
The lands we had on Lake Michigan. Father,
our hearts were sad when YOU asked Us 10
part with that land but we answered yes,
when you asked for it. We have never refus-
ed TO give anything to our great father when
he wanted it. At the treaty made at the head
of our lake, at Chicago, we gave you that
country i. is the best land now owned by our
faced brothers. We promised to give it.,
and we did so. The red man never speaks
with forked tongue; he has but one word
when he promises to do thing, he will do it.
We gave you our country, and we did not COM
plain 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 Mis-
souri, river. Go there and build your wig.
vans. and you shall have permanent home
az long as the sun shines and the water runs.
There your children will grow up in health
and strength, like the weeds Of the prairie |;
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 oil shat was promised us,
and that is the reason We have come to see
you ourselves. We cannot read or write and
when our agent wrote, he was told by some
Of your officers that you wanted Us TO 60 south
Of nc .M.::sseenri 10 new country. My father,
We like the coun;i;; re at present occupy, and
we came to tell you so. Here you SOC oe'ofe
you my chiefs aud braves--some Of them the
oldest men in our nation. They recollect
what was told them at Chicago. and they are
q dark cloud hanging over our heads, and we
have come to you to clear it away. My faith
or, We know you came here from the west
that YOU know the couasry occupied BY your
red children, and what their wants and wish.
es are. We trust all to you. This 10 all ]
have 10 say"
This speech was delivered in the presence
Of large assembly Of ladies and gentlemen,
with the true natural eloquence Of a foress-born
orator. The following summary of the Pfesi-
dents reply We also take from the Union -
The President replied promptly, frankly
and theoretically. If the few sentences he
uttered could reach every Indian hamlet with
in our broad domain, and be interpreted in sim
ceri,y and good faith to the poor inmates, it
would be tho means, in time TO come. Of saw
ing thousands Of lives and millions Of treasure.
The President at once hit the cause Of all our
Indian difficulties non.fulflment Of trea-
" stipuIations-the technical construction Of
ccmpacts, written by ourselves, and signed BY
those who are our acknowledged wards, ig-
norant of our laws az they are Of onr language.
President Polk said to the interpreter, who
kept his dark eye immovably fixed on his
"1'ell the chiefs and braves that
I am glad to see them, and will llsten to all
they have to say with the greatest pleasure.
l 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 Po.tawatomie chiefs that they
must Danish all fears Of being forced from the
lands they now occnpy: these lands were
made theirs by treaty, and they shall be pro-
tec,ed in their peaceable possession. Tell
them, also, that every promise made to them
by any of my predecessors, shall be scrupu-
lonsly carried into effect. When the treaty Of
Chicago 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. II
is my determination to carry out, in letter and
spirit, every treaty stipulation made between
our government and the Indians within our
borders. Justice asaN be done to them; and
trus. to secure the confidence and affection Of
all our red brothers ic such effectual manner
as will forever keep the somahawk buried be.
tween them and our people. Tell them again
Ssn w o %s's IL. IL. land: A.s . "o% occupy,
they desire to exchange them for other lands
better adapted to their habits and wants, We