The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-11-01
WASHINGTON. Oct. 50. 1915.


Interesting scene at the Whifc House Presentation
Of The Poffaratamie Indians to the President.
To-day by appointment, the delegation of Pota-
watamle Indians paid their respects to President
Polk, in the presence Of the Secretary ofWar, the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, (Col Medill,) the
Ex-Commssioner, (now Judge Crawford) and
number oflades and gentlemen. The indians were
presented to the President by Col Elliott, who has
been agent for the tribe Tor some years, and is
here to assist the delegation in arranging their bust
ness with the government. After shaking hands and
taking seats, Halt Day, (Op-te-ke-shiek in Potta-
watame,) arose, and addressed the President as fol-
lows
"My Great Father You see your red children,
the chiefs and braves OF the Pottawatamies, we
very glad TO shake you by the hand We have come
long way, and our hearts beat lively when we see
you"
habreed interpreter, the President replied that he
very glad TO meet his red children from the tar
west.
"You have come," said he, ga long distance to
the seat of Government Some Of you otd men,
and you consider the business which has brought
you here OF Importance; 1t shall be attended to- You
shall be patiently beard, aud full justice shall: be
relanons Of friendship and peace with all the Indian
tribes, so that the hatch't between the red man and
the white man may long remain buried"
Hall DAY reJolned as follows:
" My Father Your chi rs and braves here pre-
sent their respect the Government Of the United
States. AL our people at home respect the Govern
meni The white man is our friend, and we are
his. We have always given you our land when you
asked for It, We never refused you Like good
children, we always said" yes"
Father: We have given you all our land about
the Great Lrkes. Look at 1t. Millions of white
great country,a contains the bones ofour grand
fathers 1t is ours longer, but we love it still.
When we look back to it, our hearts are sad.
Father: You gave us country on the Mlssou-
RI, where we now Twelve winters ago, at CHI
cago, you told US 1t should be our home as long as
the sun shines and water flows: that we should
grow up there like the grass in the prairie and thai
It we had but one wlgwam, all you had promised
should be done for US there. We have not seen it.
Father We love the country where we are
But you have asked US 10 go southwest Of the Mis-
sour; we do not know whatto do There is a
cloud before us, and we look to you to remove it
We can depend on no one but you.
:" Father: II we stay where we are, we told
the white mans laws will be extended over Us, by
the State OF Iowa We do not understand them.
g Father You are from the west. You know
what your red children want. You can make US
see clearly, and make our hearts light -
The President replied that all the obligations of
the Government to the Indians should be Discharged;
that the treaties had been voluntarily made the
part of the Indians and should be scrupulousy full
filed by the Government; and that the Secretary Of
War would be directed to inquire fully into the
grievances OF his red children, and redress them.
The President then told them he would see and
shake hands with them again, when they should get
their BUSINESS arranged upon which, the Indians
again shook hands all round, and took leave
When the population Of the genuine "Native
Americans" reached the White House this morn
ing, the President their good father as well as their
Great Father, was engaged, and it was sometime
before he could see them During this interviewhey
accommodated the White House, and were delight
ed with the great pier glasses oil the room,
which they were reflected large life, feathers,
paint, beads, medals ands all and with the glitz
tering chandeliers, and the marble mantels,
and the of artificial flowers thereon, and the
beautiful gilt cornces the windows, and the
carpet full of eagles and flowers, aQ n the busts
and beautiful time pieces of the ell1Fical saloon
and the velvet cushioned chairs, but more than all
with the fine picture OF Washington in the evening
reception room He, said Half Day, was our first
great father-gone the Great Sprit-a chief among
the chiefs in the fowery land up there, pointing to
the sky.
Col Elliott is much respected by the tribe, for his
services in their behalf. He has considered their
interests and taken great pains have their claims
and their peculiarly hard case fairly presented be-
fore the government. We are sure that Col Medill
will give their the most attentive consldera-
ton, and that the President will cooperate in any
thing TO the Naturalization OF these people for their
sacrifices to the United States.